Page 8 of Declan

Abruptly, she stands and rushes over to the sidebar. She picks up a round glass art piece, raises it over her head, and then freezes, her jaw clenching as she holds it aloft. Slowly, she lowers it in front of her and then stares at it, that same screaming, frustrated noise brewing as she sets the piece of glass back where she found it, obviously unable to smash it like she first wanted to.

I chuckle at her inability to smash something as an outlet for her frustration because that’s not a problem I have, nor does anyone I know. My laughter dies down, and I frown at the look of sadness on her face.

She turns and heads down the hallway, and I track her movements until she disappears into the bathroom.

I do have video access to every room in all of our properties, but I tend not to invade her privacy in the bathrooms. Sure, I may peek a glance when she’s in there brushing her teeth or doing her makeup, but even I have minuscule lines I try not to cross on occasion. Subject to change, of course.

I pull out my phone, bring up my FAAFO group chat, and send off a message.

Declan: How do you suggest one sabotages an engagement?

Darius: I guess that depends on why you want to sabotage the engagement.

Chief: Yeah, is it because you know them being married would be a huge mistake and you’re trying to avoid having to deal with the shit after the fact? Or is this a personal question?

Tony: I don’t give a fuck what the reason is, kill him.

Carolina: OMG, Tony. Stop writing shit like that in public broadcasts.

Darius: We need more info, Dec. Haven’t you learned by now you always start the group chat with all the pertinent information, otherwise, it snowballs into a shit show?

Antoinette: Darius is correct. Are you trying to save the bride or the groom?

Declan: The bride.

Antoinette: Why?

Declan: She’s mine.

Tony: So, my answer was correct.

Chief: And this can’t be remedied by you being your normal charming and adorable self?

Declan: Probably not.

Carolina: Are you losing your touch, Dec? Why wouldn’t she be interested in you?

Declan: Well, she mostly hates my fucking guts, but that’s a minor detail I’m gonna work around when the time comes. My first problem is making sure she doesn’t get married in three days.

Antoinette: Three days! Cutting it kind of close, aren’t you?

Antoinette: Also, you know I dig my enemies-to-lovers, so keep talking.

I set my phone down for a moment, knowing they’re going to go back and forth for a few minutes before allowing me to get a word in.

I glance back at my screen, noting that Issa is still in the bathroom, so I switch on the audio to hear water running in the tub. I don’t have to check the video feed to know there are more bubbles than water, so I go back to my text messages while she gets situated.

Declan: Regardless of how she feels about me, this guy is a piece of shit. There’s no way I can let her marry him.

Tony: Define piece of shit.

The swift change in the energy of our conversation has the chat falling silent while they wait for my reply. I’m certain if I had recorded that last interaction with them and sent it to anyone of the people in this chat, they’d be on a fucking plane in a heartbeat.

Declan: I believe he’s a narcissistic, abusive piece of shit who doesn’t deserve her. We also know statistically, this type of behavior only escalates once that marriage license is filed. There’s no way I can let it get that far.

Antoinette: Tony got this one.

Darius: Another win for Tony.

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