Page 66 of Vengeful Devotion
“I don’t blame you,” he says, letting my face go. “I was impressed by how quickly they all fell for your game. Thankfully, I have family in Boston. It took some digging, but they helped me figure out who you really were.”
“All this because you think I’m a gold digger?”
He laughs again, getting so close I can smell the alcohol on his breath. My stomach churns.
“Don’t worry, sunshine. There’s something in it for me, too. A promotion from driver to muscle. Just for killing you.”
“Kidnapping your boss’ girlfriend is not the way to a promotion,” I spit at his insinuation.
Danny grabs my hair, jerking my head back. “You’re right, Gemma. But there’s one thing you don’t know.”
“What?”
“I never said Declan was my boss.”
His words feel like a sucker punch to my gut, only making me feel more nauseous. “W-who is your boss?”
Danny steps back, slamming the door shut without another word. He climbs in the front seat and starts driving again. All I can see out the window is darkness. No trees, no signs of life. Just shadows.
“Who is your boss?” I ask again. But he doesn’t answer. He just keeps whistling some old tune. So I try another question.
“Where are we?”
“Far away from Vegas.”
“How far?” I ask.
His answer won’t change anything. I know that. I’m trapped, but something in me wants to know, anyway.
“Far enough. Now, shut the fuck up.”
The music comes back on, plunging me back into the prison of my mind. The only consolation I have is the fact that Danny plans to kill me. At least it’ll be quick. At least he didn’t send me back to Boston… back to him.
I slump down in the seat, sobs breaking free. The tears aren’t for me. They’re for him. For Declan. For the little time we had together. It was the only glimpse of happiness I’ve ever had, and that is everything…Heis everything.
It feels like forever that I lay there on that seat. Crying and praying to a God I don’t know for peace. For me, and for Declan. I don’t want him to blame himself for whatever happens to me.
“We’re here,” Danny announces, though it’s still too dark for me to know where ‘here’ is.
Danny looks over his shoulder. “Ready, sunshine?”
I sniffle as more tears begin to run down my face.
Danny smiles. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Before I can say anything, a bright light floods my eyes. Danny’s head snaps forward, like he’s surprised by the lights as well. I hear a loud bang. Danny’s head falls backwards. I scream when I see the blood pouring from the hole in his forehead. The windshield is shattered. My heart is pounding, my eyes swiveling to see if I can see anyone. But I can’t. The light is too blinding. It only creates more shadows. With my hands tied behind my back, there’s not much hope for me right now. I’m at the mercy of whoever just put that bullet in Danny’s brain. I just hope that person is Declan. The back door opens, and my worst nightmare comes true.
“I’ve missed you so much, bambina.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Declan
The sun setsover the Las Vegas skyline. I sit on a cliff, looking down at my city. I should’ve gone home hours ago. But I couldn’t. How am I supposed to face my family now? In one sense, yes, I did the right thing. I avenged my father as I should have. But I just killed my little brother. My eyes burn with tears, but my pride won’t let them fall. I cannot cry for the man who murdered my father.
My memories float back to my childhood. Before Vivienne was born when it was just me, Simone, and Warren. The three of us were inseparable. Always playing in the fields or fighting in the schoolyard. Warren always had to have the last word. He’s three years younger than me, but that never stopped him from picking a fight.
He was three years younger.
