Page 134 of Deklan


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I glance at Brian as Deklan relates the details of the video. His face has gone completely white, and it’s clear he knows exactly what night this occurred. He glances up at me for a second, and it looks as though he’s about to cry.

“It’s my fault,” he says. He clears his throat and then looks at Deklan, repeating the words louder. “It’s all my fault, Dek. I never should have—”

“It’s Sean’s fault,” Deklan says. He looks sternly at Brian. “He’s violated my wife, and it’s not going to happen again.”

Brian leans forward with his arms across his knees. He looks like he’s about to vomit.

“Let me be clear to all of you, but especially you, Teagan. This family has been my life for a long time. Kera is now a part of that, and any affront to her is an affront to the family. I don’t claim the Foley name, but—”

“Dek, I’ve never given a shit about what your last name is.” Tegan scowls at him.

“I know.” Deklan nods and gives her a quick smile. “I just want to be clear that this isn’t all about me or my wife. Sean killed his own flesh and blood. Most of you were there when he did it.”

“You’re talking treason, boss,” Mac says quietly. “Are we really going there?”

“I’m open to suggestions,” Teagan says, “but I don’t know what other choice we have.”

“Teagan is on our side, and Neil is dead,” Deklan says. “Sean is the only other Foley left, and my loyalty to him is broken. One thing Sean is right about—no one just walks away from this.”

“He killed a member of the family.” Teagan’s usually stoic face goes pale for a moment, and her lips press together. “Neil was our cousin. No matter what else has happened, we don’t kill one of our own.”

I feel the color drain from my own face as I recall Sean’s words at our wedding reception.

“I’d say next time he’ll know better than to drink anything I’ve mixed for him, but it’s kinda late for that.”

“Deklan?” I whisper as I touch his arm. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

I bite down on my lip. I don’t want to cry in front of all of these people, but tears threaten to fall anyway. I should have told Deklan about this a long time ago, and I have no idea how he will react when he hears what I have to say.

“Something Sean said to me.” I swallow hard, trying to figure out the right words to say. “Right after we were married, Sean came up to me. He said he never had any intention of marrying me, and that his father was just trying to control him.”

I pause and glance around the room at all the faces staring back at me. Deklan grips my hand for a moment.

“He…he told me that he made a drink for his father right before he died.”

“Kera, what are you trying to say?” Deklan tilts his head toward me. “Sean made drinks all the time.”

“It was the way he said it.” I’m not making my point, but I don’t want to just come out and say it. Even as the words form in my head, I realize it’s all speculation. “I…I think he meant he poisoned him.”

“Oh, fuck.” Teagan sucks in a breath, and Deklan turns toward her. “He was asking about poisons just a month before then. He specifically asked about ones that could be mixed into drinks without detection.”

The room goes silent as everyone looks around for everyone else’s reactions. Teagan squares her shoulders, and her expression goes blank as she focuses on my husband. Deklan abruptly shoves himself out of the chair and heads straight for the warehouse door. He slams it behind him as he leaves.

“Should I go after him?” Brian asks.

“No, Kera should.” Teagan looks at me. “We can’t delay this any longer.”

I stand on wobbly legs and follow Deklan’s path out the door and into the aisle between the storage containers. Deklan is leaning against one of them, vomiting on the ground.

“Dek?” I approach slowly and place my hand on his shoulder.

“He…he killed Fergus. Oh, God! How could he…?” He doubles over with his eyes squeezed shut but doesn’t throw up again. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I swear, Deklan—I didn’t really put it all together. I suspected, but it seems like so long ago, and so much has happened since then. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

Deklan stands up straight and leans his back against the side of the storage container. He stares up at the sky and blinks a few times before wiping his mouth on his sleeve and looking back to me.

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