Page 53 of Declan's Dove

I must find a way to hide Carter to keep James from finding him.

If he finds me, I’ll fight like hell, but if I should die at his hands, my son needs to be safe. I can’t just leave him with Vincenzo. Although I know he would protect him, would he love him? Would he raise him to be a good man?

No. More than likely he’d be raised to become an intimidating, overbearing, opinionated asshole who speaks in riddles and scares people with just the lift of his eyebrows. I couldn’t bear the thought of Carter becoming just another soldier for Vincenzo.

The thought of Carter not only being alone, but feeling alone, with no one to truly care for him and love him, hurts my heart. He needs someone who will teach him to be strong and courageous. To stand up for his beliefs and for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Allow him to mourn losses and learn from his trauma, not hold it in or use it as an excuse. To let shit go and do what makes him happy.

I don’t believe Vincenzo would teach him those things. As much as I appreciate everything he’s done for us, Vincenzo is very much a man after his own best interest. He might use Carter’s pain to turn him into a vengeful, angry, loyal henchman. The thought physically pains me.

Then you can’t let James find you. Carter needs his mother.

I can’t leave Carter behind. We’ll have to run together. I’ll stay with Declan for a few days and as soon as we get back into town, I’ll grab a few essentials and take Carter some place safe. Some place far, far away. Maybe Hawaii.

How would you afford living there? You barely afford your simple life here.

Deciding I don’t have the emotional capacity to think about this right now, I retreat to the bedroom and find the t-shirt and boxers Declan has left out for me to wear.

“He couldn’t bring me some of my own clothes?” I mumble to myself.

I pull the shirt on over my head and it falls down to the tops of my knees. It’s soft and smells of laundry detergent—and Declan. Pulling the collar to my nose, I take a deep inhale and let his scent settle over me.

When I try to put the boxers on, they are far too big, even after rolling them several times, so I opt to leave them.

“I’ll just have to sit with my legs crossed and at a distance during dinner.” Talking to myself seems to have become my new coping mechanism.

Back in the bathroom, I pick up my dirty clothes and fold them, finding a hamper in the corner and putting them neatly inside. Then I pick up the towel and fold it twice, making sure the trifold creases perfectly and the edges match just so. The rug beside the tub is wet. Making sure it lays perfectly even over the edge of the tub, I leave it there to dry.

Stepping back to check the room, making sure everything is in its place nice and tidy, I realize what I’m doing. After two years of being away from my husband and out from under his thumb, the asshole’s rules are still ingrained in me.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Declan

While Violet is upstairs taking her bath, I need to make a few phone calls. I will probably catch hell from Pres for not filling him in before heading up here to meet with Kayce and Matteo, but I didn’t know exactly what I was walking into and whether it was something I want to pull the club into. Honestly, I’m still not sure but either way, I need to tell Gabe what’s happening.

“Hello.” Gabe answers on the first ring.

“Hey, Pres. Is this a good time to talk?” He knows what I’m asking without me having to elaborate.

“Headed to my office now. Hold on.” I hear a few voices chatting, fading in and out in the background as he moves. A door closes, and he’s back on the line. “What do you got for me?”

Leaning against the window, I let the beautiful scenery calm me.

“I found Violet,” I start. “We’re staying in a cabin not far from town, but quite a way off the beaten path.”

“All right. That’s the basic information. So, what’s the shit you’re not telling me?” Pres says, not missing a fucking beat. “Is she okay? What are walking into, Dec? What kind of trouble is she in?”

I let out a long sigh. “Physically, she’s fine. I don’t know about emotionally.” I sigh. “I heard a strangled noise upstairs while she was supposed to be taking a bath. She says she fell asleep and must’ve had a nightmare.”

“Jesus,” Gabe mutters. “You believe her?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, Pres. She hasn’t told me anything about her past except that her husband is a scary asshole.”

“Husband? She’s still married?” Gabe sounds pissed. “You know what kind of shit you could be bringing here? Is he crazy? A sick, twisted fuck? Or did she just leave without filing for divorce? What are we dealing with, Dec? I need to know before we bring this shit to the table.”

“I don’t have all the details. I only know some of it. I’m hoping to get the rest from her while we’re here. But she’s got some serious wounds, Pres. I don’t know if she’s going to open up to me right away.”

“Wounds? She’s hurt? You need Doc?” Under his gruff tone, I hear his genuine concern.

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