Declan
What the hell did she say to him? Because I know she didn’t come here just to throw out a jab about his sisters and leave. We’re standing outside alone with him wrapped in my arms. As much as I want to stay like this in silence for a few more minutes, I have to ask.
I pull back slightly and press my lips gently to his. Making sure to pull back before we can get too carried away. “What did she want, Chaos?”
“You, Beast… She wants you.”
My limbs lock up like brakes being hit too hard too late. Images flash behind my eyes of the shit I’ve dealt with over the years, and her words from that night come right back.
“What I want is simple. I want you to marry me. I want to reclaim my rightful spot as Queen of the head Bratva family, andI need someone with power to help me do it.”
“She can’t have me.” It comes out so quietly that I have no idea how he heard me.
“I know, baby. She can’t, because you’re just as much mine as I am yours.” He turns in my arms and hugs me tightly. “And I’ll dismember her limb from limb before I let her get near you again. We’re going to go talk to your brothers and make a plan.” He tilts my head down until my forehead meets his lips and he gently kisses it.
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go figure this out.” I give him a small smile before grabbing his hand and leading him into the bar where everyone is sitting around waiting for us.
Everyone is scattered around the high top tables placed around the area. My brothers on one side, and his brother and friends on the other. I can feel the eyes of his friends on me the moment we walk in holding hands. These guys have never liked me, even when Jake and I were just friends. We’ve just never seen eye to eye, but really that’s just code for they don’t like me because of my family and what I do.
I let go of Jake’s hand and step back a handful of steps. He turns to look at me as he notices that he’s in the middle of the aisle by himself. I give him a smirk and an exaggerated wink. He rolls his eyes and we both laugh. While everyone else silently watches us in curiosity.
“The floor is yours, baby.”
His smile is fucking infectious and causes the corners of my lips to tip until Iknowmy smile mirrors his.
“You don’t want to come over here with me?”
“And miss the view? Not a chance.” I laugh loudly and carefree.
“Okay, can we get to the point here, or are we going to sithere and watch them flirt and eye fuck each other all day?” Tucker groans, but when I glare at him I see the hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Jake turns toward him, “You are still on my shit list, so if I was you, I’d simply shut the hell up. I’ll sit here and flirt with him if I want to, and if I want to suck his dick in front of you all… I’ll do that too.”
Interesting.
Just like I knew they would, everyone groans out their protests in unison. Jake looks back at me with his eyebrow raised and I laugh while shaking my head.
“Stop stalling, asshole. Tell us what happened.”
He turns back to everyone, and gone is the playfulness that was just dancing in his ice blue orbs. Jakob replays what happened with Natasha and her goons earlier. When he finishes, his friends are looking at him like he has two heads. While there’s practically steam coming out of my brothers’ ears and surprisingly Dieter’s too. My legs feel like jello as it sinks in that this woman will not stop until she’s sunk her claws into me to get her way.
I mean, I’m not the only man with power in my world, obviously. So why she won’t just go find someone else is beyond me. I don’t want to be with her, and I never will be willingly. I’m so fucking in love with Jakob that it doesn’t matter who on this Earth steps in front of me, all I see is him. Anyone who gets between us figuratively or literally will be taken care of. I’ll leave a trail of scorched bodies in my wake just to make sure those ice blue eyes never leave mine.
I’m not marrying her. If there was anyone I was scared to disclose our relationship to, they’re in this room with us right now. They all know now, and we’re going to pick them offone by one until she’s the only one left. Then after I figure out what the hell her deal is, I’m going to kill her myself. And I’d like to see anyone try to stop me.
* * *
We came up with a pretty solid game plan. One that I personally am excited to execute. That’s not the plan that Jake and his friends know about, though. That plan is for later on. Jakob seems to be a million miles away as we lounge on the couch opposite Lee and Mac. We came over for dinner and a movie, but it’s clear that he’s just going through the motions. Reaching over, I pick up his hand and gently squeeze it three times. He keeps me waiting a few painstakingly long seconds before he softly repeats the gesture.
The movie is almost over, so instead of bringing it up now, I wait until we tell our siblings bye and get back to his house. I’ve done a good job at keeping my thoughts to myself until I hear the garage door shut behind him. We’re alone and I can speak freely now.
“What’s wrong?” I ask with conviction.
His tired eyes come to mine and his brow furrows, “What?” He looks at me like he didn’t hear me, but it’s when our eyes lock that I see it for what it is. He’s mentally and emotionally on autopilot. He’s just trying to make it to bed.
Without another word, I grab his hand and lead us into the bathroom. Flipping the taps, I set the shower heads to the same warm temperature then slowly undress us both.
“Dec, not to be an asshole, but I’m not really in the–”
