“I will never control you like that, Andie. I will never lay a hand on you or raise my voice to you. If you want to dance around the living room singing to Cardi B, then do so. If you want to throw your clothes on the floor, eat in bed, and leave your toothpaste tube uncapped, then do that too. You’re free to do what you want, when you want, however you want. You can come and go as you please, as long as Liam or another guard accompanies you. The only thing I ask is for you to never hide yourself from me. I want to know my daughter, the real you.”
My mouth gapes open. “You know who Cardi B is?”
He smirks with such smugness, it makes me giggle. I fuckinggiggle. Then I do a complete turnabout and pendulum to the other end of the emotional spectrum when tears fill my eyes as what he says truly hits me. I’m free. I’m finally free. It’s overwhelming and completely devastating at the same time.
Declan’s expression softens when he sees my struggle. “Sit and eat.”
I do, taking a bite of the warmed beef. “This is really good.”
Another smile. “I’ll let Pearson know you approved.” He takes a sip of the red wine he poured for himself. “One more thing.”
I stop with my fork midway to my mouth and look over at him when he doesn’t continue.
“I found your niece.”
Holy fucking shit! He found Sarah. My fork clatters onto the countertop when I drop it. I launch at him, throwing myself into his arms, not caring one damn bit if I’m overstepping personal boundaries or making him slosh his wine everywhere.
“Thank you.”
Declan hugs me back. “You’re welcome.”
I quickly let go, feeling awkward, and retake my seat. “I don’t want Sarah anywhere near here. She needs to be somewhere safe. I can’t allow Julio or the other families to use her against me.”
As much as I want Sarah with me, I need to get her as far away as possible from this city and from the mayhem I know is coming. I won’t allow my niece to be forced into this life of mafia mentality like I was. She deserves to live a normal childhood. I don’t know whether Kellan would approve, seeing as he had her living in that house with that monster, but my brother isn’t here. And I’m damn sure not going to allow Keane or Rafe to decide Sarah’s fate.
Declan scratches his short, blond beard, mulling something over. “I know a family in Ireland that can look after her.”
“The McCarthys?” I ask him, folding my hands together on top of the center island, no longer hungry.
“No, but they’re relations,” he answers.
I smile at that. Of course they are.
“Is Sarah here?”
He shakes his head no. “I promise she’s safe and being well-cared for. I’ll set up a video call later so you can speak with her. Unfortunately, there’s the issue of what to do with the nanny.”
I couldn’t give a shit about Meribella. Sarah is the only person who matters. “I don’t care about her.”
Declan nods again, bringing his glass of wine up to his lips, but keeping his eyes on me. “Now, tell me everything you know about Keane Agosti and Jaxson West.”
I go stock-still. My heart hammers and the delicious food I just ate turns sour in my stomach. “Why?”
“Because they’ll be arriving in about an hour.”
Chapter 12
Tessa looks up from her laptop when I enter the suite.
“Everything’s in place,” she comments, the glow of her screen casting green and white hues across her face.
“And the docks?”
Tessa grins widely. “We’re about to make the DEA very happy,” she quips, turning her twin dimples toward Rafael. “I’ve left enough breadcrumbs that lead back to Rossi. Julio will think he’s been double-crossed.”
Rafael gives her a slight nod but otherwise remains quiet.
It irritates the shit out of me that he had her first—my Alexandria. I knew exactly what I walked in on earlier. Doesn’t matter because she’s mine. Has been mine from the moment Declan showed me a picture of her. And my obsession with her only grew once I fucked her sweet cunt. She cried out my name as I ripped her apart with my dick and had her coming all over it. My name. Not his.
