“Gentlemen. Predictable as always.” Declan greets them cheerily. Why the fuck is he provoking them? And why does he sound so happy?
“You think you’re so fucking smart. We’re about to wipe that smug smile off your face.”
Declan groans. “Seriously. Did you get that out of the tough guy handbook? Why the fuck can’t you be just a little bit original?”
Apparently, being called unoriginal is the final straw for this guy. Head asshole lunges at Declan. In the full moonlight, I see the curve of Declan’s smile, then he’s moving. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone move that fast. He’s dodging fists, moving around, but never letting them get between him and the door to our room. Both guys are coming at him, and the fucking lunatic is laughing. I see his head snap back. He yells, “good one,” then throws an elbow that makes the guy curl up into a ball.
Realization dawns. This is not a fair fight. Not at all.
I was worried he would be outnumbered. And yes, despite what he said, I was worried geeky Declan wouldn’t be able to handle himself. But these guys are so out of their league against him, Declan’s power making them look like inexperienced children. My fingers, curled tight around the doorknob, gradually relax. I step more fully into the window, so I can see it wrap up.
The guys are both on the ground, groaning. Their breath visible in the cold night air. Their noises and swearing tell me that they’re hurt, but not badly. Declan rolls them, patting their pockets until he’s pulled their IDs out.
He tosses the wallets back, keeping their driver’s licenses in his hand. “Boys, enough of this bullshit now. It’s done. Yes?”
Apparently, suit guy never learns. He sputters out a laugh, spitting toward Dec. “It’s not done till you’re bleeding, and we have a little fun with that cunt in there.”
Jesus. Declan was right. Why the fuck are some men like this? I’m ready to go out there and smash some heads now that I’m sure Declan will have my back when he casually walks up to the guy and, in one sudden motion, raises his foot and smashes it into his crotch. The howl of pain that comes from him makes the hair on my body stand up. I hold my breath as Declan crouches down next to the guy, pulling one hand from his crotch, casually pulling the pinkie away from the guy’s other fingers, and with a snap, breaks it.
I slam my hand over my mouth to keep my scream in. It’s so sudden. So unexpected. He did it without hesitation. Without blinking. Without emotion. But when he speaks…there’s the emotion.
“See, I was going to let this go. Chalk it up to too much booze. I was going to let you crawl back into your room and lick your wounds. Let you save face. But you had to go and threaten my lady. Not cool, man.” Wrapping his hand in the guy’s hair, he pulls him up until Declan’s standing. The guy’s head is at crotch level. “So please understand, this was just a little behavior correction. To make sure you understand that from this moment forward, you don’t look at her. You don’t think about her, and you sure as fuck don’t speak about her. To anyone. Because I know who you are. By this time tomorrow, I’ll know everything there is to know about you, right down to the brand of diapers your mommy bought for you. And if I hear of you so much as catcalling another woman, I’ll tear your fucking life apart.”
His sinister grin sends a shiver down my spine. I can’t decide if I’m afraid or really turned on. “And I’ll enjoy it. Do we understand each other?”
The suit guy groans, “Yeah, I get it.” Declan turns to buddy, who’s gone silent, watching his friend get stomped.
The guy tucks his chin in, trying to get as far away from the dangerous man looming over him. “Yeah, man. You’ve made your point. We’ll stay away.”
Declan drops suit guy, smiling again as he backs up. “I almost hope you don’t. It’s been months since I got to destroy someone’s life. I’d love a chance to do it again. Now get the fuck away from my door.”
He stands sentinel, arms crossed, expression relaxed as they slowly make their way inside their room. The one guy supporting his injured friend. When they’re out of sight. Declan turns his head, meeting my eyes through the window. “Let me in Cara.”
I hesitate. Just for a second, but it’s there. Declan’s mouth tightens at the corner, but he otherwise waits patiently while I unlock the door for him and cross the room to put the bed between us.
His eyes are locked on me as he closes the door behind him. His jacket is steaming as the cold on the surface hits the heat of the room. He shrugs out of it, carefully draping it over a chair. Then he stands still, watching me. Waiting for…something.
I can’t take the tension anymore. “You...ah...you still have their IDs.”
“Yeah,” he says, nodding slowly.
“Why?”
“So I can keep eyes on them.” He says it so casually, like monitoring them would be a simple, everyday thing.
“What does ‘keep eyes’ mean?”
His jaw clenches. “It means that I’ll learn everything there is to learn about their lives. I’ll monitor their homes, their work, their credit cards, and their bank accounts. I’ll know them better than they know themselves.”
“Why would you do that?”
He slides his hands into the pockets of his track pants. “So I’ll know if they’re a danger to me and mine.”
My mouth is so dry. “Is that something you do a lot?”
“Yes,” he says flatly. Not a hint of emotion in his voice or on his face.
“So, you have...files on people?”
