"Yeah."
"No going back after this."
"I know."
He studies my face.Whatever he sees there, he accepts it."Alright then.Let's end this."
We move as a unit.Silent.Efficient.Raptor takes point.Cowboy flanks left.Rush right.I'm in the middle with Pyro behind me.
The warehouse door is open.And there, in the center of the space, standing near a metal table covered in papers and photos, is Declan Murphy.
He's smaller than I expected.Average height.Lean build.Dark hair.Ordinary face.The kind of man you'd pass on the street and never notice.
But I notice the photos spread on the table.All of Enya.Some of Warren.Some of her building.Her work.The school.
Plans.He was planning something.
Declan looks up when we enter.Sees me.Sees the patch.The brothers flanking me.
And he smiles.
He fucking smiles.
"You must be Tank," he says, voice smooth, confident, like he's in control."Enya's new guard dog."
I don't respond.I just move closer.Slowly.Deliberately.
"She talks about you, you know," Declan continues."Well, she doesn't talk to me directly anymore.But I hear things.See things.She's been spending a lot of time with you."
"She's done with you."My voice comes out flat, cold.
"Is she?"He laughs, sharp and bitter."You don't know her like I do.She'll always crawl back.Always has.Always will."
"Not this time."
"Yes, this time.Every time."He moves around the table casually, like we're having a normal conversation."She's mine, has been for years.The fact she ran doesn't change that."
"She left you."
"She ran.There's a difference.And now she's playing house with you, letting you pretend you matter.But you don't.Not really.Because when I take her back, she won't remember your name."
My fists clench, every muscle in my body coiled tight.
"You think she chose you?"Declan's smile widens."She doesn't get to choose.That's not how this works.She's mine.Warren's mine.And I'm taking them back."
"Over my dead body."
"If that's what it takes."His hand moves to his pocket.Slow.Deliberate.
Raptor shifts behind me.Ready.
He’s mine.
"You're not taking her anywhere," I say quietly."You're not touching her.You're not going near her son.You're done."
"I'm done when I say I'm done."Declan pulls a knife from his pocket."I've been watching her for weeks.Know her routine.Know where she sleeps.Where Warren goes to school.Where your little clubhouse is.I know everything."
"Then you know coming here was a mistake."
