Page 64 of Declan

I could get used to this.

But of course, the second I start to think that, my phone buzzes. I check the screen and it’s Wesley.

Lena catches the shift in my expression. “You have to go?”

I nod, finishing the last of my coffee. “Club needs me. Something to do with it being Saturday night at Twisted Souls. We always need to be prepared.”

She stands when I do, following me to the door. I go to kiss her cheek, but she pulls me in, lips on mine in a way that makes it very clear she’s not mad.

When we break apart, she looks up at me and says, “See? I can handle it when you’re honest with me.”

That hits hard. I press my forehead to hers. “I’ll text you later, alright?”

She nods, brushing her fingers down my chest. “Be careful.”

Twisted Souls is buzzing when I pull up. I can feel the energy before I even step foot inside. I head straight for the back, where the real business happens.

The door to the meeting room is cracked open, and I push through to find Wesley, Hux, Kaden, and a few others already seated around the long table. The air smells like leather, coffee, and someone’s cheap cigar.

Wesley looks up. “Nice of you to join us, Romeo.”

I shoot him a look, but don’t take the bait. “What’s the situation?”

Hux leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Tonight’s fight’s gonna be packed. Word got out about the payout, and more crews are showing up to watch. We need eyes everywhere.”

Wesley nods. “Also, Killer’s in town. They’ll be here tonight.”

A low ripple of excitement moves around the table. Killer’s a legend in these circles, half rockstar, half wild card. He’s good people, but his presence is unpredictable as hell.

“Any issues expected?” I ask.

“Not yet,” Kaden says. “But you know how these things go. Especially with Killer around. We’ll need to keep things tight, watch the crowd.”

I nod slowly. “I’ll take outside detail when the fight ends. Make sure no one lingers.”

Wesley raises a brow. “Trying to sneak out early? That’s unlike you.”

That’s the thing I wasn’t planning on staying late. Not originally. But with Killer here, the crowd doubled, and tensions high, leaving early might not be an option.

I pull out my phone, staring at the blank screen for a second before opening a message to Lena.

Declan:Hey, this is me being honest. Killer and the band are gonna be here tonight, so why don’t you come hang out at Twisted Souls, and we’ll end the night together at my place.

I hit send beforeI can overthink it.

No one will know I invited her. She comes to the club often, especially when Killer is playing.

It could be sexy wanting each other and the growing need all night.

Or it could be a horrible mistake.

“I’m not sneaking anywhere. I’ll be here, like I always am.”

Only I am sneaking around with his sister.

The red lightsof the fight club pulse like a heartbeat. It’s loud, constant, and alive. The whole place is electric, the air thick with sweat, blood, and the unmistakable scent of smoke and testosterone. I stand at the edge of the pit, the roar of the crowd vibrating through my chest as our guy lands another brutal hit.

The guy in the ring, the one getting his face caved in, isn’t just some unlucky bastard we picked off the street. He owed us. Big. Not just cash, although his stack of unpaid bets had stacked up higher than his ego, but worse, he was about to do something no one in this world survives.

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