Page 167 of Destined Lovers

“Of course, mate, anything you need, you just ask, you know that.”

I glance at my watch. What’s taking so long? I’m with Charlie. I’m staring now.

I lean into Declan’s body and close my eyes.

“Tell me something I don’t know about the new Declan,” I murmur.

He leans over and kisses my forehead, letting his lips stay pressed against my skin while he mumbles, “There is nonew Declan.”

“You weren’t so dominant or possessive when you were younger.”

“I’m neither of those things, Pip.” He sighs.

“Dec,” I whisper so the others don’t hear. “You tied me to our bed last week and told me I wasn’t allowed to say a word until you said it was okay.”

His mouth lifts to one side. He can’t even hide a grin. I’m one hundred percent right.

“Buckley, table for five?” the hostess calls.

Ah, thank god, I need to eat and soak up this alcohol.

We let Maeve go first while Charlie and Archie follow. Declan wraps his arm around my shoulder, and just as we’re about to enter, my phone vibrates again.

“Hey, Penny just texted that Agnes woke up. I’m going to give her a call before we sit. I’ll meet you inside.”

“Aye, stay close.” He looks toward the guys to get their attention. Making sure they know I’m staying outside.

I pace up and down in front of the restaurant while the phone rings out.

“Can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy,” Max calls.

“I’m barely moving. Stop complaining. It’s your job,” I quip in a fake man’s voice. They tell me all the time, ‘it’s our job, it’s our job,’ so he can suck it up for once.

“Touché” He nods and smirks.

I ring them again, and just as Penny picks up, something or someone across the street catches my eye, causing me to ram right into Jameson’s back, my phone call completely forgotten.

A sudden overwhelming sensation of dread washes over my body. My heart begins to race, and nausea builds quickly.

I know it deep down in my bones. This is not a coincidence.

They found me.

There is no other explanation for him to be here.

“Fiona,” I faintly hear Jameson’s voice over the pounding in my ears. I can’t answer. I can’t speak.

He wraps his arms around me and calmly whispers in my ear. “Listen to me, sweetheart. I need you to take a deep, controlled breath,” I’m trying. But not even his sexy South African accent is helping me calm down.

They know I’m here in London… out to lunch with Archie, Maeve, and Charlie. Oh god, this is bad. Why didn’t we get a guard for Archie? How could we be so careless?

How after all this time, it’s now when I’m finally getting my life in order that they find me.

“Who found you?” Jameson asks.

I hadn’t realized I had said anything out loud.

“Jameson,” Max calls and points to the man across the street as he gets in an unmarked car.

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