Page 6 of Declan

He lets go of me and walks down the hall as if nothing happened. It takes me a moment for the shock to wear off before I move quickly, slamming the door closed.

I lean against it and slide to the floor, dropping my head onto my knees. A cry rips from me so loudly that I’m sure the neighbors can hear.

I thought gambling would get me ahead, give me some extra money and less stress. That’s obviously not what happened. I now owe money I don’t have and now my life is on the line.

I continue to sit on the floor and cry because I am no longer able to handle this on my own.

With bruised arms, bleeding cheeks, and tears running down my face, I grab my keys and do something that is as equally terrifying as this threat.

I make the short drive and lift my shaking hand to knock on the door.

This is going to make things so much worse, but I have no other choice.

I have nowhere else to turn.

The door opens and the tears rush down my face.

“I need help.”

Chapter 4

Declan

“Lee Lee, what the hell?” I say, rushing toward her, my arm already wrapping tightly around her trembling shoulders as I lead her inside.

She flinches. “Please, don’t fucking call me that,” she hisses, her voice cracked and thick with tears. They fall faster now, streaking down her already-red cheeks, her whole body shaking like she might fall apart right here on the porch.

My stomach drops. I’ve only seen her like this one other time, and the memory of that night claws its way to the front of my mind. Panic digs into my spine, sharp and sudden, as I guide her gently to the couch. I don’t let go. I can’t let go. She’s barely holding herself together, and I’m the only thing keeping her from breaking completely.

I sit down beside her, still holding her close. My arm stays locked around her shoulders, a silent promise I won’t let her face whatever this is alone.

“I’m sorry. Talk to me, Lena,” I plead, my voice softer now, steady even though my heart is anything but.

She slowly lifts her gaze to mine, and what I see there, raw, open fear, nearly stops my heart.

Her red-rimmed eyes are wide, glassy, and full of a kind of sadness I don’t know how to fix.

“I did something and now I’m in trouble,” she whispers, barely audible, her head shaking slowly like she’s trying to deny her own words.

“Trouble? What kind of trouble?” My whole body goes rigid. My mind is already racing, a dozen worst-case scenarios flooding through me. But I keep it together for her.

Lena is Wesley’s little sister, but she’s never been just that. She’s been mine, in all the ways that count, since we were kids. We’ve both seen more shit than most people survive, and she’s had it just as hard as Wesley and me. Maybe harder. I’ve always looked out for her. Always.

I reach up and gently move her hair out of her face, tucking the soft strands behind her ear. My fingers brush her cheek, and she leans into the touch like she needs it to stay grounded.

“Lena, talk to me,” I say again, firmer this time.

She inhales a shaky breath, and then the words fall from her lips like they hurt coming out.

“I did some gambling and now I owe money. Money I don’t have. They want it tomorrow, or they want me as payment.”

A strangled cry escapes her, and she collapses against me, burying her face in my chest as the dam fully breaks.

“I’m scared, Declan.”

Fuck.

I hold her tighter, cradling the back of her head and rubbing slow circles into her spine. My jaw is clenched so tight it aches, but I don’t say a word about how reckless she was, how dangerous this could’ve been. I want to yell, I really do. But when it comes to Lena, the protective part of me always drowns everything else out.

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