Page 48 of Declan

Good God. Now I felt like I was going to throw up.

Anger gave way to resolve.

Autumn was done.

Too much had been taken from her.

Determination coursed through my veins and settled deep.

I would do anything I had to do to get Autumn clear of this life.

Anything.

Chapter 17

The tiny house I rented in Annapolis felt claustrophobic—smaller than it really was with five big men in my living room.

The jig was up. They knew I’d been living in Maryland, and now they knew exactly where I lived.

This sucked.

Especially since Thad knew and he’d tell Emmy, making my departure imminent.

Conversation on the way back to the States had been sparse. No, that wasn’t true. The guys had spoken plenty. Declan had multiple conversations with Tex and Zane. All the men had checked in with their women. Thad had contacted Emmy dozens of times. However, I did note that not once during those short chats had he mentioned my name, something I was grateful for. And I had called Ash to tell her that Madeleine Strotherby was taken care of and now she was up.

I didn’t miss the excitement in my friend’s voice, which was something I’d always lacked. I might have felt some sick, perverse satisfaction, followed by crippling remorse, but I was never excited like she was. Ash was made of sterner stuff. She had an iron constitution. I was weak and could barely stomach the things I’d done.

Who was I kidding, I couldn’t stomach them—period. And now Declan knew my secret. So far, I didn’t think he’d told anyone but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. Why I cared I didn’t know. I just didn’t want anyone to know something about me.

What hadn’t happened during our travel was a conversation between Declan and me. He was giving me a wide berth. I was grateful for the distance even though deep down it hurt worse than the injuries to my throat and arm. Kyle had indeed sewn me up the first chance he got. Thankfully, it only required three sutures because I’d refused pain meds, and even though he’d numbed the area, I ached everywhere. And when the topical ointment had worn off, my arm burned like a son-of-a-bitch. But what had turned my body into a trembling mess was when Kyle had glued my throat closed. It was not the pain or the burn that had sent me into a ball of twisted anxiety, it was the knowledge of how close I’d come to dying.

I’d made a huge mistake, one I’d never repeat. Then that bitch Madeleine had surprised me and stabbed me in the arm. Thank God I moved in time because she was aiming for my face. I’d been impatient and opened the door instead of waiting for one of the guys.

And through that, Declan had said nothing. He simply sat with his eyes locked onto mine, blazing fury he didn’t bother to hide.

Now, back in my house, I still didn’t know what had Declan wrapped around the axles and I was so tired and strung so tight I didn’t care. He could go home and seethe in private.

We are nothing I reminded myself for the thousandth time. He is not my responsibility and I am not his. Fuck buddies—that was it.

God, that hurt my stomach.

“Remember to change that bandage tomorrow and—”

“I won’t forget, Kyle. Thank you for everything. Now get home to Anaya.”

“You’re a little bit of all right, Autumn.” Kyle dipped his chin and started for the door.

“I’m leaving, too.” Max’s gaze came to mine and I braced. “Just so you know, I like you, too.”

Well, hell, why did that make me feel warm and fuzzy? Big, bad Max Brown being cool. Who knew he had it in him?

“You’re my ride, asshole,” Brooks called after Max. “See ya around, girl. You did good.”

And with that, Max, Brooks, and Kyle left.

Three down, two more to go.

The two I didn’t want to face.