Page 54 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

ChapterTwenty-Four

Declan

Three days was nowhere near enough time to complete this job. I needed a week to learn his habits, get to know his movements, figure out the best place to take him out. As it is, I’ve jumped on the first chance that presented itself, just so that I can get back to Ruby.

Not good for business, at all.

If I plan on keeping this up, I need to be able to leave her in the hands of the other men. For now, I can’t leave. I will have to take a leave of absence from the killing business and when she’s stronger, then I can come back to this. She is all I can think about. I can’t focus on the job and that’s going to end in disaster.

I stare down the scope of the rifle and wait, consumed by thoughts of Ruby. Ruby and Cillian, to be precise. I can’t say that I’m thrilled about this new development, but I knew it would happen. He had way too much interest in her when I spoke about her, and he looks like me but does her job. There is no way she wouldn’t be interested. I was in denial and trying to delay the inevitable. Now, here we are. However, the only thing that concerns me now is her state of mind. Is she doing this only because she is feeling vulnerable, or is it because she really wants to? I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that what transpired before was merely location based. Had she been with me, or one of the other men, it also would’ve happened. It has nothing to do with Cillian. He was just there, and she obviously trusts him. I told her she could, and she trusts me. So, while it rankles me, I’m not envious of the situation. She came looking for me afterwards. There is something between us that no one, not even my twin can come in between, and that is the way I intend for it to stay. I will defend my role with her to the death, and not give a flying crap if it is Cillian or someone else. No one takes her away from me.

No one.

Right now, this arsehole I’m waiting to shoot in the head is taking her away from me. Time to end it.

I see him round the corner, back from his lunch, right on time. Mere luck. I’m not spiritual. I don’t believe that the universe handed him to me at this precise moment without any delays to his schedule just so I could get back to Ruby. It’s not fate. It’s just my good luck and his bad luck.

I inhale slowly and when I exhale, I pull the trigger. It’s a breezeless day and the trajectory is bang on.

The bullet hits him right in the middle of his forehead.

I don’t dally after seeing him go down. I sit up, dismantle the rifle and place it carefully into the case. I scoop up the shell casing and throw that in as well. I slam the lid shut and close the snaps briskly.

Picking it up, I head straight for the stairs and take them steadily, down the ten floors of the empty office building and out of the door, slipping out onto the street in the melee of the aftermath.

I have minutes to cross the park and get back to my car. The net is closing already by the time I reach the Range Rover, but no one pays any attention to me in my flat cap and duster coat. They are all too busy panicking at the incident that occurred a thousand yards away. I throw the case under the back seat and then climb in and drive off, heading straight for the border and back to Ruby.

My phone rings and I connect it to the Bluetooth speaker and answer. “Is it done?” I ask Aidan.

“Yeah, all sorted.”

“Thanks,” I mutter and hang up.

The brief call soothes my soul slightly about being away from Ruby. I know I will be back with her soon, and then we can get going.

I don’t want to linger for too long. Mam is asking too many questions about Ruby and her accident, when am I going to ask her to marry me and give her grandkids. I know it isn’t what Ruby wants. She has never mentioned it, but I know. I only want what is best for her, so I won’t pressure her. I’ve never thought too much about all that stuff, so it doesn’t bother me that she doesn’t want any of that. With her life and mine, it makes no sense anyway.

I don’t know how the other men feel, but Cillian vowed never to marry again after the disaster with Siobhan. If the others can’t accept that Ruby isn’t cut out for that life, then they will have to readjust their thinking with a little help from me. I won’t have any of them putting pressure on or making her feel guilty for her choices.

In retrospect, I don’t think any of them would, but you never know. Maybe it’s a deal breaker for one of them. In which case, I’ll make a deal with breaking their arm. Simple.

I drive the rest of the way, focused only on getting back to Ruby. I cross the border into Ireland, my heart aching to see her. Never again will I be this long away from her. Next time, she comes with me where I can make sure she is safe and happy. I know deep down it is impractical, but it makes me feel better thinking that way.

When I pull up into Mam’s driveway, I hastily turn off the engine and get out of the car, stalking to the door. It opens before I get there and Ruby comes flying out, flinging her arms around me and kissing me sweetly.

“Missed you, Daddy,” she murmurs, setting my body alight. “I need you.”

“What have you done?” I ask carefully, trying not to let her words cut me. I don’t know the deal yet. It could be nothing.

But it could be something.

“Kept a secret,” she says and pulls away from me to enter the house again. I follow her quickly, closing the door and hoping Mam isn’t around.

I see Ruby head up the stairs, so I take them two at a time, right behind her.

When she disappears into her bedroom, I follow and shut the door on the rest of the world.

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