Page 14 of Declan's Dove

“Could you find me a couple of pieces of paper, baby? I need to write something down.”

He rummages through his backpack and grabs me four pages from his notebook, being careful to rip off the frayed edges, then hands them to me.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” I take the papers and find a pen in the kitchen drawer and an envelope, then begin writing my letter.

“Mama, the pancakes are going to burn,” Carter fusses.

“Shit.” I switch off the griddle.

“You said …”

“I know, I know.” I wave him away. Getting the two pancakes flipped to finish cooking the other side before the griddle cools down and grabbing a plate from the cupboard. “Grab the butter and the syrup please, Carter.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Quickly, I plate the two pancakes for him and grab a butter knife and fork, while he places the butter and syrup on the table.

“Here you go.” I place the plate down in front of him and ruffle his hair. He swats my hand away, groaning at me to stop.

“You’re not going to eat, Mama?” he asks around a huge bite of syrup drenched pancake.

“No. I need to finish this letter and then get ready for my day,” I tell him. “You go ahead and eat.”

He rushes through his breakfast, and I run down the hall and leave the letter on my dresser. Hopefully he won’t be too upset with me for this. But if there’s one thing I can trust, it’s Declan to watch over my son. Hell, he gave him a hoodie with their logo and a cell phone with all their numbers programmed into it.

Carter texts and calls Declan all the time.

We make our way down to the car and get in. Carter gets his seatbelt clicked and we’re on our way. Once we arrive at the front of the school, I pull up to the curb to drop him off. Before he opens the door, I tell him, “Listen, baby. I have something to do today and if I don’t make it back in time, Mister Declan will come and get you. Now, I want you to listen to him until I get back.”

“Okay, Mama.”

“I love you.” I kiss his cheek, and he hugs my neck, giving me a kiss as he lets go.

“I love you too, Mama.” Carter gets out, closes the door and runs straight to his friends who are waiting by the tree for him.

Pulling away from the school, I pull out the cellphone Ethan gave me and dial the one person I know can help me. My only concern is at what cost.

The phone rings twice before he answers.

“Good morning, Violet. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Vincenzo Parisi’s velvety voice comes over the phone. The man is sin personified. If he wasn’t the head of a Mafia family, I might find him more attractive. But I’ve lived a life full of fear and violence and though I know Vincenzo would never harm me or my son, I don’t want to be around violence again…… of any kind.

And he doesn’t wear leather or ride a Harley.

No. Not going there.

“Vincenzo, I need a favor.”

“What kind of favor?” I can hear rustling around on the other end of the phone.

“A private jet, a couple of men, and a doctor.”

“That’s quite a favor?” he says the words as a question, asking for more without actually saying the words.

I let out a long sigh. “I need to get to Baron’s Edge, Vincenzo. I don’t have time to explain everything over the phone.”

“Who’s hurt, sweetheart? Is your son all right?” He asks, with what sounds like the snapping of fingers loudly in the background.

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