Page 87 of Destroy (Deadly Hearts 2)

“Don’t be a fool,” Tadgh growls at me. “He will shoot you as soon as he sees you coming.”

“Then he won’t see me coming. Or he will, but it will be through the haze of blood pouring out of his eyes.”

“Jaysus,” Cillian mutters. “Savage, aren’t you, love?”

“Like it?” I challenge him.

“Fuck, yes,” he breathes like a fool.

I smirk and clap my hands. “It’s settled then. When do we go?”

“As soon as Siobhan gets here,” Declan says, pursing his sexy lips.

I know he wants to protect me from all the big bad things of the world, but he seems to forget that I’m one of them. This mission is exactly what I need to feel like myself again and I’ll be damned if I let anyone stand in the way of that.

I nod and turn away, disappearing into the kitchen for a bottle of water. David follows me.

“You sure about this, Rubes?”

“Yep,” I say.

“You aren’t just being stubborn?” he presses.

“Probably, but when did that ever stop me?”

“Never,” he agrees, but shakes his head. “About the other thing…I had to make some big promises to the Southside gang.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”

“That’s the thing…I don’t know what it is. They said they’ll be in touch.”

“Sounds about right. Doesn’t matter, David. Once I’m back in my place, we’ll figure all the rest of it out.”

He nods. “I’d say I’ll have your back out there, but assassinations, not really my go-to area.”

I snicker and take his face in my hands. “I love you, David. My love, my light. You will always guide me home. That’s having my back.”

He gives me a deep kiss full of passion and tenderness at the same time. “I’m saying this now in case I don’t get a chance later. Be safe.”

“Always,” I say lightly, ignoring the elephant in the room.

He does too, and I’m grateful.

We pull apart when there is a knock on the door, which brings the arrival of Siobhan and Cillian’s new passport.

Now we are truly ready to get going. I feel the old spark of excitement fire up and it douses the last lingering flicker of fear. From here on out, I’ll be running on the adrenaline of committing such a dangerous act in my own city.

I can’t wait.

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