Page 81 of Declan

“Ashaki’s real name is Amie Shapiro.”

“Fuck,” Declan clipped. “Baby—”

“It was scrubbed when she left the FBI, but her records will be under that name, including the information about her family.”

“Autumn—”

“I’m making the plays I need to make. We’re a team, right? All of us? I need to trust my team and give them what they need.”

“Christ.” Declan’s hands went to his hair and he combed his long fingers through it. “Thank you, baby.”

Then without warning, Thad was at my side. He pulled me into a hug and squeezed the life out of me. Panic came barreling to the surface, I felt the sweat instantly bead on my forehead, and I furiously tried to blink away the haze.

“Let her go,” Declan demanded.

“Brother—”

“Right now, Thaddeus.” Then Declan was pulling me out of my brother-in-law’s arms.

“Fuck, I didn’t think.”

“Baby, look at me.” I blinked and Declan came into focus. “You good?”

I was horrified everyone saw my panic attack, but so fucking grateful Declan was trying to cover it up that I felt my nose sting.

“Damn,” I whispered. “He was just trying to hug me.”

“He came at you quick, Autumn. He’s lucky you didn’t take off his balls.”

“Shit, Autumn, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. My fault.”

I gave Thad a shaky smile. “Not your fault I’m all fucked-up.”

“Don’t do that,” he chided. “Don’t go back to her.”

My back went ramrod straight, a smartass retort on my tongue, but the fire quickly faded when Declan placed my hand on his chest. The steady thrum of his heartbeat under my palm settled the anger.

Don’t go back.

I didn’t need Declan to remind me to be fearless, not verbally anyway.

One touch was all I needed.

“I get freaked out when I’m held onto,” I told Thad. “I can’t be restrained in any way. And I don’t like to be touched.”

“It won’t happen again,” he assured me.

“I don’t want to be afraid anymore.” I wasn’t sure if I was telling that to Declan or Thad or to both of them. I just knew it was the truth. “So I’d like to try again. But maybe just not so tight.”

Declan gave me a blinding smile that told me just how proud he was of me, and stepped aside.

I slowly turned to Thad. He ignored my wobbly smile and gently wrapped me in a hug.

His mouth bent to my ear and he whispered, “Thank you.”

“For what? A hug?”

“For giving my Emmy back her family.”