Page 118 of Declan

She stopped in front of me and I took the pack and grabbed the handle of the suitcase.

“I’ll give you two a minute.”

Emerson’s hand slowly came up and she cupped my cheek.

“Take care of my sister, Declan Crenshaw.”

“You have my word.”

I left the house, tossed her bags in the back of the cab next to mine, leaned against the truck, and waited. Then I waited more. Then I waited longer and I learned something new about Autumn. She could shower and get ready in less than ten minutes. She could pack up her life into a suitcase and a backpack and do that in less than five, but it took her for-freaking-ever to say goodbye to her sister.

I didn’t try to stop the smile that tipped my lips.

Just when I thought I was going to have to go into the house and surgically remove the two of them, Autumn came out, shut the door, and made her way to the truck.

“How’s Emmy?”

“Thad’s coming to get her with Dad.”

“Good call.”

“You ready?”

Autumn didn’t answer, she smiled. It was the same big, bright smile she’d been giving her sister when I’d walked in.

Yeah, she was ready.

I helped her into the truck, rounded the hood, got in, and started her up. I was at the end of her block, stopped at a stop sign, when I turned and asked, “Where to?”

“How about west?”

“West it is.”

I made a left toward route 50 and we’d catch 66 on the other side of D.C. and start our journey west.

“Love you, Autumn.”

I heard her swift inhale, I saw her body shift in the seat, and lastly, I felt her hand glide over the back of my neck and her fingers curl tight.

“Love you, too, Dec.”

Fucking, fucking, hell.

That felt incredible.

So good, I let that burn consume me.

And we headed west.

Chapter 37

Two months later—Maryland

Zane

“I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, Mr. Lewis.”

“Please call me Zane and congratulations on the win.”