Page 72 of Only You

“No,” she said, trying to keep her fear at bay. She needed to make sure that Bryan stayed far away from Declan. Her ex was on the edge of insanity and might pop off at any time. “Why do you want to mess with him? He doesn’t matter. You’re all that matters.”

“But if he’s alive, our love will be tainted.”

She had moved so that she was facing Declan’s room and Bryan’s back was to it.

“No. Our love could never be tainted. It’s too pure.”

She almost threw up after saying that, but she fought it. She had to keep this idiot engaged until she could get him out of there and away from Declan.

For a moment, Bryan’s eyes softened as he stared at her with that creepy smile…then there was a creak behind him as if someone were walking around Declan’s bedroom.

Shit. She knew that she couldn’t distract Bryan anymore. Declan was moving around, and if Bryan thought he was awake, he would see him as a threat. Bryan turned toward the sound, his eyes going cold in that instant, and she knew this was her only chance.

Eileen rushed him, launching her entire body at Bryan, hoping her forward motion would catch him by surprise. She apparently did because he had no chance to prepare himself to get hit by her, and they both went tumbling down.

“What the fuck!” Bryan growled as he hit the floor face-first. She heard the clatter of his gun and knew that he’d lost control of it.

He reared up, sending her tumbling to the floor. She hit her head so hard on the wooden floor that stars formed before her eyes. Hell, she was even hearing sirens.

“You fucking bitch!” Bryan screamed as he wrapped his hands around her neck.

She struggled against him, clawing at his hands but he was so strong, and she was losing the ability to fight him. The roar she heard made her ears ring, and in the next instant, Bryan’s fingers jerked away, and his body weight was gone.

She was able to draw in a deep breath, then two. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh filled the room as she heard the door downstairs bust open.

“You. Don’t. Touch. Her.” It was Declan punching Bryan. He was straddled on top of her ex, hitting him with each word he said.

It took her a second or two before she could stand and approach him. Bryan was close to being unconscious. His nose was broken, his lip bloody.

“Declan, babe,” she grabbed his arm as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. “Don’t kill him.”

Declan turned to her. Anger and just more than a bit of violence filled his gaze. Eileen could tell he didn’t want to let go of Bryan, but soon Eddie was in the room with tons of uniforms, and Jesus, Mathers was there too.

“They can handle him.”

He blinked and looked over at Eddie, who was staring at Declan with admiration. Then, he released Bryan and rose. The next instant, he pulled her into his arms. She was so close to crying, which was so out of the normal for her she fought it. She would not cry in front of her boss and partner.

She could hear them reading Bryan his rights, so she assumed he was finally conscious.

“Damn, he’s gonna need paramedics,” Eddie said. He looked over at them. “I kept calling, but you didn’t pick up.”

“Eileen needs—f”

Declan didn’t get to finish his comment.

“Of course I want up there, asshole,” someone downstairs yelled. “That’s my brother’s place, and I want to make sure everything is okay.”

“Emmet’s here,” he said. “I’ll have him look at you. Why don’t you go in and get dressed?”

“I can’t.”

“What?”

“They’ll need evidence.”

More loud stomping feet. Her head was pounding, and her throat hurt, and she felt slightly nauseous. Damn. That could mean she had a concussion, and if she did, they would probably make her go to the hospital.

“Don’t worry. Emmett will check you out, but you and I both know that you’re probably headed to the hospital.”

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