Page 100 of The Agreement


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I wince, “I’ve got this, I promise. It’s why I asked her to move in with me. It’s the only way I can ensure she’s safe, you know?”

He blows out a breath. “I know you’ll keep her safe. Not that I condone your methods, but I know, you’ll ensure no-one can come near her.”

I hold my breath. My lungs feel like they’re about to burst. It feels like I’m underwater and unable to come up. Like the weight of the entire world is holding me down and I’m unable to find a way out.

“Doesn’t mean I’m not going to thrash you so hard, every other beating you’ve taken thus far, including the one that put you in the hospital, is going to pale in comparison.”

“We good then?” I ask cautiously.

He barks out a laugh. “Not the word I’d use, but—” He hesitates. “But weirdly, I understand why you did it.”

“I’m going to come clean with her, man. I promise.”

“Good luck with that. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when you do it. Although, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that happens.”

“You’re entitled to gloat,” I say without heat.

Someone calls his name.

"Wish I could stay and talk but wanted to let you know I’m okay. It may be a while before you hear from me again." A crackling sound fills the air. "Give my love to Abby and—" The line goes dead.

I lower the phone to my side, then stare out at the traffic below.The fuck was that call about? He suspected there was something between Abby and me, much before either of us thought there was? Or at least, before I thought there was.I shake my head.If he sensed the chemistry between us, why didn’t he say something sooner? For that matter, where is he off to on tour again? Top-secret sounds both very important and very dangerous. And why didn’t he call Abby? Why did he call me instead?

"You look like you need a ciggie." Declan prowls onto the balcony and plops a stick between his lips. He lights it up and offers it to me, then lights his own.

Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t be smoking. But desperate times, and all that.

We smoke in silence, then he jerks his chin in my direction. "All okay?"

"That was Knight on the phone."

"Oh?" Declan turns to me. "How’s the bastard doing?"

"On another tour of duty. He had just enough time to give me his blessings to marry Abby before he got cut off."

Declan laughs. "So, the guys were right then—"

"It’s purely an arrangement. This way, I get to salvage my reputation and I can keep her safe."

"Did something happen to her?" He frowns.

"She has a stalker, something she omitted to tell me about. Motherfucker broke into her apartment."

"Fuck, is she okay?"

"She’s better now—" I rotate my shoulders. "But she was in a state when I found her. I’ve had Axel Sovrano look into the security arrangements." Axel is Michael’s brother and runs one of the leading security agencies in the country. "I now have someone on her twenty-four-seven."

"I’m assuming she’s not aware of it?"

"Of course, not. Woman would be pissed if I told her I had someone trailing her wherever she goes. But it’s the only way to keep her safe. Something her brother agrees is a priority, too."

"Hmm." He turns, stubs out his cigarette and drops it in the ashtray. "Are you going to tell her that you spoke to her bother and got his blessings?"

I rub the back of my neck. "Should I?"

"It’s best to come clean with her. It’s the only way you can make this marriage—"

I glare at him.

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