Page 29 of Dangerously
“You put up a good fight, Poppy.”
“Untie me, and we can go another round.”
“I don’t think so.” He reaches for me, and I jerk my head back.
‘“Relax.” He pulls my short blonde wig off. “I like your natural color much better.”
“Enough of the bullshit, Dax, tell me what the fuck is going on.” I’m not in the mood for any of his antics. Or that fucking buttery-smooth Irish tongue of his. Trust me when I tell you, he knows exactly how to use it. He can manipulate, exploit, and entice with one seductive wag.
“What’s going on is my life is a fucking wreck. If you couldn’t clearly see.”
“I’ve noticed. But how did it get that way?”
Declan eyes me like an analytical raven. “I knew he would send you. He’s obsessed.”
“Obsessed? With what? Power?” That isn’t a secret.
“No, obsessed with you. I knew it when we were together. And I loved the fact that I got you first.”
“So, sleeping with me was an in-your-face fuck you to your boss? Good thing my feelings don’t get hurt that easily.”
“Maybe, at first. And maybe because I needed to blow off some serious steam after almost getting turned into Swiss cheese. But then I saw what Ronan saw. I got it. The obsession. You’re a special woman.” He tips the bottle back and takes another gluttonous drink.
“What a sweet compliment.” My reply is chock full of resentment.
“I know you’re pissed at me.”
“I couldn't give two flying fucks about you,”
Declan just smiles at me. He thinks I’m full of shit. But I’m not. I let go of him a long time ago.
Which is why you hesitated, right?my subconscious sneers. Fucking bitch.
“I thought about you,” he discloses.
“And that’s supposed to mean something?” I’m cold as ice. Why are we having this conversation? I just want the important details. Like what the fuck really happened the night Ronan’s whole family was fucking assassinated. “This little trip down memory lane is nice and all, but it’s in the past and irrelevant. Can we stay on track? How did your life become such a wreck? What really happened with Ronan?”
“Ronan,” Declan hisses. “He’s been ruining my life since the day I met him.”
“Well, let’s not start from the beginning, and just fast forward to where it all went wrong.”
“Where it all went wrong.” Declan sighs woefully. “It all went wrong with a woman.”
“Doesn’t it always?” I shake my head, not surprised. “Who is Brynn?”
“BrynnwasRonan’s sister.” Emotion clogs his throat. “And shewasthe love of my life. She was also the reason it all went wrong.” He drops his head, shielding his face with his hand. Holy crap, I think he’s going to cry.
“Declan?” I nudge him with my toe. He raises his head with a heavy exhale and wipes his wet cheeks.
I have no idea what alternate world I entered when I broke through that door.
Declan brings the bottle to his mouth again, and I can only watch helplessly as he chugs the amber malt down.
“Jesus Christ, take a breath,” I urge, my liver hurting for him.
Only after several more gulps does he stop. All the alcohol is nearly gone, and Declan’s eyes are watery and bloodshot. “Stop drinking, start talking.”
“I need to drink in order to talk,” he bites.
