"Was it?"He tilts his head."Because from where I'm standing, I've got nothing to lose.And you've got everything."
He's right.That's the fucked up part.He's got nothing.No family who'll miss him.No ties.Nothing but obsession and violence.
And I've got Enya.I’ve got her trust.Got her leaning on me.Got everything to lose if I fuck this up.I’m falling so hard for the woman, so fucking hard.Hell, I’ve probably already fallen.
But that's exactly why I can't let him walk out of here.
"Last chance," I say, my voice low and dangerous."Walk away.Leave Dublin.Never come back.And you live."
Declan laughs."I'm not going anywhere.She's mine.And I will never let her go."
The words land like a death sentence.
His.Not mine.
I move.Fast.Closing the distance before he can react.My fist connects with his jaw.Hard.The crack echoes through the warehouse.
He stumbles back, blood on his lip.But he's still smiling.
"There it is," he says."There's the violence I knew was in you.Enya always picks the violent ones."
I hit him again, this time aiming for his ribs.He grunts in pain, his eyes flashing with agony, but he continues to come for me, swinging the knife in my direction.
I dodge it, but barely.The blade whistles past my face, not touching me.
"She'll never forgive you for this," Declan says."For being exactly what you are.A thug.A killer."
"Better a killer than what you are."
"And what am I?"
"Nothing.You're fucking nothing."
He lunges, his knife aimed at my chest.I catch his wrist and twist hard, until I hear something crack.He screams in pain and drops the knife.
But he's not done.His mouth twists into a scowl as he starts to advance once again, throwing punch after punch.One connects with my temple, and instantly, stars burst in my vision.
I stagger back and the fucker tackles me.We hit the concrete with a jarring thud, the impact driving the air from my lungs.And just like that, he’s on top of me.His hands around my throat.Squeezing.His face twisted with hate.
"I'll kill you," he snarls."Then I'll take her.Take Warren.Make them watch each other suffer.Make them remember this is your fault."
Rage explodes through me.Hot, vicious, and unstoppable.
I bring my knee up, hard, right between his legs.He gasps and loosens his grip.I throw him off and scramble to my feet.He's slower getting up from being hurt and bleeding.But he’s still fighting.
He comes at me again.I meet him halfway.My fist connects with his nose and blood sprays from it, but it doesn’t stop him.His elbow catches my ribs.Pain flares but I push through it.
We're both bleeding now, both breathing hard.We both know this only ends one way.
He reaches for the knife, fingers closing around the handle.
I'm faster.
I grab him by the throat and slam him against the metal table.Photos of Enya scatter and fall to the ground.
"She's not yours," I growl, face inches from his."You're never touching her again."
"I'll always come back," he chokes out, blood bubbling on his lips."Always.You can't watch her forever.Can't protect her every second.And when you slip, when you fuck up, I'll be there."
