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“Hey,” Liam scowls. “My brother and I are plenty badass.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you.” I fight off an amused smile at his and his brother’s indignant expressions. “I just meant that maybe whoever set off the bomb might think twice about coming after me if someone higher up in the family is constantly around.” At least, that’s how my father used to assign my bodyguards when I was younger—before he became confident that no one would dare cross our family.
“Um, Cat?” Jane’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. She’s grinning. “Nolan and Liam are Declan’s third and fourth.”
I blink. “What?”
“You’ve been guarded by my most loyal men.” Declan, too, is smirking. Though, it’s not as wide as his cousin’s. He’s still worked up at the thought of me being in danger. “Did you think I would just let anyone protect you,macushla?”
Um… yes. I did actually.
I glance at Liam and Nolan again, remembering every day they stood outside the gallery while I worked. Every time they sat behind me in class like overbearing big brothers, scowling at anyone who dared come too close. As Declan’s third and fourth, they undoubtedly had more important duties to carry out for the family. Spending their time babysitting me is a waste of valuable resources. A waste that’s been going on for months.
I feel all eyes on me. And though I’ve spent the majority of this conversation avoiding his gaze, now, I’m unable to look away from Declan.
Why can’t things ever be simple with him?
Why is it that when I believe I have him figured out, some new piece of information casts him in a different light?
Why does he have to care?
I need to get to the bottom of what happened with Antony. Now, more than ever.
Because with the way he looks at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world and how my heart flutters in response, I know I’m treading dangerously close to losing all objectivity.
And I’m starting to wonder if that’s really such a bad thing.
Chapter8
Declan
“Are you sure this is how we should play this?” Jane asks for the third time since we left the penthouse. We sit in the backseat of Liam’s personal Escalade as he drives us toward the East River.
“I’m sure.” Shortly after Catarina retired to her room following our conversation in the study, I got a phone call from Luis Diaz requesting a meeting. I didn’t ask for details, and he didn’t provide anything. It’s understood that the meeting will be about Enrique Santiago’s death. But what else it could be about is anyone’s guess.
Diaz could be planning to request the alliance I held with Santiago roll over to him as he makes his official bid to take over the Puerto Rican gang. Or he could be reinforcing the blackmail he has over me to insist I stand aside while he ascends to power. Or both. It’s hard to know what to expect from the bold man. He’s ambitious, I’ll give him that. But that’s the extent of his admirable qualities. I know what he is willing to do to achieve his goals. And his lack of morals is nothing short of disgusting.
“Well, I don’t like this,” Jane declares, also for the third time. “I don’t give a damn what information Luis thinks he has on our family, we’d be idiots to ally with that piece of trash.”
“No one said we’re allying with him,” I remind her.
“We shouldn’t even be dignifying his request to see us with a response,” she counters. “Unless it’s with a bullet in the back of his skull.” My cousin is nothing if not stone-cold when it comes to those who threaten our family. Of the four people in this car, she’s by far the most prone to violence. Probably because she’s had to take the most shit to prove herself.
“I agree with Jane, boss,” the normally silent Nolan says from the passenger seat. The burly ex-boxer keeps his eyes trained forward, scanning the cars and streets we pass with the watchful eye both he and his brother are known for. There isn’t much that goes down that they don’t notice. “I have a bad feeling about this meeting.”
“It’s daylight and we’ll be at one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city,” I remind everyone in the car. I understand their unease, but it isn’t as if this is the most dangerous situation we’ve ever found ourselves in.
I’m never one to punish my inner circle for questioning me, but damn if it isn’t tempting in this moment. It’s not like I want to meet Luis Diaz. Not when I finally have Catarina back at the penthouse. I’m eager to see what it will take to melt the shield of ice she’s erected around herself and have a repeat of what happened at the MET.
“Declan?” Jane snaps. “Are you listening to me?”
I look away from the scantily clad woman wearing an elaborate feather headpiece on the street corner to see my cousin scowling at me. “No.”
Liam and Nolan both huff a laugh. The former says, “Let me guess, you’re thinking about a feisty, beautiful redhead currently locked up in your apartment.”
I trust Liam, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me to hear him call Catarina beautiful.
You’re not a jealous teenager,I remind myself, forcing my fists to uncurl in my lap.
