Page 79 of Destined Lovers

Nora

“Mammy! Talk to me. What the heck is going on?” I cry.

“Where is that beautiful wife of yours?” A strange voice booms through the house.

“I have to go now, Nora. He’s already seen me, but you will be safe here, okay? Do not come out, no matter what you see. I love you so so much.” She sobs and slams my door closed.

She places her finger up to her mouth, motioning for silence. The wall is made of a two-way mirror, so I can see her perfectly.

What is going on? What is she talking about?

Suddenly a man I don’t recognize walks into my view, dragging my da behind him.

Oh my god! I cover my mouth so they don’t hear me.

“First, I’m going to kill your wife so you can watch.” The man sneers into my da’s face and a second man comes up behind my mam, and in one swift swing, hits her over the head with a lead pipe.

“Nooooo!” my da screams, and I throw another hand over my mouth to keep in the sobs racking through my body.

Noooo, Mammy, noooo. Oh my god, someone help!

The man standing next to my da takes out a gun, points, and shoots right at my mam.

“Nooooo!” I sit up in a rush, and Declan’s there, wrapping his arms around me tight as I sob aloud. I reach for my necklace for comfort, pressing it hard into my chest. But it doesn’t have the same effect as it usually does.

“No, no, no, no,” I whisper and scrunch my eyes shut. I never get to the part where they shoot my mam. I always wake up before it.

“Nora, babe, talk to me, please. You’re scaring me,” Declan begs. “We don’t keep secrets…”

“Well, things change!” I snap and jump out of bed, needing space. “Life changes you. Hardships change you. Things aren’t all perfect like they are in Declan Buckley’s life.”

My breathing picks up, and the tears fall wildly down my face. I don’t even try to catch them.

“Always the good guy. But you’re not my savior. I’ve been dealing with this all alone for ten years. I can handle myself!”

God, why am I lashing out at him right now? Declan doesn’t deserve this. I know he’s only trying to help.

“You chose to run from me, Hanora. Let’s get that straight. I would have helped, and I’m not trying to be your savior. I’m trying to be your partner. If you got that snarky redhead out of that perfect arse of yours even for one minute, you would see that!” He raises his voice, something he never does, and it instantly snaps me out of my bitch induced fog

I drop to my knees and start sobbing uncontrollably in my hands. Declan’s there not a second later, wrapping me in his arms, rocking me back and forth.

“I’m so sorry, Declan.”

“I know, Pip.” He presses his lips to my forehead, never letting up his tight hold around me.

“They were murdered,” I cry into his chest. His body goes rigid, every muscle in his body tight.

“Your parents?” He whispers, and I nod my head. I can’t talk about it.

“I know you’re strong and independent, but let me take the weight of it off you for once, Nora. Tell me what happened.” He places his hands on my checks, presses me back slightly, and fixes his dark eyes on mine.“Use me. Lose yourself in me.”

I wish I could, badly.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Let’s not ruin tonight anymore. Let’s go back to sleep, and tomorrow I’ll tell you.”

“Promise?” His hopeful eyes search mine.

I cross my fingers behind my back like we did when we were little. “Promise.”

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