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The doors fly open. Killian and the man who’d been carrying Cali before come storming in looking around like they’re expecting to find their worst enemy.
Killian’s gaze zeroes in on me while the other man strides over to Cali. “What’s going on?”
Cali clears her throat. “I was just telling Scar about us. Scar, this is Declan. My husband. And Daddy.”
Declan meets my eyes and dips his chin slightly. “Nice to officially meet you, Scarlet. Cali’s told me so much about you.”
I look from Killian to Declan to Cali in complete shock. Then I say the only thing I can think of.
“Get me the fuck out of here and away from these gangsters.”
2
KILLIAN
Scarlet starts tugging on her IV as she tries to get out of bed. I’m on her instantly, restraining her hands while Cali cries for her to stop.
“Let me go,” she hisses and struggles against my hold.
“No,” I growl.
She tries to push me away, but I don’t budge, and that seems to infuriate her more.
“Scar, stop,” Cali cries.
When she realizes I’m not letting go, she scowls before looking at her sister with tears in her eyes. “How could you get involved with the mafia, Cali? That’s like trading one demon for another. They’ll do the same thing Ivan did to me.”
Cali shakes her head and brushes away her own tears. “Ivan was an abusive asshole. The Irish and all the other syndicates don’t hurt women. Ivan killed his own father because he was power hungry. Declan and Killian and the rest of them aren’t like that.”
Declan plucks Cali from her chair, sits, then settles her on his lap. She’s trembling as she stares at Scarlet.
“Everything your sister is saying is true,” Declan says in a low tone. “All of the American-based syndicates have had a pact for the last sixty years that we won’t hurt women or children. We’d stuck to that pact until Ivan. He was a sick bastard. You’re safe with us, Scarlet. You’re our family now.”
She still struggles against my hold, but I don’t let go. “No,” is all I say.
“I want to go home,” she whispers.
Cali looks at me then back at her sister. “We don’t have the apartment anymore. The Russians knew where we lived, so Declan and his men moved all our stuff out. This is my home now.”
“And your home too,” Declan adds.
She shakes her head, squeezing her eyes together as a sob escapes. I move to sit on the bed and pull her onto my lap. When she snuggles into my chest, I feel a smidge of relief. That only lasts a second before she realizes what she’s done and starts fighting to get away from me again.
“Can I talk to Scarlet alone?” Cali asks.
Declan studies her face for a moment before he nods and gets to his feet. I hesitate to let Scarlet go, but when Cali and Declan both shoot me a look, I sigh and release her. It feels wrong not to be touching and holding her. She’s mine. One day, she’s going to want me as badly as I want her. She needs time to heal, though, so I have to be patient. Earn her trust. Based on her reaction to Cali marrying Declan, it’s going to be an uphill battle.
Gangster or not, she’s mine.
When we close the door behind us, Declan gives me a smug smile. “Good luck with that one. She’s going to run circles around you.”
I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Maybe. I get the feeling she’s never had anyone dependable in her life but her sister. That’s going to change. I’ll show her that she can trust me. That she can trust all of us. And she’ll never doubt who has her back again.”
“She’s definitely scared right now,” Declan replies.
There’s no doubt about that. The terrified look in her eyes when I saved her will forever haunt my soul.
* * *
