Page 67 of Sweet Revenge
“Yeah, I might be able to get a plate from security cameras if there are any.”
“You’re going to hate this,” Declan said, giving Evie’s shoulders a squeeze. “But I don’t want you going anywhere alone until we’ve got this guy.”
“I think I can live with that,” Evie said, hating the shakiness in her own voice.
“Finn, I want to put a security detail at the restaurant and extra bouncers at the club. The house should be secure,” Declan added, waiting for Brogan’s nod. “But it wouldn’t hurt to make sure security is tight here too.”
James burst through the door, followed quickly by Aidan and Sean.
“What the hell is going on?” James demanded, wrapping Maura up in a hug.
“Someone put a hit out on Evie with the Italians.”
“That’s bold,” Sean said.
“And very stupid,” Declan agreed. “We’ve got plans for extra security. You can get the details from Finn.”
“Let me get Cait and Evan settled at home first, then we can meet at the club. Aidan?”
“I’ll make the calls.”
“My car is still at the park,” Maura said as everyone filed out.
“I’ll drop you and James off on my way,” Sean replied.
When they were alone again, Evie collapsed against Declan’s chest, suddenly exhausted, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“What if we don’t get him?” she whispered, voice hoarse.
“We will,” Declan assured her, pressing his cheek against the top of her head and holding on tight. “I swear it.”
ChapterThirty-One
When she jolted awake, it was dark, and her eyes took a minute to adjust. Declan slept on his side, curled away from her, and she was glad her nightmare hadn’t woken him.
Peter had been quiet for two days. No more notes, no more threats. Brogan had been monitoring communications between the Italians as much as he could. He had some theories on who they might task with the hit, but so far no one had made a move.
Not that Declan had given them much opportunity. He’d kept her close, working from home though he hadn’t done much work. The sense of urgency in the house was palpable, and Evie hated knowing people she loved were in the crosshairs because of her.
She turned to study Declan in the dim light, the lean muscles of his back and the Celtic tree of life tattoo that spread across his shoulder and wrapped around his bicep. Resisting the urge to trace it with her finger, she rolled out of bed, hand searching in the dark for her shirt. When she pulled Declan’s button-down from the floor, she slipped her arms through it, holding it closed as she stepped out onto the balcony.
It was warm for early May, and she could smell the rain in the forecast, but the stone was cool under her feet, and she let the sensation clear out the rest of her nightmare. She hated this helpless feeling, this not knowing. It clawed at her throat until she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
She sensed more than heard Declan join her on the balcony, leaning back against him when he wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“He isn’t going to win this.”
She kept her eyes fixed on the trees as the sky slowly lightened, casting the world in somber gray. “You don’t know that.”
“I do.” He turned her slowly in his arms, lifting her chin so their eyes met. “Because I know you and how strong you are. And I know I will do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe. No lengths are too great, no body count is too high, no amount of money is too much. This isn’t over until his blood is on my hands.”
The thought was oddly comforting. “I made my bed. Maybe I should lie in it.”
Declan scowled. “Don’t parrot Aidan. He’s young and stupid and selfish. And he has no idea what he’s talking about. You are not in this alone, Evie.”
For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone. The crack in the wall around her heart widened as hope swelled a bit more. But…
“Why should you have to clean up my mess?”
