Declan

---

“What do you want?” I said through clenched teeth.

It was five in the morning, and I was at an empty storefront meeting Aengus.

I’d gotten the call the night before but hadn’t told him I would show up.

I hated myself for it, but I knew that I would, just as he knew that I would.

This was yet another thing that was eating me up inside.

I hated that man with all of my heart, and yet here I was, lying to my brothers, endangering the real relationships that I had all for a stupid promise.

For the first time in many, many years, I was tempted to break it.

When Aengus had killed that witness against Michael, putting him in even worse jeopardy, I had been tempted. But even that desire had been based in logic. I’d wanted to make sure Michael stayed out of jail and see Aengus suffer for what he had done.

But this feeling now, it was different, heightened, and I knew that was all because of Grace.

I needed to keep my head, so I tried, forced myself to focus.

The place was barely lit, almost eerie, but I ignored that and focused on him.

“Good to see you too, son,” Aengus said.

I scowled, but didn’t say anything else.

“Is it true you took up with that—”

“Don’t even say her name,” I said, my rage, which I had managed to beat back, stirring yet again.

Aengus laughed. “Yeah, you have, haven’t you? I can see you got my possessive streak,” he said.

“What do you want?” I said yet again.

Aengus turned serious, and I knew I’d been playing into his hands. This was what he did. He got people all stirred up and then went in for the kill.

I should have fucking known better.

And worse, I’d shown Aengus weakness, something I knew he wouldn’t miss.

“Look, I know you and those pussies you call brothers still have your feelings hurt about that shit from the past,” he said, like that “shit from the past” was nothing and not close to two decades of misery.

I struggled to stay calm, though my vision was dimming at the edges with the anger that threatened to break my control. Aengus, though, was unaffected, and he simply shrugged. “That shit’s over, and now it’s time for me to make some money, and it’s time for my sons to fuckin’ help,” he said, his voice going deep.

There had been a time in my life when hearing that tone from Aengus would have driven me close to tears, but now, it only made me want to crush his windpipe with my bare hands.

“Fuck off, Aengus. And don’t ever call me again,” I said.

Speaking those words was a relief. They seemed to loosen weight I didn’t even know I had been carrying.

“You sure about that, kid?” Aengus asked, looking at me through eyes that were devoid of all emotion.

“Fuck you,” I said before I turned and walked away, not bothering to look back.

“Have it your way, asshole,” he muttered.

I didn’t bother with a response. I’d said all there was to say to him, and said all I ever would.

Still, though I was walking away, broken free from a chain I hadn’t even known I was tethered to, my emotions were a mess.

I knew there was only one person who could fix them.

Grace.