Page 36 of Vengeful Devotion
“I’ll let you in on a family secret. If Francine McBride ever says she has a surprise for you, it will be a kick in the balls.”
I laugh in disbelief. “She’s too sweet for that. I don’t believe you.”
“She told me she had a surprise for me right before Warren walked in. It’s real. I can assure you.”
“Oh…. That’s—” I pause, trying to find the right words, but they escape me. “That’s messed up.”
Declan chuckles. “Yeah, it is. But what family isn’t?”
Mine is a little worse than messed up. What Lonny did to me goes beyond dysfunction. My family is diseased. We’ve been poisoned by the markings of a predator. There’s no saving the De Luca’s. It’s too late for that.
Declan doesn’t question my sudden silence. He glides his hand into mine, kissing the back. The cloud of doom hanging over me dissipates. In this moment, his touch is all the comfort I need.
It's not long before we’re parking in front of a dark building. I look around. It’s not connected to any of the other establishments nearby. It’s bigger than them, standing at almost double the height.
“Where are we?”
Declan doesn’t answer, instead going to unlock the door. He enters and holds the door open for me. The pitch blackness of the building wants me to hesitate, but my curiosity pushes me over the threshold. Only after the door closes do I speak.
“You’re not going to kill me, right?”
“It’s a little late to ask that question, bláth fiáin.”
I gulp, fear climbing up my throat.
Declan flips a light on, illuminating the space. “I’m just kidding, Gem. I wouldn’t dare kill you here.”
I look around the room. There’s a wide open space. The only things occupying space are the two staircases leading towards posh booths.
“Where is here, exactly?”
“This is my new club.”
“Oh. Am I even old enough to be in here? I’m not twenty-one for another six months.”
He moves closer, running a finger down my cheek. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
I smile at him, knowing this is a moment I hope I never forget.
“So, what do you think?” he asks, gesturing to the club.
“It’s kind of plain.”
“It’s not finished yet,” he replies, grabbing hold of my waist and pulling me into a dance. “We still have a month or two until opening.”
“In that case, I like it. What are you going to name it?”
He smiles. “I’m not sure yet. What would you name it?”
My eyes scan the place, but nothing sticks out to me. Nothing but the orange, white, and green flag on the wall.
“You should name it after something that reminds you of home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah.” I shrug, letting him lead me around the dance floor. “Of Ireland. You said it was home.”
“Yeah, I guess I did say that.”
