Declan (Undercover Billionaire Book 4) Page 10

  “We’ll argue about that after the trip,” he said as he leaned back in his seat. “For now, I want to enjoy the ride. When you get tired of driving, let me know and I’ll take over.”

  “I don’t think anyone would ever tire of driving this,” she mumbled, making him laugh.

  “I’ve discovered I’m a bit of a vehicle snob. I like a smooth ride. I also love the safety features of Toyotas.”

  “I’ve always had cars and really don’t like how low they are to the ground. But they’ve been affordable,” she said. “And beggars can’t be choosers.”

  He reached over and squeezed her thigh, making her insides stir. Their night together had been perfect. She desperately wanted more of that, and since they were so far behind they’d surely stay at a hotel for at least one more night. She hoped they only had one room.

  “You aren’t exactly a beggar, Angela. You work damn hard for everything you have.”

  “I believe in hard work. I don’t like handouts,” she said as she pointedly looked at the car.

  “There’s a difference between a handout and a gift,” he said as if a more than ninety-thousand-dollar gift was an everyday occurrence.

  “I’m enjoying this ride far too much to argue about it. But believe me, we will have a face-down when we arrive in Edmonds,” she warned.

  “Do you mean a showdown?” he asked with another chuckle. She was too happy to glare at him for correcting her. Sometimes things just felt good. And right now she felt that way. The past forty-eight hours seemed a lifetime ago. She was sure it would all come back to her soon enough.

  It ended up being much sooner than she was ready for.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Declan’s phone rang and his first instinct was to not answer. He didn’t want to speak to the director with Angela in hearing distance. He was sure whatever the man had to say late on a Saturday night wouldn’t be good.

  He’d have to tell her anyway, so he hit the answer button and waited.

  “There’s been another murder,” Dorsey said, his voice frustrated and tired.

  “Dammit!” Declan said as he slammed his fist into his thigh. He immediately felt bad when Angela jumped. “Hold on.”

  She glanced over at him with rounded eyes. “Pull over at this upcoming rest stop,” he told her. Her face had gone a little pale and the smile she’d worn was wiped from her pretty lips. He hated this.

  “Give us a few minutes and I’ll call you back,” Declan told his director before he hung up.

  “Who was that?” she asked.

  “The director. There’s been an update. Let’s pull over before we find out what it is.”

  She took the exit and smoothly parked the car in the back of the lot while he returned the call.

  Dorsey picked up on the first ring. “Tell me what’s happening,” Declan said as a greeting.

  “These guys stay a few steps ahead of us. I’m running out of options,” Dorsey said.

  “Who’s the victim?”

  Angela gasped next to him. He reached out and held her hand. He hated that she was hearing this and hated the fear in her eyes.

  “Alice Smith, twenty years old. It was a gut stabbing and then her throat was sliced, left behind a bar.”

  “What’s the connection?” Declan asked. It was tragic, but was it tied to their case?

  “Witness statement says a female spoke to her before they exited the back door. The witness thought something looked off, so she peeked around the corner and saw a person approaching who looked a lot like who Angela saw. She called the cops. They got there too late.”

  “I’m glad she didn’t go out there too,” Declan said.

  “Me too, or we would’ve had two victims,” Dorsey said, completely certain of what he was saying.

  “This sounds like Angela’s case. Have the gangs officially merged?”

  Angela’s fingers went lax in his hand.

  “We believe so. We think they’re trying to shut down the Edmonds operation, and they’re tying up loose ends. This victim might’ve been a girlfriend of one of the members, so they used another female to lure her out.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Declan exclaimed. He’d had it with these senseless murders. Running drugs was bad enough, but stepping up their game and brutally killing on top of it meant they were escalating fast. Previously they’d only taken out people who were in their way. Now they were seeking out victims.

  “The media is all over this, Declan, so everyone’s talking about it.”

  “Dammit. That’s just going to wet their egos. They need to quit glorifying these guys’ deeds.”

  “I agree, but it’s a free press. There’s nothing we can do to stop it,” Dorsey said. The man sounded like he’d aged a hundred years in the past few days. Declan knew how he felt.

  “The entire town is going to be in a panic now, making it even harder to flush these guys out. When people are scared, they look suspicious.”

  “Yeah, but maybe with public awareness there won’t be as many victims available. Hopefully they batten down their hatches.”

  “The town has been put through hell the past few years and the cartel is just warming up. I’m worried we’re going to get some vigilante groups,” Declan said.

  “I can’t say I blame them. Their friends and family are being victimized.”

  “I don’t want innocent people getting charged for taking the law into their own hands,” Declan said.

  “Like you wouldn’t step up if it was your family getting attacked.” That wasn’t a question.

  “Of course I would,” Declan told him. “But in case you didn’t notice, I’m the law and won’t get in trouble for it.” Those words were spoken a little smugly, but he was done with this group of criminals.

  Angela was shaking next to him, and he needed this call to end. “I’ll call you back later. We’re on our way home,” Declan said. He hung up and turned to her.

  “How many girls does this make?” she asked. Tears spilled from her eyes.

  “One is too many,” he told her. He pulled her over the console and into his lap, holding her.

  Declan felt completely helpless, not a great feeling. He’d promised to protect her and that should include protecting her emotions. He was making it worse for her at the moment. But he couldn’t hide this stuff. She needed to be aware of what was going on so she wouldn’t make mistakes. Too many people died because they were careless. He wasn’t going to let that happen to Angela or Timothy.

  “Is Timothy okay?” she asked.

  “Let me check on him.” Declan continued holding her as he called his brother. Owen answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, Declan,” he said. Declan could hear Timothy giggling about something in the background.

  “Where are you guys?” Declan asked.

  “We just drove through Springfield, Oregon. We’re going for a few more hours to Portland then we’ll call it a night,” Owen said.

  “What’s that noise?” Declan asked.

  “I got the kid an iPad,” Owen said with a chuckle. “I needed him distracted. Otherwise I was his main form of entertainment, and he asks a lot of questions.”

  Declan was shocked to feel a smile cover his face. “Yeah, eight-year-olds tend to talk a lot.”

  “Not when they have an iPad,” Owen said proudly.

  “That’s lazy parenting,” Declan pointed out.

  “Good thing I’m not his dad then. I get to be the uncle who spoils the hell out of him.”

  Declan really liked the thought of that. If Owen was the uncle that meant he’d be Timothy’s dad. He could handle that.

  “I guess you have a point there,” Declan said.

  “Don’t screw it up. I like having a nephew,” Owen said.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. We’ve had some delays so we’re at least a full day behind you. Keep him safe,” Declan said.

  “You don’t need to say that,” Owen said, a bit offended.

  “I know, brother. I’
m just stressed.”

  “I know. Get her home safe too.”

  Declan disconnected. “Well, your son is being spoiled rotten. Owen bought him an iPad.”

  Angela gave a shaky smile. “That’s an extravagant gift too, but a little more appropriate than a car.”

  He leaned down and gently kissed her. He couldn’t stand not to any longer. “It will all be fine, Angela. I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but I promise you we won’t let them get to you or Timothy ever again.”

  “What if they do get to me again, Declan? What if they finish the job they started four years ago? I can’t go through that pain again. I’d rather be shot,” she said. She buried her head in the side of his neck and wept against him. “I hate crying over this. I hate worrying about myself, but I’m scared. I don’t want them touching Timothy. I’d give myself up in a heartbeat for him. But I don’t want them to have me either, and I feel selfish saying it out loud.”

  “It’s far from selfish to want to live a healthy, normal life. You can say anything to me. You’ve been through more than anyone should go through. I can’t believe you’re still on your feet,” he assured her.

  “Sometimes I’m not,” she said.

  “Please don’t be hard on yourself, Angela. I won’t let them touch you again. They have to get through me.” His voice was deathly. She hiccupped as she pulled away from his neck and looked up at him, so much trust shining in her eyes he wasn’t sure what to think. He just knew he couldn’t disappoint her.

  “Someone interrupted the attacker the night I was hurt,” she said. “I read the reports forward and backward. I never spoke to the witness, but this case sounds a lot like mine.”

  “I know.” He wasn’t going to lie to her.

  “I would’ve ended up just like this girl if they wouldn’t have been interrupted,” she said. Her tears had stopped but she was still snuggled in close to him. She needed the comfort, and he didn’t mind providing it—not one bit.

  Declan had read that same report too many times to count. And she was probably correct. Someone had stopped what had been about to happen to Angela. She’d been knocked out after the first stab wound, and he was sure they would’ve gone in for the kill. It was so bloody, so vicious. He couldn’t imagine the terror she’d felt, but she’d never feel it again because no one was going to get that close to her ever again.

  Declan kept most of his thoughts to himself. He wanted her to be informed but she didn’t need a tour of his mind. He had a lot of darkness from all he’d seen. She brought out the light buried deep inside. He wanted to do the same for her.

  “I’ll talk to whoever you need me to. I don’t want any more victims. I don’t want any more parents to lose their children . . . or any children to lose their parents. I don’t want anyone else to live with the pain I’ve lived with. I want to remember so I can make it stop happening.” The longer she spoke the stronger her words came out.

  “You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met,” Declan told her, meaning it. “And I’ve served with some exceptional women. Few who had suffered as you have would sign on for more. Thank you. Those words have so little value, but I mean them.”

  “There’s a lot of value in a thank you when it’s truly meant,” she assured him.

  “Trust me, it’s absolutely meant,” he told her.

  “I can’t promise I won’t fall apart, but I’ll do my best,” she said.

  “You can fall apart because I’m going to be there to help you pick up the pieces—every single time.”

  “Be careful, Declan. I might take you up on that,” she said. He felt his heart thump, and it wasn’t in a bad way.

  “Good. Because I don’t say what I don’t mean,” he told her. Then he pulled her to him and kissed her, this kiss a little firmer, this kiss letting her know she was his. He might not be giving her a ring or asking her to be his, but she was indeed his . . . and he realized he was hers.

  Things that came easily never seemed to be worth it. This had been coming for a long time, and nothing in him wanted to change it.

  “I’m going to drive now.”

  She smiled at him. “That sounds good to me. I’m a little shaky.”

  He kissed her again, then sat for a little while longer with her safely cradled in his arms. When they’d left San Diego, all he’d wanted to do was get her home. Now he wasn’t in such a hurry. He wanted to drag this trip out. He didn’t want her to pull away from him once they were back, and he was afraid that’s exactly what she’d do.

  He wanted to be a little selfish and keep her all to himself for as long as possible. Maybe then they’d have a real shot at making this a permanent thing. But rarely did people get what they really wanted.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Timothy!”

  Angela cried out in delight as she jumped from the SUV and rushed to hug her son, who was moving at Mach speed straight for her. It had only been three days but from the look on her face it might as well have been a year.

  “Mom!” He launched himself into her arms. It was close to nine in the evening but Angela had only wanted one more night away. They’d slept five hours and got a four a.m. start to make it back to Edmonds.

  On one hand he was glad to be home but disappointed on the other. He’d wanted more time with Angela before the rest of the world intruded.

  “It’s good to see you. Took you long enough,” Owen said with a punch on the arm. “We were back yesterday.”

  “We had car trouble,” Declan said.

  “I noticed the new set of wheels. You didn’t mention that,” he said with a sly smile. “Are you trading in the Rover?”

  Declan rolled his eyes. “I’m just giving you a hard time,” Owen said. “I would’ve done the same.” He laughed again. “And I’m sure she’s giving you a hell of a time about it.”

  Declan grumbled. “I don’t understand why she can’t just accept it and move on.”

  “Because that would make your life too easy,” Owen said.

  “What would make his life easy?” Arden asked as he joined.

  “She’s having a hard time with the new car, but hers broke down and there wasn’t much of a choice,” Declan said.

  “Yeah, that’s a pretty piece of machinery. I’d take it,” Arden said.

  “Most people would.”

  “You guys are morons,” Keera said. They gave her a blank look. She laughed. “You’re very loving, amazing, beautiful morons, but still morons. Angela has a lot of pride and that’s not a little gift. It’s not exactly easy to accept.”

  “It’s just a car,” Declan said. “And I can obviously afford it.”

  “A very expensive one. She doesn’t want to be judged. And the amount of money in your bank account doesn’t matter to her.”

  “It obviously matters. It’s reverse snobbery,” he said. Then his eyes narrowed. “Who would judge her?” Keera laughed as she reached in and gave him a hug. She wasn’t at all afraid of him anymore. He was going far too soft.

  “None of us. She’ll get used to it and love it,” Keera promised. “You guys have been wealthy your entire lives and you’re so used to it you don’t think about it anymore, but the average person lives paycheck to paycheck. Their idea of a gift is a pair of discounted earrings. Give her some time to adjust to her new life as your woman. It took me some time.”

  “She isn’t exactly my woman . . . yet,” Declan muttered.

  “I’ve seen the way the two of you have ogled each other for years. She’s definitely your woman,” Keera said, patting him as if he were a clueless child.

  He didn’t like how this conversation was going. It was making him shift on his feet like a teenager, and he didn’t enjoy it one little bit.

  “She will be mine . . . when I can convince her that’s the only option,” he said.

  That made Owen and Arden laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Kian asked.

  “Declan trying to figure out his relationship status. Maybe he wants to
change his Facebook button,” Owen said, highly amused with himself.

  “Ah, been there,” Kian said.

  “Never again,” Roxie said as she placed her arm through her husband’s.

  “That’s for dang sure,” Kian said before leaning down and kissing his wife. The kiss grew uncomfortably deep in nanoseconds.

  “Okay, okay, we all know how much you two are in love,” Declan said. “We don’t need a demonstration.”

  Roxie blushed as they broke apart and she snuggled close to Kian. “Sorry. The kids have been sleeping through the night and we’re just . . . um . . . catching up,” she said with a beaming smile.

  “And we have lots of catching up to do,” Kian agreed. “Want to go?”

  She giggled again. “Not yet. We have to welcome Angela home,” Roxie said.

  Angela and Timothy stepped up to them right then. Thankfully she hadn’t heard the rest of the crazy conversation. He wouldn’t be sure how to explain that.

  “Please don’t change your schedules for me. I want to spend some time with Timothy and then sleep for about a week,” she said. She wasn’t looking any of them in the eye.

  “Hey, we are mad at you for leaving, but not because you left,” Roxie said.

  “Nope, we understand that. We’re mad that you didn’t think we’d have your back no matter what. You’re part of the family now, and that means we take care of you,” Keera said.

  “And we’re so glad you’re back,” Eden told her. She was the first to give her a hug. “We all know what it’s like to want to run. But this is your home, so no more taking off. It’s safer for you and Timothy with a family who will do anything for you.”

  Angela’s eyes filled with tears and she turned so she could brush them away. She took a moment before she responded.

  “Thank you for understanding. I’m sorry. I was so scared I didn’t see any other option,” she said.

  “I’ve been there,” Roxie said. “And everyone opened their arms wide for me. We’ll do the same for you because that’s what family does.”

  “I love your family, but I’m not part of it,” Angela reminded them. Declan wanted to correct her.