I swallow, running my fingers through my hair, willing my pulse to calm. We just have to pretend like nothing happened.
"Do you think Declan will buy our story?" I ask Finn, fear starting to creep in as we get closer to the Costello estate.
Finn glances at me and sighs before looking back at the road. "With Declan, you never know. In all my years of being Declan's brother, one thing remains constant: he's unpredictable."
We arrive in Hell's Kitchen and I swallow in fear. My hands become clammy, my heart races, and for a second, I think I see my vision blur. I close my eyes, reminding myself I can face my fears. Running away won't solve our problems. It will only make it worse.
"We're here," Finn says, and I open my eyes. The black iron gate looks a little bigger than the last time. Finn's hand slowly comes over my folded hands, sitting on my lap. I didn't realize how much I needed his touch. It soothes my frayed nerves a bit, steadying my racing heart.
"It's going to be okay," Finn says, his eyes holding all emotion at once: Love, fear, and worry. "We stick to our story, okay?"
I nod, interlocking my hands with his. I wish time could stop and this moment could last forever, but it doesn't work that way.
"I love you," I say to Finn as he drives through the gate.
"I love you, too," Finn answers, bringing the back of my hand to his lips. It feels like déjà vu. It takes me back to the first timeI arrived here. How scared and sick to my stomach I was, but this time I have Finn by my side, which makes it comforting and scary.
Everything looks normal, too normal. The guards are doing their thing, patrolling the estate. But that's what exactly puts me on edge. It's like the calm before the storm, the kind of silence that feels staged.
Finn parks the car in the garage and kills the engine. As we step out of the car, the cold night breeze hits me. It sneaks beneath my clothes, crawling along my skin. The sun has completely disappeared from the sky, leaving nothing but shadows and a bone-deep chill that refuses to leave. I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I follow Finn into the elevator.
The door slides shut behind us, and my heart starts pounding. Finn presses the button, and the elevator starts moving. I watch as the floor numbers rise one by one, my stomach sinking further with each floor we pass. I try to brace myself, but it's no use. When the door finally dings and slides open, two bodyguards are waiting for us. One of them is Alex.
Finn's eyes dart between them, suspicious. "What is this?" he asks, his voice steady and cutting.
"Welcome back, Mr. Finn," Alex says with a tight nod. His eyes flicker to me before settling on Finn. "Mr. Declan wants you in his office."
"I'll find him myself. I need to stop by my room first," Finn says, attempting to move past them, but Alex raises his arm, placing it firmly on Finn's shoulder to stop him. A mistake. Finn's jaw tightens. His fist clenches at his side. I can see him trying to hold back, not to cause a scene.
He exhales through his nose. "Wait for me in my room," Finn turns to me, his voice low. No way, I think before I can answer, Alex interrupts. My heart skips.
"She's coming too." I meet Finn's eyes, and I see worry etched on his face. We fall into step with the guards, following them down the hallway towards Declan's office. My stomach twists the closer we get, the tension coiling in my chest. Every step feels heavier than the last. I have a bad feeling about this. A really bad feeling.
The moment the door to the office opens, a heavy stillness greets me. It's dense, controlled, and unforgiving. My heart thumps with every step. Finn's arm brushes mine, but even his presence isn't enough to calm me.
A long conference table stretches across the center like a divide, shining beneath the overhead light, and Declan sits at the far end of it. His eyes pierce right through me as I enter. He doesn't move. He doesn't even blink. He sits straight-backed in his leather chair, fingers interlaced before him like a king awaiting confession. No warmth, no acknowledgment. Just that same cold, calculating look that always makes me feel like I've already been judged before a word is spoken.
I feel a movement beside us and turn to see William and James stepping forward. This feels like an ambush. Finn glances at them, and his stance becomes protective. His eyes shift quickly from them to Declan, narrowing with suspicion.
"What is this, Declan?" His voice is steady and strict, masking the storm I know is brewing beneath. "I return from a trip, and suddenly I'm not allowed to return to my room?"
Declan scoffs, leaning into his chair with that familiar coldness in his eyes. "A trip?" His tone drips with mockery. Finn and I decided to go with that lie. It was all we had. A gamble we hoped would buy us time.
"Yeah," Finn answers, not missing a beat. My eyes flick to William, and a sickening smirk forms on his lips. I narrow my gaze. Something isn't right.
Declan rises slowly from his seat. Each step feels calculated, and a pang of dread shoots through me. Like a predator closing in on its prey, he moves closer. "Oh dear brother," he says, each word heavy with condescension. "What trip did you go on?"
"We went to Florida," Finn answers.
"Hmm. Florida," Declan repeats thoughtfully as he continues to close the space between us. William and James are behind us, and Declan is in front of us. I feel like we're in a cage, trapped like mice in a lion's den. "And you didn't think to inform me about this trip... especially if you're taking the mole with you."
"Declan..." Finn starts, but he doesn't get to finish.
"Shut up, Finn. We know what you are," William snarls, stepping in.
Finn snaps. He throws his fist across William's face. William recovers quickly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as a wicked grin spreads across his face. Before Finn can throw another punch, James grabs him from behind, locking his arms down in a tight grip. Finn struggles, growling, but James is stronger than he looks. William takes full advantage, slamming his fist across Finn's face. I scream, bringing my hand to my mouth, shock radiating off me, and, most importantly, worry.
Finn's lip splits, blood oozing from it. He struggles to get out of James's grip. "Let go of me, you bastard," Finn yells, his eyes landing on me, worry written all over his face. Declan comes to stand in front of Finn. He lowers himself to meet Finn's face.
