Page 67 of Gray Area

Declan takes my hand and we walk back over to his apartment. It is the best Friday night I’ve had in, well, ever. “Thank you,” I say to Declan once we get inside his place, and he just pulls up our joined hands and places a kiss on mine.

I could get used to this. The thought is fleeting and goes through my head quickly, and I chastise myself. My head istrying to get me to be reasonable and not get my hopes up, but my heart is already all in.

Chapter 37

DECLAN

Two weeks later I am waiting outside the hospital in the morning for Vivian to come out from her shift when Axel texts me.Found him.

Finally.

We have all been scouring for that fucking rat Tim. He wasn’t at the fire scene and no one has been able to find him. The police were also trying to find him, but I knew we could find him first. Because I wasn’t going to be constrained by the law.

Vivian opens the passenger door and looks absolutely wiped but is still smiling at me when she gets in. She leans over and kisses me. “Morning,” she says.

“Morning, Baby,” I reply. “How was your night?”

“Busy,” she says. “I’m glad we finished our project this weekend, because I just want to sleep before class tonight.”

“Then let’s get you home,” I say.

I bring Vivian to my apartment and start the shower while she gathers her things from her backpack. I’m trying to take it slow, but I am dying to unpack the damn bag. She still takes it everywhere, which tells me her guard isn’t totally down with me.

She comes back with her clothes, and my phone goes off again in my pocket. I decide that the “please stay and don’t ever go” conversation will have to take place at another time.

“I have some work to do today, but I’ll be back before class,” I assure her. She smiles at me sleepily, and I really just want to take her to the shower and scrub her with my mouth. But some things can’t wait. So instead I lean down and kiss her, and then I slowly slip my tongue between her lips and pull her body to mine.

Thirty minutes later, I leave Vivian in the shower. I have a new set of clothes on, and I drive well above the legal limit to meet up with my brothers.

I pull into the parking lot of Sixth Street Pub and enter the basement door where my brother Slade meets me by rolling his eyes.

“Jesus, it took you fucking long enough,” he tells me, grumbling.

“Something came up.”

“Yeah, your fucking cock,” he says. “We all got shit to do today, Declan. Look how upset Axel is,” he complains, tilting his head to my brother who is leaning against the wall. He looks just as emotionless as he always does.

“Where is he?” I demand, trying to get us on track to the reason we are here.

Axel opens the door to the walk-in freezer and yanks Tim out by the arms. Tim already has a black eye, and terror is too tame a word for the look on his face. But then when he sees me, his entire body starts to shake.

“Hello, Tim,” I say as Axel shoves Tim into a folding chair.

“I swear to fucking God I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Tim says, his voice high-pitched and instantly grating on my nerves.

Axel wraps his hand around the fat fuck’s flabby neck. “My brother will tell you when to fucking speak,” he says to him softly, which is actually scarier than his usual tone.

I watch as Tim pisses himself.

Axel releases him and Tim sits there staring at me as he wheezes air into himself. He skirts his eyes to Slade and then to Axel and they quickly go back to meet mine.

“Tim, buddy, pal,” Slade begins, taking the nice approach, “did you know your building burned down?” he asks him, his tone laced with faux concern. “Cause no one has been able to find you, you know, to tell you. It almost seems like you were hiding.”

I pace in front of Tim as Slade speaks, and his eyes lock on my every move, paying Slade zero attention. That’s what I want. I stop in front of him and his breathing hastens. “What happened to the building, Tim?” I ask darkly. He says nothing and just stares at me. “Talk!” I shout, making him jump.

“I-I don’t know,” he stammers.

Anger runs through me like a freight train, and my vision goes red. I feel myself getting ready to dismember this man, and Slade can read me.

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