Page 11 of Declan's Dove

“You want to know about the club whores.” It’s not a question. I knew we’d get around to the topic. All the women who come into our lives ask eventually. “It’s true. They fuck any brother who asks, but they also cook and clean and take care of shit around the clubhouse as a way to pay for their room and board.”

“I see.” Her terse tone tells me all I need to know.

I reach over, grabbing both her hands and placing them on the table between us, holding them firmly in mine. “Did you miss the part where I said any brother who asks them?” She won’t meet my eyes, and it’s starting to piss me off. I need her to get what I’m saying and know that I mean every fucking word.

With two fingers I tip Violet’s chin and force her eyes to meet mine. “I haven’t slept with a whore in a very long time. In fact, I haven’t fucked any woman since I met you. Not to say I haven’t gotten off, because I have. Several times.” She flinches, trying to pull away, but I don’t allow it. “I’ve gotten off several times, but it was by my own hand because the only woman I’ve wanted in my bed or on my cock, is you.”

“Jesus, Declan.” She whispers. Again, she scans for people nearby. “You can’t say shit like that.”

“Okay, listen. I’m going to tell you something about myself I don’t like to tell anyone, but maybe it’ll help you better understand I’m not fucking around.” I let go of her hands and lean back in my seat, taking a big gulp of my drink then setting it down. I don’t want to talk about this, but she needs to hear it. Maybe hearing my story will help her open up about hers. I don’t fucking know, but I’m tired of playing cat and mouse. I’m ready to make Violet mine and move on with our life together.

“When I was in the military, I had a wife.” Her eyes pop to mine. I can practically hear her mind whirling from here. “We were high school sweethearts. Married young. I was sent off on a tour and when I came home, I learned she was pregnant.”

“Oh, wow. How old is your child?” Violet asks. My lips curl, but it’s a bitter smile.

“I don’t have a child. She was pregnant by another man. She had an affair while I was away.”

“Oh, fuck. Declan, I’m so sorry. That’s horrible.” It’s her turn to reach for me and I let her take my hand and offer comfort, even though I don’t need it.

“I’m not hurting over my past anymore. I gave up on giving a shit a long time ago. In fact, I had given up on my dream of wanting a family all together. I had my club and my brother Dylan. I didn’t see a need for anyone else. And then you and Carter came along, and I find myself wanting to explore what it would be like to have a family of my own again.”

Violet’s eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Declan, honey. I can’t … we can…t …What I mean is —” She sighs. “It’s too dangerous.”

“The club?” I’m slightly taken aback, but then again, she was stabbed while away with us at an event, but that wasn’t the club’s fault. She was there when Skyler was kidnapped, but again, that was the Devil’s Order not the Kings. We rescued Sky. Shit, she was also there the night Avery lost her shit at a club party. “Those incidents you’ve seen, they were isolated, Dove. Sure, we have shit that comes up from time to time, but we aren’t one percenters. We don’t sell drugs or skin or any of that shit. Our businesses are on the up and up. The shit you’ve witnessed has all been coincidental.”

“Doesn’t matter. I-it’s too much. Too dangerous.” She whispers. “I can’t risk getting close to you. I’m sorry.”

CHAPTER THREE

Violet

After Declan dropped me off at the gym after our lunch date, I finished out my shift before grabbing Carter from school and coming home. My boy teased me as I made him stand by the front door while I checked the apartment. Ever since the night I was stabbed, I haven’t been able to shake the feeling of being watched or having someone in our space.

I haven’t found anyone, of course, and I’ve laid out small cameras in the apartment just in case. Even so, I’ve found nothing. It doesn’t help that these cheap cameras I bought at Walmart are just that—cheap. The recording is grainy, and they don’t catch every angle of the room, but I needed something affordable that could at least ease my mind.

I could’ve asked Declan to install a system, knowing he’d probably do it for free to help me out, but that would be taking advantage of his generosity. I won’t do that. Especially now that I’ve told him we can’t be together.

It hurt to admit it out loud, but he has no idea what my past brings with it. Or who.

It’s five in the morning and I’ve just been woken out of a deep sleep by a sound I haven’t heard in years.

My burner phone is ringing.

Only two people who have that number and they’re the only reason I keep the damn thing charged. It also means someone’s in trouble.

Flipping off my covers, I sit straight up and open the nightstand drawer to grab the phone. When I see it’s Emilia calling, a solid rock forms in my stomach.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, skipping the pleasantries and whispering to keep Carter from hearing me. I walk over to the door and quietly close it, then make my way into the bathroom, closing that door too. There’s no need to alarm my son until I know what’s going on.

“Mili?” She’s not answering me, but I can hear her sobbing into the phone.

After a few deep breaths, she shakily whispers, “I’m sorry, Vi. I’m so sorry.”

“Mili, what’s happened? What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t know who else to call. They came to my office after hours and—they—oh god.” Another sob.

“Mili, are you hurt? Where are you?” My thoughts are a scrambled mess as I fight back the panic that I feel crawling up inside me. “Are you at your new apartment? I can get Carter, and we can be there?—.”

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