I look at her again. Then at Declan. “So you lead some Irish mafia business?”
Declan smirks, dark and infuriating. “Families. Four of them. They all answer to me.”
He points at Flynn. “Flynn and I, our families have been tied together since we were kids. He’s my right-hand man.”
What the actual fuck?
“Wait.” I step back, needing space, breath,something.
Connor and Kian move, clearing a path. They’re always watching. Calculating.
“Why would you kidnap me?” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. “Why do any of you evencare? You barely know me!”
None of it makes sense.
If this is all true…
I’mnobody.
I’m good at my job, sure. But notrisk the Irish mafia’s attention,good.
I notice how Declan looks at Flynn, like he’s expecting him to say something.
“You and Viviana are good friends. She cares for you,” Declan says, and I frown.
Okay, that’s true. From everything she’s done since the fire… She took me into their mansion, slept beside me for the first two nights just to make sure I took all the pills. She brought me clothes, a phone. She hasn’t left my side.
But still…
I turn to Flynn. “Is this because of that night?”
Everyone goes quiet.
Flynn doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch.
His arms stay crossed, his eyes locked on mine, still, but somethingferalsimmers underneath.
“And if it was?” he asks, voice deep, a low rasp that curls heat in my chest. His green eyes darken, swallowing the light.
“It didn’t mean anything, Flynn!” I raise my voice, something sharp and raw tearing up my throat. “The stalker knew I was a virgin. He made sure I stayed that way. After the club photoshoot, I decided I had had enough. I needed to—” I pause, chest rising, heart hammering. “I thought that if he knew I wasn’t a… you know… he would leave me alone.”
“Well, that plan turned to shit very quickly,” Connor mutters with a chuckle.
Flynn cuts him a look sharp enough to slice skin.
His voice again, lower this time, slower. “So I was a means to an end?” He pushes off the wall, and something shifts in the air.
He walks toward me slowly, shoulders squared, movements controlled,but there’s tension everywhere. His muscles roll with each step.The veins on his hands tighten like cords. His pupils are blown wide, his expression unreadable, like he’s holding something back with both hands.
Everything else fades.
“I never meant to hurt you,” I whisper, suddenly unsure.
He stops inches in front of me.
Then he leans in; his lips brush the shell of my ear, warm breath skating across my skin.
“You didn’t hurt me, trouble…”
