Page 40 of Ignite

“What’d I miss? And how did I know I’d find you three here?” Declan flags down the waitress with a lift of his chin.

“I’m here for the booze,” I say, jerking my thumb at Rowan and Reggie. “And these two are here for the pussy.”

Declan narrows his eyes at me.

“And you’re not? You sick or something?”

That earns a round of deep, belly-shaking laughs from the whole table.

“No. Conan’s got a crush and doesn’t know how to text like a normal human,” Rowan says between gulps of beer.

Declan stares at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“A crush? Christ. Are we teenagers again? You haven’t had a crush since ninth grade, Con. Should I be calling Finn?”

I grip the neck of my bottle until it creaks under the pressure.

“It’s not a crush. It’s nothing.”

Rowan leans back, smug.

“Whatever you say, big man.”

Declan waves for a round of whiskeys and stretches out, comfortable as hell.

“Where’s Charlotte?” I ask, changing the subject. “She’s nicer to me than you.”

“Writing. Probably napping. I kept her busy last week.”

“Yeah, yeah. Spare me.”

Declan leans in closer, voice low.

“I got that information you asked for. But it’s not clean. Ben doesn’t really exist—not on paper, anyway. But I’ve got an address for a strip club he’s linked to. All of it’s in your email.”

My stomach twists. I knew something was off about that fucker. Works in finance for his cousins, yeah right. Clearly that was a lie he spun to Hallie.

“I’ll check him out.”

I need to check on Hallie, too.

Declan’s gaze sharpens.

“This about her?”

“Yeah.” I nod once. “She’s just a friend. You know I don’t do more than that.”

He lifts a brow but lets it go and checks the time on his Rolex.

“Then go check on her,” he says, smirking. “Like a good friend would.”

He slides out of the booth, and I follow, grabbing my jacket.

“I’m off, shitheads. Things to do. Gym tomorrow? I need some victims.” I glance at the twins.

I need to hit the cabin. Grab some stuff. Make sure she’s okay.

That’s all it is.

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