Knows about…fuck.
“How?” Though deep down, I already know. Only one person knew besides Autumn and myself. Kaden, and he’d never say a word, not even to the Callaghans.
“Autumn,” I whisper.
“She didn’t want to tell,” Declan says, stepping closer, softer now. “But you know how Viviana is.”
Of course I do.
“There’s something else you should know.”
It’s the way he says it. The weight in his voice. The look in his eyes.
“What?” My heartbeat kicks up, fast and unsteady.
“You can’t react. Don’t do or say a fucking thing. You hear me?” Declan’s tone drops. Urgent now. “Viviana will kill us both.”
I nod. Tight. Silent.
“What the fuck, Dec?” The question comes out rougher. My hands curl into fists. “Tell me.”
“Autumn… she—” He stops. Hesitates. Like the words catch in his throat.
“She’s what?” My voice breaks. “Is she hurt? Did I hurt her?”
The blood. That fucking blood. It flashes in my mind again.
“She was a virgin, mate.”
I stumble back like he punched me. My chest caves in on itself.
“No,” I whisper. Not to him but to myself. A denial I don’t believe.
The blood.
“Flynn.” Declan tries to pull me back, but I’m already inside that night. Every second of it. The way she moved, the way she touched me. Her voice, so soft and sultry like sin. How she pulled me into the dark.
“I didn’t know.” My words come out hollow.
“I know. She said she didn’t want you to.”
I frown, confused. “So she told you? And Viviana? But not me?”
Anger coils hot in my gut, twisting through my ribs.
She should’ve told me.
That’s why she ran. That’s why she didn’t want the lights on. She knew I’d see it the second I was inside her. She knew exactly what she was doing.
“She didn’t fucking tell me!” Rage surges through me like wildfire. “She planned it.”
“I talked to Viviana after Autumn left,” Declan says, quieter now, like he’s walking over broken glass. “We think she was just… tired of it. Vi said she always blushed around you.”
I scoff, the sound bitter. I can’t laugh, only burn.
“So she made a plan to fuck me in the dark.”
“It’s not your fault,” Declan says firmly, gripping my shoulder. “She wanted it, Flynn. We told her to tell you, but she refused. I’m telling you now because I know what you feel for her, even if you pretend you don’t.”
