Page 10 of Declan
Colt curses under his breath. "You don't fucking talk to her. You don't know her."
I open my mouth to...I don't know, defend myself? Agree? Either way, it doesn't matter.
"Fuck," Colt says, grabbing Maverick's arm. "Cops are here. Let's go." He pulls him through the doors into the waiting room and, with a smile and a few words, gets past the security guard and back into the ER.
I stand, one hand on my aching stomach, watching as the two detectives walk past me. Their badges aren't out. They're dressed in jeans, but everything about the way they walk, the way they scan their surroundings, spells cop. We've all got a lot of fucking experience spotting them. The way we grew up, it’s a skill necessary for survival.
Waves of regret and shame wash through me. My brothers are in there supporting Cara while I stand out here, useless. They're capable, powerful men. They'll take care of her, I have no doubt. But it should be me. I should be the one comforting her. Protecting her. But I fucked that up.
My phone chimes with a text, and I dig it out of my pocket.
Colt: Find everything you can on this fucker. Make this right.
He's right. I have nothing to offer here. Not right now. My brothers are far more capable. So I'll go home and do the only thing I can do. The only thing I'm good at.
Reluctantly, I turn and hail one of the cabs idling nearby. Resting my head on the window, I watch as the hospital gets smaller and smaller. When it’s gone from my sight, I turn my attention to the problem at hand. I may not be able to be there for Cara, but I can tear this fucker’s life apart and find every bit of dirt on him I can.
I will not allow her to be punished for protecting herself and her sister.
6
DECLAN
I slide another document into the folder labeled with her name, Cara. I’m fixating, I have been for weeks, but I don’t know what else to do. Gathering up any dirt I can on anyone remotely connected to that Tyler guy and the cops investigating his death is all I can do.
I flick my monitor off at the soft knock on my door. I know that knock. None of my brothers would ever ask permission to enter, so that’s a dead giveaway. And they’ve never done anything softly.
Well, that’s not totally true.
They’re total marshmallows with their women, but here, when it’s just us? It’s slaps and swears and shouting down the hallway.
“Come in, Janey.”
She cracks open the door, peeking in first, then coming in the rest of the way. I hide my involuntary grin. I don’t know what she thinks I’m doing in here, but she comes in the same way every time, like I might be naked or some shit. But not in a judgmental way. More like she doesn’t want to interrupt my happy time. It’s one of my favorite things about her.
“Hi, Declan. I just wanted to say goodnight. How was your day?” She’s wearing one of her favorite outfits. At least, I think it’s her favorite since I see her in it all the time. A simple gray silky shirt and those tight black pants women wear. She fills them both out really nicely. And I feel like a dick now for thinking it.
“My day was ok, Janey. How about I walk you out?” I mean, what else am I going to say? I’m drowning in guilt and feel totally powerless to help the woman I spend every night obsessing over?
Her nose crinkles when she smiles, and I can’t hold back an answering grin. She’s so fucking adorable. How did she fly under our radar for so long? She’s worked for us for years, answering the phones at the front desk. Greeting people. But recently, we promoted her to head of HR. I don’t think there’s an official name for what she does, but People Fixer comes close. There’s something about her that just sucks you in and makes you want to spill your guts. And she’s about the most people-smart person I’ve ever met. She sees connections and patterns in people that the rest of us miss. We’re not stupid, so we created a position for her to take advantage of her skill set.
I put my hand on the small of her back, escorting her down the long hallway. All my brothers’ offices are on this side of the building, one next to the other. My feet slow automatically as we approach Ransom’s office. His door is open, and I can hear my brother’s voice. But that’s not why I slow. It’s because she’s there, Cara, in the office right across from his. We haven’t spoken, not a single word since the hospital. Not since I opened my fucking mouth and let stupidity pour out.
“Things are still hard between you two,” Janey says softly. Her eyes are on Cara, too, as she moves around her office.
“Yeah. I thought I might be able to fix it, but I haven’t been able to get her alone. Between her sister and her work here, it seems like she never has a spare minute.”
Janey hums, tilting her head. “Sometimes broken things can’t be fixed. If you don’t figure out a way to fix your friendship soon, it might stay broken.”
My mouth dries up. “It’s only been a few weeks, though. So not really that long.”
Janey’s blue eyes narrow on mine. “Do you understand where you went wrong with her?”
“Yeah, I said some shit I shouldn’t have.”
“Why shouldn’t you have said it?”
I go to run my fingers through my hair, the movement a reflex. Only there’s nothing there.
