Page 22 of Surrender

Declan has barely broken a sweat.

"How far is this run?" I ask, willing my heartrate to slow down.

I'm answered with a glare.

Alright then.

A few more crosswalks later and we jog onto the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The city is gorgeous from here, so I try to take in the view without bumping into other pedestrians or collapsing.

My thighs and calves already ache and I'm already dreading the jog home.

Another break getting off the bridge and he leads me to a trail on Columbia Island. I've driven over the island but never been on it. The entire thing is a park with a couple marinas, and other joggers getting in their morning exercise.

Finally, the burning in my lungs becomes too much and I feel like they're about to seize up in protest. I stop, leaving him to jog another few steps before realizing I'd dropped out. He jogs back to me, looking annoyed.

"I'm sorry...I don't run...I can't..." I say between painful gasps.

"Give me another hundred feet. Give me until that bench and then we can rest," he says, pointing to a cast iron bench a few yards away.

I nod. I can do that. I can give him that.

I push up off of my knees and push past the pain and discomfort. I collapse on the bench, resting my head back and chugging the fresh air. The sunshine, smell of the water, and fresh air do make me smile.

"That was the wall. Every runner hits it. You've got to get used to pushing past it."

I nod, even though I never want to run again.

"Get up and walk around or the lactic acid will make tomorrow miserable."

It's a barked command, but it's - again - protecting me.

We take a lap around Columbia island, taking lots of quick breaks for me. I can tell he's annoyed with how out of shape I am, but I didn't ask to go running with him.

Eventually, on numb legs, we make it back home, where I shower and collapse in bed.

***

A week later, Joseph pulls up to the curb in front of The Envelope.

I'm following Declan silently inside when a cold hand grips my bicep tightly and tugs me backwards. I let out a surprised shout as I stumble, landing painfully on one knee. In a flurry of commotion, I'm tugged again, this time towards a dark alley on the side of The Envelope, and Joseph rushes towards us, but Declan's there faster. Declan swings at the stranger, forcing him to release his grip on me. Finally, I turn to see it's Todd, one of Gary's seedier friends who would leer at me every time he saw me.

Declan turns to hold me, making sure I'm alright, but before he gets a word out, Todd swings with a left hook and catches Declan by surprise. I cry out again, and this time it starts to draw the attention of a few people lingering down the street. This isn't the area I grew up in where sounds of violence are common. This is the fancy part of DC, and street-side brawls are not the norm.

Todd notices the attention and backs slowly into the alley.

"Don't think you can escape from us, little missy," he says, and it sends a chill down my spine.

I can't worry about him, though, when Declan's cursing and spitting out blood.

"Oh my God! Declan! Are you okay?"

I hold his face in my hands, turning it so I can inspect him.

"Should I follow him, boss?" Joseph asks, concern lacing his voice. Joseph doubles as Declan's security, and I'm sure he is beating himself up. This isn't exactly the type of place where he needs to watch over him closely, and he'd been back in the car waiting to pull out into traffic.

"A friend of Gary's, I assume?" Declan growls, spitting out more blood.

Shame and regret pour over me like scalding water.

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