Page 262 of Inferno

DECLAN

Song- Is it really you? Sleep Token, Loathe.

With Charlotte nestled on my lap, I rub my hand in small circles on her back as Mikhail drives the truck back to the safehouse, while his team deals with the fire and cleans up at the barn.

“You good, heartbreaker?” I whisper softly on the top of her head, and she nods against my chest.

“I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, and my chest swells with emotions.

Ones I never believed I could feel. Pure, electrifying love. With her in my arms, going home to our little girl, I have never been so full of love in my life.

Pure perfection.

“It’s finally over.” Her voice breaks as she presses her face harder into my chest and I hold her tight.

“Let it out, baby. You’ve been strong for ten years, you don’t need to fight anymore. Just feel. Whatever it is, embrace it, and we deal with it together.”

My heart breaks for her. Because no matter how she defeated Vlad, he still inflicted pain on her for ten years. She’s dealt with so much bottled inside her, with no one to cry on or take any of the burden with her.

“I’ll always be here, sweetheart. No matter what. You are not on your own anymore. You’ve got me to fight with you now.”

Her warm tears soak into my shirt and I close my eyes, resting my head on top of hers.

“I-I don’t even know who I am anymore,” she sobs.

I suck in a breath, knowing that feeling well. After my father died, that dark hole in my life propelled me deeper into the mafia, yet my heart ached. It ached for who I once was, for losing Charlotte, for not being able to save my parents.

I can’t even imagine how hurt she must be inside.

“We can figure it out together. Just know, whoever you decide Charlotte really is, I’ll love every single version of her. It doesn’t matter to me. I love you for exactly the woman you are now, and whoever you become. I’m here for the ride, heartbreaker, wherever it may take us.”

She pulls back, and my eyes start to sting with emotion.

“I want you by my side every step of the way, Declan.”

Leaning in, I close my eyes and press a soft kiss to her lips.

“I’m not perfect, baby. But I’m going to try my hardest for you and Isabella. My father always taught us to put our family first, and now, that’s you two. No matter what, I’m here.”

She cups my face in her dainty hands and sniffles.

“You will be the best dad there is. I can tell.”

I take in a shaky breath, my one fear is letting them down.

“Hey, we do this together, remember?” She reminds me, and I chuckle.

“Forever.” I brush a stray strand of hair from her face, admiring her beauty as the truck comes to a slow stop.

“We’re here,” Mikhail tells us, and I nod to him.

The door slams behind him as he leaves, and Charlotte wiggles on my lap, maneuvering to straddle me.

“I love you, Declan Quinn. Our story isn’t over, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.”

Wiping away her tears, I bring her forehead to press against mine.

“I love you so much, heartbreaker. I think you were right, we needed this hurt and pain to lead us to this moment. Because now, nothing can ever fucking stop us.”

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