Page 63 of Declan

“I won’t—“ I begin, but he puts a hand up, stopping the tangent I was about to go on as he asks, “Do you trust me, Issa?”

I clench my jaw, wanting nothing more than to slap the shit out of him until he tells me everything I want to know. He must sense my indecision because he rises from his seat and walks around the desk, coming to a stop in front of me.

He frames my face in both of his hands and leans down so we’re eye to eye, his expression serious as he asks, “Have I ever given you any reason not to trust me?” I shake my head. “Do you truly feel I would hide something from you that would hurt you?” I shake my head again. “Then please, doll face. Please. Trust me right now, and don’t force me into giving you information that could possibly put you in danger.”

I frown, opening my mouth to argue, but his eyes turn pleading, and he whispers, “Please. Do this for me.”

I snap my mouth shut, grinding my teeth as I nod, and he bends forward and places a kiss on my forehead before stepping back.

I stand there, frozen to the spot, as he walks back around his desk, tidying up a few papers he has out, but he doesn’t put anything in the desk drawers, and he doesn’t turn any locks. He walks back across the room toward the door, stopping a few feet from me and turning back with questioning eyes.

He holds his hand out to me, his eyes steady on mine as he asks, “Are you coming?”

I stare at his hand for a moment, confusion and anger swirling inside me, and I consider not taking it. I consider walking by him and slamming the door in his face.

But then I raise my eyes to his, and I soften at the love and adoration shining back at me, tapping into my own intense feelings for him, and like a beacon of hope, I reach out and take his hand.

23

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

Declan

Ionlygetaboutan hour’s notice before the cops show up.

Knowing it was inevitable, I had strategically placed myself at my downtown penthouse, and Darius had shown up with Tony just the evening before, so the timing couldn’t have been better.

Issa had spent the last couple of days away on a promotional campaign for her upcoming tour, and from what I heard from Dare, they snagged her at the airport right around the time they knocked on my door, so we didn’t even manage a short conversation before the shit hit the fan.

I’ve only been in here for a few hours, and I’m back in the holding area where they keep dumping me after I refuse to answer their questions. As if I’m stupid enough to answer even the smallest question without my lawyer present.

Eventually, they allow my lawyer, Penny, to come in, accompanied by her two clerks, and I have to hide my smile when Dare and Tony follow her into the room. “As happy as I am to see you two, you’ve got to be the worst candidates for a paralegal ever. No way you’re even close to being smart enough.”

Tony pulls out a chair on the other side of the table from me and snorts. “What I lack in smarts, I make up for in criminal knowhow.”

Penny rolls her eyes, her patience for my brother or anyone closely connected to my brother being nonexistent at baseline. She glares at Tony, her annoyance palpable as she whisper-shouts, “Please, try not to say anything too incriminating while sitting in a police holding area.”

Tony is smart enough to give her a sheepish look and a muttered apology, and I can’t say I blame him, knowing Penny as well as I do.

She’s a fucking great white shark in the world of lawyering.

Dare sits in the chair beside me, and Penny moves across from me, unpacking her briefcase and then sitting in the chair while looking at me with annoyance.

I meet her gaze, squirming a bit as she continues to say nothing, so finally, I ask, “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

She purses her lips and sighs before responding, “How many times do I have to tell you to come to me before making any type of decision that could have legal ramifications?”

Tony laughs, obviously enjoying the fact that I’m in trouble with my own counsel. Then he leans toward Penny, whispering helpfully, “It’s not like he can call his lawyer and ask permission before offing someone.”

She turns her head and glares at him. “I’m referring to his decision to marry Ms. Munroe without a goddamn prenup.”

His eyes widen, and he laughs again, waving his hand dismissively. “Oh, that wasn’t real.”

She gives him an incredulous look, then turns her gaze to Dare as she says, “Is he always this naive?”

Tony’s jaw drops open, and then he laughs again, shaking his head as he says, “Well, it’s been a hot minute since anyone called me naive, so how about someone catches me up to speed here.”

Dare gives me a look, and I roll my eyes. “I signed the marriage license,” I explain. “We’re most assuredly legally married.”

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