Page 50 of Declan's Dove

“I don’t give a shit what Eaton and his men think their job is. They can catch this bastard who has you spooked and take care of your doctor friend, but it’s my job to take care of you and Carter. To keep you both safe and happy.”

Violet snorts. “I don’t need a man to be happy.”

I lean into her, my lips hovering near her ear. “Maybe not, but I bet you’d love nothing more than to take orders from me and let me take control for a while. To let you take a break. Lift the burden off you and transfer the weight of your world to my shoulders. I promise I can handle it all, and what’s more, you’ll fucking love it.”

I don’t miss the way her chest rises and false rapidly at my words.

Try as you may, you can’t hide the way I affect you, Dove.

A small tidbit I’ll be keeping to myself for now.

“Can you two love birds cut it out long enough for us to get through this conversation? Christ,” Kayce complains.

“Do you know who was in the apartment?” I ask. Violet looks between me and Kayce. He scrubs a hand across the back of his neck.

“No. But he wasn’t there to tear the place up. He was looking through the drawers and closet, but he seemed almost reverent about it.”

“Wait a minute!” Violet’s hand shoots up. “You have cameras inside my apartment? How long have you been spying on me?” she shrieks.

“Relax, Vi,” Kayce coaxes. “The cameras were put in by Garrison after you disappeared. No one’s been spying on you.”

She turns her rage filled hazel eyes on me. “Why would you install cameras inside my home without my permission? That’s an invasion of my privacy and you have no right.”

Lifting her chin so we’re staring at each other, I inform her of the truth. “First, I did it because I wasn’t sure if you left of your own free will or if someone had taken you. Second, it’s protocol for Garrison when someone goes missing to put eyes on their home, businesses, and anywhere they might turn up. Especially if there’s concern about a possible kidnapping. If someone kidnapped you, they might come back for Carter, and I wanted to know who was threatening my family.”

“We’re not—” I put a finger against her lips to keep whatever bullshit she’s about to spew from crossing her pretty lips.

“I told you when we went to lunch that I want you both. You’re mine, which means Carter is mine as well. No argument. No bullshit. The sooner you accept the truth, the sooner we can get married and make this shit legal.” It shocks me to realize I mean every fucking word and I’m not the slight bit afraid of what a future with Violet will bring. Her demons can come for her and I’ll face them head on. I don’t give a fuck about some dirty cop. The Kings don’t always play on the right side of the law either. If this fucker wants to meet an early grave, so be it.

“Jesus. Can we get on with the plan?” Kayce complains. “You’re nauseating, O’Malley. It’s not a good look on you.”

“What look?”

“Pussy whipped,” Kayce huffs.

Violet’s chin drops. “What? We’ve never … we haven’t.” She gasps. “You asshole! Have you not been listening to anything I’ve said? I’m not … ugh. Assholes, the whole fucking lot of you.”

Kayce’s hands come up in a placating manner. “Sorry, Vi. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just giving Declan shit.”

Violet sighs. “What is your plan, Kayce?” she asks, her shoulders slumping. “Where are we moving to now?”

“You’re not going anywhere.” I growl in her ear, but she ignores me.

She’ll pay for that.

“For now, you’re going to stay here with Declan and Carter will stay with Kings MC on the farm. Until we figure out exactly who the masked person in your apartment is and what it was he was looking for, it’s best if you stay away.” Kayce doesn’t beat around the bush. “You need to stay away from Mili and Carter too, unless you want to lead whoever this is to them.” He gives her a pointed look.

“For how long?” She doesn’t sound pleased, but I guess I can’t blame her. If she’s as attached to her boy as he is to her, which I already know she is, this isn’t going to be easy.

“A few days to start. But it will depend on what my team discovers.”

“Fuck,” she hisses. “I need to talk to Carter. To explain what’s going on. He needs to know to be careful and that I’m okay. He’ll worry if I don’t.”

“I’ll get you another burner. Carter still has the phone the club gave him. We can call him when we’re finished here,” I inform her, trying to relieve some of her stress.

“And Skyler,” she says.

“What?”

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