Page 31 of Dirty Delivery

He doesn’t stop there. “While you’ve been here, playing house with someone you barely even know, everything else is falling apart. You think you can balance this? You think you can keep her safe while you’re half-assing your responsibilities to the family? Newsflash, Rylan—this life doesn’t wait for you to figure it out. It chews you up and spits you out the second you let your guard down.”

His words hit like a hammer, the weight of them settling heavily on my chest. “I’ve seen men lose everything because they let their hearts get in the way of their heads. Don’t be stupid enough to think you’re any different.”

Declan’s jaw tightens as he steps back, his glare never wavering. “You need to decide what’s more important—her, or the life you’ve built. Because if you don’t, that decision’s going to be made for you, and I guarantee you won’t like the outcome.”

He pushes off the counter and heads for the door without another word. I linger in the kitchen for a moment, letting his words sink in. Personal? Too late for that. Savannah isn’t just a job, and she sure as hell isn’t just a problem to solve.

I take a long breath and run a hand over my face. After Declan leaves, I make rounds of the mansion, checking locks and windows, ensuring every measure of security is in place. My footsteps echo in the empty hallways, and I feel the weight of the responsibility pressing down harder than ever.

As I return to the living room, Savannah looks up from her spot on the couch. Her eyes search mine, and for a second, thefear she’s trying to hide is plain as day on her face. “What’s going on, Rylan? Tell me the truth.”

I sit down beside her with a sigh. “The Castillos are closing in. They’re looking for you because they think you know something about Vinny.”

Her eyes widen, and she hugs her knees to her chest. “Why do they think that?”

“Because you were the last person to see him alive.” My voice steady but gentle. “And they’re desperate for answers.”

She’s quiet for a moment before she whispers, “What happens if they find me?”

“They won’t,” I promise, my voice firm. “Not as long as I’m breathing.”

Her gaze locks onto mine, and in that moment, the fear melts into something softer, something trusting. And God help me, I’ll destroy anything that gets in the way of keeping that trust.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Savannah

The house is quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional creak of old wood settling. I’ve never been comfortable with silence; the irony of living alone is not unknown to me. Too much silence gives my mind room to wander. And right now, my thoughts are like a storm, relentless and unforgiving.

I curl up on the couch, a blanket pulled tightly around me, and stare out of the window into the inky blackness of the night. Somewhere out there, people are looking for me—people who think I had something to do with Vinny’s disappearance. It feels surreal, like I’m living someone else’s nightmare.

My gaze drifts to the kitchen, where Rylan disappeared to after telling me about the bounty on my head. He looked so calm, so sure of himself. But I saw the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw tightened when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. He’s scared, I just know it, even if he won’t admit it.

And the worst part, I don’t know if he’s scared for me or because of me.

The door to the kitchen opens, and Rylan steps back into the room. He’s changed into a black t-shirt and jeans, the tattoos on his arms visible now. They’re intricate, swirling designs that I’ve only ever seen glimpses of. They suit him, somehow—dark and captivating just like the man himself.

“You should try to get some rest.”

I shake my head. “Too much on my mind.”

He nods and settles into the armchair across from me. For a moment, neither of us speaks. The silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable, until I can’t take it anymore.

“Why are you doing this?” I blurt out. “Why are you putting yourself in danger for me?”

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Because I can’t not do this, Savannah. You don’t deserve to be caught in the middle of this mess. And . . .” He hesitates, eyes locking with mine. “Because I’ve cared about you longer than I want to admit.”

My breath catches. “What?”

“I’ve been into you for months,” he says, his voice softer now. “Since the first time I delivered one of your packages. You always looked at me like I was just some nosy delivery guy, but every time you smiled at me or gave me shit for asking too many questions, it . . . stuck with me. I should’ve said something, but . . .” His expression darkens. “I knew my life wasn’t something I could drag you into. And now here we are—you’re in it anyway.”

I’m not sure what to say. Part of me wants to be angry that he kept this from me, but another part—a much larger part—feels something else entirely. Gratitude? Relief? Something deeper I’m not ready to name?

“I don’t know what to say,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replies. “Just know that I’ll do what it takes to keep you safe. Even if it means destroying my own life in the process.”

The intensity of his voice sends shivers down my spine. This man—this infuriating, complicated man—is willing to destroy everything for me. And I don’t know if I should be flattered or terrified.

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