Melissa apparently doesn’t find it so dashing, and responds with an icy glare fierce enough to freeze a flock of pigeons mid-flight. His siblings burst out laughing. “What’s wrong, Declan?” Angus yells. “Another hookup you forgot to call back?”
And doesn’t that earn Declan yet another scowl from Melissa. He leans against the car and pinches the bridge of his nose. “That woman hates me.”
Hmmm. I’m not so sure, but don’t tell him otherwise. Melissa isn’t just someone he works with; she’s his boss’s daughter. For all the success and fame Declan earned with the Montenegro case, a misstep with someone so close to Miles Fenske could ruin him.
I reach for my phone as Declan pulls onto the street, but wait to check the screen until I see his assigned police guard trailing us in his unmarked vehicle. With the heavy traffic this time of night, our guard has to drive more aggressively to keep up. I’m not sure if Lu is also tailing us, but she tends to be more discreet.
“How much longer do you think you’ll need protection?” I ask Declan.
He shrugs. “I don’t think I need it now.”
“No?”
“No,” he says, turning on his blinker. “Montenegro’s been sentenced. His first, second, and third have pled guilty and are looking at at least twenty to life each. What’s left of the family is scrambling to hang on to the crumbs that remain. They don’t have time to bother with me.” He huffs. “Not that I’m complaining. I’m looking forward to getting my life back.”
I consider his words, and his performance throughout the trial, as I return my phone to my purse. “I hear what you’re saying, but I’m not certain your life will ever be the same. You’re headed for greatness, Declan. You know that, don’t you?”
“That’s what it looks like.”
The lack of inflection in his voice has me looking back at him. “Isn’t that what you want?”
He seems to catch himself. “Oh, hell yeah. I’ve always wanted this.”
I adjust my glasses. “Then why do I sense some uncertainty?”
“It’s not that. It’s what I have to sacrifice to keep the momentum going and achieve what I want before I’m thirty. You may have noticed how tight my family is. But this is the first time I’ve seen anyone aside from Curran in months.”
“It must be hard being away from those you most count on.”
Declan doesn’t respond right away. “It is. Like I said, the seven of us are close.” He smiles then. “You know, as big a pain in the ass as Curran is, he helped me through the stress of building and winning this case.”
“He’s a good guy,” I say, unable to hold back my grin.
“And you’re good for him. In fact, you’re exactly what he’s always needed.”
“And what do you think you need?” I ask him, quietly.
His eyes cut to the rearview mirror. “Nothing serious, that’s for sure. Not if I’m going to accomplish everything I want.”
My phone buzzes as Declan makes a right at the light. I reach into my purse, my eyes widening upon reading Curran’s text.
“Is that Curran?”
“Yes.”
“Everything all right?” Declan asks.
“I…think so. He’s having beers with Joey, and says he’s sorry he missed your big night.”
“Jesus, he’s with Joey?”
“Yes.” I realize the significance of their meeting, and hope he’s okay. “He promises he won’t be much longer.”
“Tell him we’ll be at my place and that we’re ordering food. Lots and lots of food.”
I angle my chin his way. “You didn’t eat?”
“Didn’t eat, and didn’t drink anything more than water,” he answers, rubbing his jaw.
I type Curran a quick text. “I thought you were drinking vodka on the rocks.”
“So did everyone else. But with all the big shots there, I needed to keep my head.” He tugs at his collar and loosens his tie. “Once we’re back at my place, it’s going to be a whole different story.”