Page 112 of Wicked Ruin

“You have a way with his family,” she says conversationally. Almost… warm. “They all love you.”

I shrug. “They’ve known me for a long time.”

“Mm.” She takes a sip of her drink. “Long enough they’d be really devastated if something happened to you, wouldn’t they?”

“Aye, I’d imagine.” My heart is beating too fast. Is she… threatening me?

“How lovely,” she says, “to be so necessary.”

With another smile, she turns and walks back to Declan, who’s staring at both of us with a frown.

People are starting to leave. I look at my phone.

Bronwyn

I KNOW, RIGHT? We need to chat. I’ve been doing some more research

I give one last glance toward Valentina and Declan. They’re standing close, like they’re meant to. She smiles at me, then intentionally turns around as if to dismiss me.

“I’m driving you home.” Declan suddenly appears beside me. He sees Colm standing by Seamus and points toward Valentina, as if silently telling his brother to make sure she gets home.

“I can get home on my own.”

Declan’s hand tightens on my shoulder as he leans in closer to me. “There’s something I need to tell you.” The look on his face tells me this costs him something, but honestly?

I’m not happy right now. I’m so fucking tired of this situation. And I’m trying to see things from his point of view, but goddamn it.

So I decide to go with him for the sheer reason of telling him to fuck off.

“Go,” he says, his tone brooking no argument. “Wait for me outside.” He opens the door and gestures, and I go, my anger rising with every step I take.

Outside, it’s cold and dark, and I stand on the steps with my arms crossed and my jaw tight, watching people trickle out of the restaurant. Valentina doesn’t even look at me as she walks past, as if I’m effectively dismissed.

Two minutes later, Declan comes through the door, sees me, and walks over. I bristle at his touch on my lower back as he steers me toward the car park.

“Don’t.” I don’t look at him.

He doesn’t say anything at first, just walks beside me, but I know him so well, I can feel his anger simmering. Fuck it, I know he doesn’t like this situation any more than I do, but he owes me more than this.

He opens my door, and I slide into the seat, reaching quickly for my seat belt before he does because he’s lost that privilege. We drive toward mine, the music off, neither of us speaking. I watch the streetlights and think about all the things I’m not saying out loud. The pressure of it all sits heavy. I feel like I’m waiting for something to crack.

We drive all the way to the door outside my house. Behind us, I know my guards have parked a suitable distance away. They know we’re a couple at this point.

Who else does?

“Bridget.”

“I know. It’s fine, Declan. Whatever you’re about to say, it’s fine, alright? Because it’s always fine. Because it’s totally fine for you to threaten your brother when he gets too close to me, even though you have no intention of taking his place.”

“That’s not⁠—”

“She threatened me tonight.” I turn to look at him. “Quietly, in a way that might have slipped past anyone who overheard. But she stood next to me and let me know that she knows, too, and that she could do something about it if she wanted to.”

He frowns. “Did she? What did she say?”

“Aye. It doesn’t matter what she said. What matters is that she said it, and you insisted on driving me home. I’m still the person nobody is supposed to know about, and I am so—” My throat closes. I press my fingers to my eyes. “I’m so tired, Declan.”

“I understand. I know⁠—”