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Behind me, Declan says, “Why don’t we let them finish their treats?”
Kieran pulls me to my feet, gently gripping my elbow. “Let’s talk to Declan a minute while Finn hangs out with these fine young men.”
I’m reluctant to leave Finn out of my sight so soon after getting him back, but I know he is safe for now. I trust Declan wouldn’t ask this if he absolutely didn’t have to, so I follow him into an office in the back of the large guard ‘shack.’ Why they call it a shack is beyond me. It’s a big building with multiple offices, larges banks of screens, and an armory.
Declan holds the door open for us. Kieran leans a hip against the desk and crosses his arms. I’m too wired to sit.
“Declan said Finn walked here from a bus stop about a mile away.”
That information steals my breath.
Declan, looking pained, says, “He was looking for you because he needed help. That’s when things got really weird. As if Finn walking up here on his own wasn’t enough, your father was leaving when Finn was coming in. He ordered his driver to stop, then the asshole stormed up to me, demanding to know why a child was here.”
Kieran shakes his head and Declan grimaces as he holds up a fist that’s already bruised. “That’s when I knocked your father out.”
My hand flies to cover my mouth as I gasp, “You what?”
“Knocked your father out, finally. I’ve wanted to punch his face in a million times, but never did it until that kid showed up and I knew something bad would come of it. I remember him being important to you and to Ariel, so there was no way I was going to let your father anywhere near him.”
“That’s why the ambulance was here,” Kieran says solemnly. “Declan’s got an iron fist. Your dad was out for a while. He’s got a broken jaw, too.”
Gulp. I still have my mouth covered. Holy cow, this is completely out of left field.
Declan looks at the both of us. “This is a complication you don’t need, but I’ll never be sorry to take that man down.”
I finally find my voice. “Oh my god, Declan. He’s going to kill you!” I turn to Kieran. “We have to help Declan.” Turning back to Declan, I add, “Do you have a place to go where he won’t find you?”
“Aye. But that won’t be necessary.”
My eyes almost leave my face. “What do you mean? You broke his jaw. There is no way he’ll let that slide. Please, Declan. Let us help you.” Declan may be one of my bodyguards, but I’ve grown close to him. He is more of a friend, and I can’t let him suffer for saving my son.
With a smirk and a spark in his eye, he says, “All he’ll ever know is he got hit by a tree limb.”
My chin just about hits the floor. “Uhh...”
“A tree limb?” The amusement in Kieran’s voice is unmistakable.
Declan nods, smiling proudly. “I was under a tree being pruned when he came to me. He was sneering at the kid when he was hit. Never even saw it coming and was out like a light in half a second. Not my fault he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings.” He shrugs.
“Oh my god...” I whisper. “That is... brilliant. But I’m not sure my dad will buy it. He’s not dumb.”
Kieran pushes off the desk and stalks around the office with his hand on the back of his neck. I know his mind is spinning with all the things he can do to clean this situation up. With conviction, he says, “The only thing that truly matters right now is that Finn is okay.”
“Why is Finn here? You said he needed help?” I ask weakly. Almost afraid to hear what happened that sent him across the city on a bus. My eyes close as I wait for an answer, my chest collapsed because whatever sent a seven-year-old across town on a bus speaks so loudly about where his mind is.
Declan blows out a hard breath, then takes a seat next to me, as if the weight of the day is suddenly settling on his shoulders. His dark eyes are large and soulful, full of kindness.
“I’m only telling you this because I’m not sure he’ll share with you the way he did with me. Finn said he came here because he overheard his parents say that someone is going to try to take him. Finn remembered the guards from his visits. He thought that he would be safer here, and that his parents could come here so they’d be safe too.”
As my stomach drops, and pain squeezes my throat in a vice, his eyes move to mine, locking on me. “He said he wanted you because you always know what to do. And now you had Kieran, a big, mean-looking man that looks like he could make everything okay. He came asking for both your help.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
The horrible reality of the moment settles between the three of us like a buzzing saw blade.
I’m twisting inside, a barbed wire fence that’s been mowed down by a runaway truck. My voice is evidence that I’m being torn up inside. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
“It’s not,” Carra weeps, hanging her head, letting the fall of her hair wash over her as I pull her into my arms. “Finn could have gotten killed because he was scared, because he came here, because of ME.”
