Page 9 of Declan

Carolina:Kind of getting sick of that guy being right.

Chief: I can neither confirm nor deny the validity of everyone else’s responses here, but Tony is kind of smart sometimes.

Tony: Do you need a hand?

Declan: No, I got two good ones that will likely be very persuasive in getting him to see my point of view.

Antoinette: There’s also the payoff option. Usually doesn’t take too much, at least not too much for a gazillionaire.

Declan: I’m not a gazillionaire.

Carolina:Close enough.

I close out of my messages and mute my phone, knowing I’m gonna have a ton of messages when I get back to it as they all continue to give me shit.

Feeling like I’ve given Issa enough time to get into the tub, I move back to the screen in the bathroom, and, sure enough, there she is, neck-deep in bubbles.

I turn on the audio again, figuring she’s listening to an audiobook or music. I frown as a man’s voice comes through, speaking words of affirmation about overcoming your anxiety. I listen for a few minutes, finding the voice rather soothing, so I can only imagine how she feels about it.

I pick up my phone again and send a message to the man I have on the blowhard, letting him know I’d like hourly updates on his location. My man immediately acknowledges the order, and I pack up my things, leaving Issa to have her bath in private.

I sit back in the chair and contemplate how to handle the situation. I suppose it wouldn’t be sporting of me to have some guys handle him. I’m sure I could come up with more than enough money to persuade him to break off the engagement and disappear from her life. But I also know that once a rat finds a decently adequate feeding source, they just keep coming back to it for more.

Knowing the likelihood that this blowhard is gonna go quietly, never to be heard from again, is next to nil, I know I really only have one choice.

So, I pick up my phone once more and pull up my contacts.

And I call Tony Andersen.

3

First, We Fuck Around

Declan

Idon’tnormallyhavegood things to say about Tony, but if you want to know the best way to manipulate and or coerce someone, he’s your go-to guy.

After a thorough discussion of my options, we come up with a decent game plan that will get me what I want while also keeping my face out of it, at least for now. Since I don’t have a large group of associates I trust enough to take on this type of delicate job, Tony offers to fly out and give me a hand. Of course, this also means he’ll come with his entire crew, including a small child and two dogs.

I attempt to leave them to their own devices at my main residence, figuring it will be easier if I stay at my downtown penthouse. This plan is quickly vetoed, and being outnumbered, I give in rather easily. I’m not accustomed to being surrounded by anyone, never mind a bunch of adults, a small child, and two dogs, but I try to be a good sport.

Flora has spent time here before and makes herself right at home, even remembering the room she stayed in previously and immediately taking it over. It helps that all the toys I purchased for her are still there, and we hardly see hide nor hair of her because she’s too busy to be bothered with us boring adults.

I even went so far as to have someone come in and childproof the entire property as best they could. Initially, they tried to completely destroy the overall aesthetic of my pool area, but we managed to salvage it by turning it into more of a separate space, but at least I don’t have to worry about her falling in or getting hurt.

On the second morning after their arrival, we all gather in the dining room for breakfast, and Carolina has been openly staring at me from across the table, grinning rather creepily, for several minutes when I finally ask, “Can I help you?”

Her face brightens, her smile megawatt as she says, “Are you gonna tell us who she is?”

Antoinette laughs beside her and pokes her in the arm. “He doesn’t need to tell us. I’d say his very public display on live television a few weeks ago makes it clear who she is.”

I sigh but say nothing and Carolina frowns, tilting her head at me. “But she’s getting married?”

“Not if I can help it,” I sputter.

“So, you need me to take care of him for you?” Tony sits forward in his chair and rests his forearms on the table, looking a little eager as he adds, “You decided you need me to do the dirty work for you?”

“I’m certain I can handle my own fucking dirty work,” I retort dryly. “I needed you all here for moral support and as witnesses if things go right.”

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