I cackle and wrap my arms around him, my hands landing on his ass. “Not if I shoot them first.” I swear I watch hearts dance in his eyes. He’s such a psychopath.
We spend the next few songs on the dance floor, rocking and grooving to the music. Declan is stiff in the beginning, his eyes bouncing around to every face, looking out for danger. Eventually, he relaxes, even smiling when I turn around and shake my ass against him.
I look at him over my shoulder and wink, watching merriment dance across his face as he laughs.
After about an hour, we’re both sweaty and thirsty, so I lead Declan over to the bar.
We order our drinks, first taking two shots of tequila back-to-back, then grabbing a beer. While we drink, we look out at the dance floor, watching other couples move and grind together. There are some same-sex couples, and no one bats an eye at them. I was worried, since Declan is a loose cannon and really would shoot someone in a crowded club, but it looks like my fears were unfounded.
Well, not really fears, per se. Both Declan and I can handle ourselves. But it’s nice to have a night out without drama.
“How do you feel?” I ask, bumping his arm.
Declan grins at me, his entire face glowing. “I haven’t danced since…since my mom died.”
“We can go more often if?—”
Someone knocks into Declan, pushing him into me.
Declan whirls around, staring the man down. The drunkbastard weaves on his feet, looking at D with cloudy eyes. “Watch the fuck out, man. I’m trying to walk?—”
Without a word, Declan cocks his fist back and punches the man in the face. Blood explodes from the man’s nose as he falls down, curling into a fetal position.
Before he can get more hits in, I pull Declan away from the downed man, grinning at how in control he was, even when someone pissed him off.
“Let’s get some air, baby,” I say in his ear. Declan nods and I notice that his breathing didn’t even change. This time a few months ago, he’d still be raging that some asshole bumped into him and tried to test him. Maybe he did take some of my instructions to heart.
I push out of the back door, pulling in a deep breath of cool air.
Declan puts his back against the wall, resting his head on the bricks. “It was only one punch, Nico. I’m good.”
“I know.” I slot our bodies together. “And you were so in control. You were clearheaded, weren’t you?”
He nods slowly, a smile tipping up his lips. “First time that’s happened. I would have tussled if I had to, but I didn’t feel that surge of anger I usually do.”
“So, my handsome man knows how to follow directions?”
Declan barks a hard laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far. Don’t think I’m gonna sit around and be at your beck and call when?—”
He breaks off his statement, his eyes widening as he looks over my shoulder. Before I can turn around to see what the hell has his attention, Declan pushes me away from him and his hand goes into his jacket for his Sig.
Unfortunately, whoever he was looking at brings down something hard on the back of my head and I go down like a sack of fucking potatoes. The side of my face hits the groundand my vision goes fuzzy. My head swims and I can barely get off the ground, my limbs heavy.
As I look up, I see two men in masks get control of Declan’s arms, pulling out his gun and tossing it across the alley.
In a muffled voice, the man that hit me says, “Get him to the van! Now!”
“No,” I rasp as the men that have Declan drag him away kicking and fighting. His hands are pinned, but his feet are trying to connect. Too impulsive, too uncoordinated. He’s not thinking. He’s not?—
The man who hit me in the head kicks me in the face hard and pain explodes behind my lids. I can barely move, everything hurting, and my body so heavy, it hurts to breathe.
“Nice of you to bring our prize out in public,” the man says. “But we can’t have witnesses. You understand.” He pulls his gun out and I see my life flash before my eyes.
No regrets. My entire life, I’ve had no regrets. But this? This I regret. Bringing Declan here, being the reason he’s no longer with me. Being the reason people have him, taking him God knows where to do God knows what.
The man pulls the hammer back and I close my eyes, wishing I could have done more for Declan to ensure his safety. I should have called Austin and Donny myself to have them watch our backs. If I didn’t think I could protect him myself, no one would have been able to take Declan from me.
Before he pulls the trigger, the door to the club slams open, loud voices spilling out.
