Page 108 of Declan

“Fuck no,” Declan replied, and Zane nodded.

“Hurt?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll send someone over to take your statement then take her home.”

With that, Zane walked away and we went back to silence.

I wanted to go back to numb but I couldn’t. Declan was freaking me out but I was too much of a coward to ask what was wrong. I couldn’t face his rejection. I couldn’t bear to think he was having second thoughts. So I remained quiet until a man in a suit came over to take our statements.

During which time, Declan didn’t stand, he didn’t push me off his lap, he didn’t loosen his arms around me. He just spoke—clear, conscious, deliberate words devoid of emotion. I followed his lead and answered the detective's questions. At no time did he ask if I had a permit, how I knew Ashaki, or how I happened to be in a vacant building in a hostage situation. When the detective was done, he didn’t tell us to stay in town in case he wanted to follow up, he didn’t give me or Declan his name or business card. He simply concluded, and with a lift of his chin, sauntered away.

I was too freaked out to care about that, too.

Declan kissed the side of my head, slid off the seat, then turned and placed me in it, belted me, and closed the door.

That was it.

No discussion.

Ten minutes before we got to my house, he pulled out his phone and finally broke the deafening silence.

“Emerson?” There was a pause. “Yeah, it’s Declan. Thad’s good, but I need you to meet me at Autumn’s. You come alone.” There was another pause, then Dec gave her my address and disconnected.

My anxiety had skyrocketed.

“I don’t care if the two of you sit and stare at each other. You don’t have to say a word to her. But there’s something I need to take care of and I want Emerson with you when I leave. If you don’t want to see her, go into your room. But she’ll be standing guard while I’m away. You try to dodge her, bolt, sneak out or run, I swear on all things holy I will track you down, and when I find you, I’m gonna be pissed as fuck. I’ll be gone two hours, tops. When I get back, we’ll talk. Until then, I need you to be strong.”

“I won’t run,” I squeaked.

“Good.”

“Emmy doesn’t need to come over.”

Declan pulled off the highway and rolled to a stop at a red light.

“Trust me. You need her there. This is your shot. Be brave, Autumn, and take it because, after today, you might not get another one.”

“What does that mean?”

“We’ll talk when I get back.”

“Dec—”

“Trust. Me. That’s all you gotta do, baby. Trust me to do what’s right for both of us.”

Trust?

I just shot trust in the head.

I just killed it.

I wasn’t sure I had it in me to trust anything or anyone ever again. Not fully, not completely, not after what Ash had done.

“The last person I trusted betrayed me, kidnapped a woman, beat her, and tried to kill her. I’m not sure—”

“Do not ever compare me to her,” he thundered, and I would swear on a stack of bibles the windows shook.