Page 64 of Catch Him
“I just meant alone, she’s going to have time to think. She’ll remember what you did to her and it will make her angry all over again.”
Declan leaned against the center island table, where Mary was standing putting together a salad for their dinner.
“Are you comparing what Garrett did to you, to what I did to Sinead?”
Her head jerked up. “No. I know you. You would never harm someone… like that, I mean. But you did lie to her. You did convince her you were one person, when you were another person entirely. It makes a person question their judgment is all.”
Mary had worked hard to lose her Irish brogue when he brought her to the US for school. But there were times he could hear the Irish in her voice, and it was a reminder of where they had come from. What he’d built for her out of nothing. All to protect her innocence.
“I failed you.”
“Declan, don’t…”
“I did,” he snapped. “I thought I had taken care of everything. Made sure you had all the money and clothes and things you needed. A private high school. A college education. A chance at a productive life. A childhood I couldn’t give you, but your adulthood—I wanted that to be filled with happiness. Except I let you down, and now you’ll always have this… scar.”
Mary straightened her shoulders and stiffened her back. “You have to let me accept what my actions caused. It’s not fair for you take that on. That’s mine, and I need to own it. All I’m saying is don’t think a hard fuck and a charming smile are going to fix the fact that you spent weeks lying to her.”
“You go, Mary.”
Declan turned around to see Sinead standing in the entrance of the kitchen. She looked fresh and new. So damn pretty every time he was around her he wanted to whimper, like a satisfied dog whose master had chosen to pet him.
She shifted on her sexy shoes and shoved her hands in her back pockets. “What’s for dinner?”
“Lasagna and salad,” Mary said.
Declan held up the bottle of wine he realized he hadn’t opened. “A glass of red?”
“Sure.”
He poured a glass and walked it over to her. Then he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to him. “I know I’ve work ahead to make things right with you. I know I do. All I’m asking for is the chance to do that work.”
“My dad called you a cocksucking motherfucker.”
Declan winced. Probably going to be a little awkward around the holidays with family. “I can assure you I’ve never sucked a cock nor fucked anyone’s mother.”
“What happens now?” she asked him as she took the glass of wine.
“We eat.”
“No, I mean with us. All this work you plan on doing. I mean after this whole shindig is over and everyone is safe, what are your plans to win me back?”
Declan hadn’t really considered that. Currently he was between assignments, but he imagined that would change. If he was going to leave Sinead for periods of time, he imagined she would prefer being closer to her family. Because despite their tenuous relationship, Declan now had proof her father obviously cared for her. His hatred of Declan being said proof.
“Logistically, I can live anywhere if you have your heart set on staying in San Francisco. I do need to spend some time in London being David Whitmore…”
“You mean that’s your actual name in London?”
Declan smiled at her surprise. She would hopefully come to understand that much of what he’d told her about his life was true.
“Oh yes. David is a carefully constructed character with an appropriate background. A circle of disgusting rich friends who bore the crap out of me, which you know about. It allows me cover and allows me to control my financial empire while still being able to take on certain tasks I choose.”
Sinead considered him. “You’re like Batman without the costume.”
Declan shrugged. “Batman. Yes, I suppose. Although no gadgets either. Well, not as many.”
Mary rolled her eyes as she pulled the lasagna out of the oven. “Sinead, something to know about my brother. His head can get as big as his ass. Best to make sure that while it might be fine to call him a superhero from time to time, you’ll also want to be popping that balloon any chance you get.”
Sinead smiled as she sipped her wine. “Mary, I think you and I are going to be great friends.”
Declan looked at the two women in his life he loved beyond reason.
Them. Teaming up against him. Suddenly he was very worried.
