Page 79 of Declan

I move past him, brushing against his shoulder.

His fist crashes into the side of my face.

Pain explodes across my cheek, jaw snapping to the side. My vision blurs, and the taste of blood fills my mouth.

“Wesley!” Elias shouts, locking his arms around him from behind.

“Let me fucking go!” Wesley thrashes. “He’s lucky you’re here! You’re all lucky you’re here or I’d fucking kill him!”

He’s fighting Elias like a man possessed. “She’s my baby sister! My sister, and he just used her like she was nothing!”

“I didn’t!” I snap back, but he’s not hearing a thing. He’s too far gone.

Kaden steps between us, his eyes wary, ready to jump in if Wesley breaks free.

“You’ve said enough,” I mutter, wiping the blood from my lip. “I’m done.”

I don’t look back as I walk out, the sound of Wesley’s screaming following me all the way down the hall.

The house isdark and quiet when I get home.

Too quiet.

I kick the door shut behind me and lean back against it, letting out a slow breath. My cheek is already swelling. My ribs ache from the tension I held in every goddamn muscle trying not to throw a punch back.

But nothing hurts more than her walking away.

I should’ve said something in that bathroom.

I should’ve stopped her.

I should’ve fucking fought for her.

Now I’m here, in this empty house, while she’s probably curled up somewhere thinking I don’t give a damn about her.

I drag myself to the kitchen, grab a beer, then don’t even bother drinking it. I just sit at the table, the bottle in front of me, spinning it by the neck like it holds some kind of answer.

I stare at my phone.

I want to call. I want to show up.

But I fucked up and she deserves better than me showing up with bruises and blood and more chaos.

She needs a moment.

But I need her to know how I feel.

So I send it.

Just three words.

I love you.

I stareat the screen after it sends, heart racing like she’s going to call back and fix this somehow.

But she doesn’t.

I set the phone down and shove my hands into my hair, letting the silence drag me under. My heart is pounding in my ears, rage bubbling in my gut. I want to break something. Everything. I want to punch a wall or scream or throw something out the damn window. But all I can do is sit there, drowning in everything I didn’t say, everything I didn’t do.

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