“Ayla!”
The sound of Declan’s voice sent a surge of relief through me. With guns drawn, both he and who I assumed was Ian charged around the corner. He took one look at Vincent on the floor and jumped over him to get to me, taking me in his arms.
“Fuck, I’m so glad you’re okay.”
I buried my face in his chest and couldn’t stop the tears from burning my cheeks. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. I think Linda’s okay, too, but she may be in shock.”
He released me from his grip but kept an arm protectively around my waist. Ian bent down next to Vincent and checked for a pulse. He had dark hair and looked to be in his midthirties, with tattoos down his arms.
The second he met Declan’s gaze, I knew the verdict. Vincent was dead.
Ian stood and Linda fanned a hand over her face. “Oh, my God, did I kill him?”
I looked up at Declan and he lifted his brows asif he was silently asking if I wanted to be the one to tell her. He let me go and I walked over to Linda, looping my arm with hers so I could lead her away from the kitchen.
“Did I kill him?” she asked again as we walked out of the house.
Once we were away from Vincent’s body and out in the fresh air, I faced her and nodded. “You took some good pointers from Sipsey,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Maybe that could be your new nickname. The good thing is that you saved my life, Linda. All of this is over because of you.”
Tears formed in her eyes and she broke out in one of the brightest smiles I’d ever seen. “Yeah?”
I nodded again. “Yeah. You’re a hero.”
Declan hurried outside and Linda charged toward him, throwing her arms around him. “I’m a hero. I saved Ayla’s life.”
He smiled at me over the top of her head. “Yes, you are,” he said to her. “I should’ve let you help us from the start.”
Linda let him go and smacked his arm. “You’re damn right, you should have. Maybe next time you’ll listen to me.”
Declan shook his head and he stared right at me. “There won’t be a next time. This was my last mission.”
Ian stuck his head out the front door and yelled at Declan. “The cleaning crew is on their way. I got this if you want to get them home.”
Linda blew out a sigh and started down the driveway. “He doesn’t have to say that twice. I’m out of here.”
Declan held me close as we made our way down the street toward Linda’s abandoned car in the bushes. Declan’s was right behind it. We stopped in front of Linda’s car but there were so many unanswered questions.
“What happens now?” I asked Declan.
He glanced back and forth from me to Linda. “This has to stay between us. Word can’t get out about this. As far as anyone is concerned, you were sick at home,” he said to me. Then to Linda, he added, “And you were at home baking a cake.”
“But I killed someone,” Linda replied.
He shrugged. “It’ll be our secret. If you hadn’t killed him, it would’ve been me doing it.”
Linda nodded. “He was a bad man anyway. He deserved it.”
Declan placed a hand soothingly on her shoulder. “Yes, he was. You saved a lot of people tonight,Linda. I wouldn’t worry about what you did. Again, you’re a hero.”
She lifted her head triumphantly in the air. “Yes, I am. I think I’m going to go home and bake a cake to celebrate.”
My stomach growled. “And I’ll be right over to eat it.”
Linda hopped in her car and drove away while Declan and I stood at his. Everything had happened so fast that it was hard to process it all. Declan held me so tight in his arms and I welcomed it.
“I love you, Ayla. I was so afraid I’d never see you again.”
I breathed him in. “I’m here. It’s over now. That’s all that matters.”
