Chapter 14

Fourteen

The car screeches to a stop as I slam on the brakes in front of Callum's house. He's out of the passenger seat and rushing up the front steps, gun drawn before I can even put the car in park. Heart racing, I jump out, barely remembering to shut the car off and follow him. I pause when I see a body face down next to the front door.

Bending down, I roll the guy over and feel for a pulse.

Nothing.

He's dead, but there's no blood coming from anywhere.

Someone must have choked him out.

I check behind his ears, his hands, and his forearms, looking for any markings telling me who he's with. I find one on his forearm that I've seen before.

These guys are with the same crew that attacked us on Christmas.

I pull my firearm out of the holster under my jacket and start to sweep the place. The only room that's been disturbed on the main floor is Callum's home office. It looks like someone tried to break into his computer and desk, but when they failed, they swept everything off the desk. All the books have been tossed onto the floor, and the chairs were overturned. There's nothing missing, though. None of his expensive statues nor the electronics.

They made this look like a robbery, but that's not the motivation here.

Nikita.

I need to get to my wife.

Heading out, I continue my sweep and find not a soul in sight. I head upstairs and hear voices talking quietly. I suck in a breath when I step into Emily's playroom.

Callum has his back to me, and he's talking to two of our men, O'Hooligan and McGowen. Both men look at me as I step inside and nod.

"Catch me up?" I ask as I come to stand at Callum's side.

"There were three. We took out the one at the front door, one ran, and we captured one in your office. No one made it near the basement," McGowen answers.

My hands start to itch in anticipation. "Where is he?"

Both guys look over at the closet, and I follow their gaze.

"You stuffed him in a closet?" Callum asks in disbelief.

O'Hooligan's face reddens. "We panicked when we heard footsteps. We thought maybe the Mrs. got out of the safe room and was going to take matters into her own hands with her frying pan."

I can't help the sound that comes out. Back when Callum and Autumn first got together she knocked a guy out with a cast iron pan.

Callum sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Take this guy to Finn. He's at the warehouse."

Both men nod and move to the closet.

I pull out my phone and press call on the number I need.

"Call the cleaner. I want that body gone before my girls come out of the safe room," Callum tells me.

"Already on it," I murmur right as the guy picks up.

"Yeah?" A voice picks up the line.

"We would like to schedule a one-room cleaning for today, please," I tell him before rattling off the address.

"Be there in twenty," he says before hanging up.

I slide my phone back into my pocket. "What now?"

Callum looks up from his phone. "Sorry, I was texting Connor, letting him know to stand down but to keep the girls in the room until we've cleaned up."

"All good. Take your time."

I say the words, but the truth is that I'm itching to get to Nikita. I need to see with my own two eyes that she's okay.

Fuck.

I don't like this feeling in my chest.

"Let's head back to my office. I know my monitor is cracked, but maybe you'll be able to pull up the cameras on the one I keep in my desk that attaches to my tablet."

"Sounds good. It will be better than trying to look at all of them on my phone."

We head downstairs and are met with some of our men who are already trying to put the place back in order.

"Thank you," Callum tells them as we pass by.

We step into the office, and while Callum pulls the screen and tablet out of his desk, I right the chairs.

"Here you go." He hands over the tablet.

I sit down and get to work. We know when they attacked, but we don't know when they started watching the place. When I came earlier, the street was clear, so either they were hiding out or they came after.

Why now?

Were they watching Callum's home before today?

"It doesn't make sense, unless…"

"What doesn't?"

I look up at Callum and shake my head. "She hasn't had any communication with the Russians since they gave her to us, yet they know her every move."

"You think they chipped her?" Callum asks, picking up on my thought.

"It's the only thing I can think of…"

"You get to work and I'll call Doc. We'll get her checked out before you guys leave today," Callum says as he pulls out his phone.

I take a deep breath and push thoughts of Nikita aside for now.

Thirty minutes later, I'm nothing but frustrated. The video proves that it was a planned attack but messy. Almost like they were overconfident in what they were doing. Either that or amateurs. They pulled up in a car about an hour after we left. Three guys bailed out, but there was a fourth who was the getaway driver. Unfortunately for the driver, he didn't know where all the cameras were and we got not only his face but his license plate. The plate comes back as stolen, which isn't a surprise. What frustrates me, though, is so far the guy hasn't popped up in facial recognition.

Not only that, but as soon as the guy at the door was taken out, he took off, leaving his comrades in the house by themselves.

I don't think that they were meant to live. Which then begs the question, what was their goal with this? To test us?

"Hey," Callum says, making me look up. "It's time to go get the girls."

"Give me one second." I unplug the tablet from the bigger screen and place both of them back in his drawer.

"I texted Connor and told him to open the door in a minute," Callum tells me as we pound down the stairs.

We come to a stop, and I'm hit with a wave of anxiousness. I was able to put my worry for Nikita aside and focus on my task before, but now it's right there in the front of my mind.

Is Nikita okay?

"Hey man, thanks for getting them to safety," Callum says as the door slides open.

"Always," Connor says as he steps to the side.

The first thing I see is Nikita, who's standing protectively in front of Autumn and Emily.

When she sees it's us, her shoulders visibly relax.

"Everything's okay," I tell her.

Autumn brushes by her with Emily on her hip and walks up to Callum.

I watch as a war plays out on Nikita's face. The need to reassure her and promise that she's safe consumes me, but it isn't like that with us.

I want it to be like that, though. This scare has just proved to me that I care more about my wife than I should. Than I wanted to. The fact that she hasn't run into my arms is annoying the fuck out of me.

Fuck it.

"Are you going to stand over there all night, or are you going to come here?"

"The house has been cleared,and the guys are coming down. I'm going to open the door," Connor tells us.

Despite his reassurance, I can't help but stand, placing myself behind Connor and in front of Autumn and Emily.

Connor hits a button, and my heart begins to race as the doors open.

Is it just them or did someone fuck with the camera and are making it look like it? Could someone have hacked the cameras? Maybe it wasn't actually Callum on the phone. They have voice changers. My mind is running a million miles a minute.

"Hey man, thanks for getting them to safety," Callum says as the door slides open.

"Always," Connor says as he steps to the side.

Autumn scoots around me and goes to her husband with her daughter in her arms.

I'm hit with a wave of envy. I wish I could go up to Declan and have him comfort me. What would it be like to trust someone that much that you can be vulnerable?

Speaking of the man, he's standing there, his eyes taking me in from head to toe. Almost as if he is checking to make sure I'm okay.

My body heats at his gaze. I like him looking at me. I've never liked men looking at me before, but everything with Declan has been so different.

Honestly, I think I like my husband, which is crazy enough to make me want to panic.

"Are you going to stand over there all night, or are you going to come here?" he asks, reading my thoughts.

Reluctantly, I step forward, brushing past Connor. I come to a stop in front of Declan.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why this keeps happening," I say as I look between my husband and Callum.

Callum and Declan share a look before looking back at me.

"This is a discussion we need to have in private," Callum says.

Fear freezes me in place. Is this it? Have I finally outstayed my welcome? Have they finally realized that death is the best option for me? Did I lose my chance at a sliver of happiness?

Declan reaches out and pulls me into his chest as he wraps his arms around me. Holding me.

"Get out of your head. This isn't your fault. Not directly at least. Understand?" he scolds me quietly.

I nod my head against his chest, but it's a lie. I feel like this is my fault. My father promised to come for me, and now he is.

Taking a deep breath, I try to relax. Declan squeezes me tighter to him as if he can't stand the thought of letting me go. He smells like cloves, and I love it. Almost like Christmas. How have I never noticed this before?

"Pst…babe, you're supposed to wrap your arms around him and hug him back," Autumn says lightly from beside me.

I press my face harder into his chest as everyone laughs. Very slowly, I raise my hands and set them right above his hips, holding his sides.

"I'm going to take the girls upstairs. Take a moment, then meet me in my office," Callum says.

I feel Declan rumble, "Got it."

I soak in as much of Declan as I can as the footsteps fade. I want to savor this feeling of safety I get whenever he is near. Being in his arms only amplifies it. I feel invincible standing here now with my hands on his sides. I can feel him breathing me in, making me wonder what I smell like to him. Is it pleasant? Is there a scent he would like more?

Talking with Autumn today has scrambled my brain. I'm losing it slowly. Here I am, wondering if my husband likes my scent when I should be worried if he is going to hurt me for my part in whatever happened today.

I didn't miss the way he said it was indirectly my fault.

Reluctantly, I step back when I'm sure everyone is gone. Surely he doesn't want to put on a front when no one else is around. That's all that was, right? A show for the others?

Declan looks down at me and frowns.

"What?"

He shakes his head, his hands catching mine. "Nothing. Are you okay?"

I give a watery laugh. "I don't know. I want to say yes, but I'm tired of lying. I'm scared, Declan."

Declan bites the corner of his lip. "At the risk of sounding like an asshole, this is a good look for you."

"I do not understand."

"In the last few hours, I've seen more emotion from you than ever before. While I don't like that you are scared, I do like that you are being more open."

"It is not intentional."

My stomach is in knots. The walls I have kept up over the years have saved me more times than I could count, but I'm finding it harder and harder to keep maintaining them. Especially being around these people. They are so open and honest with one another. It's scary.

Being vulnerable is scary.

He smiles softly. "I know. That's why I like it. Now come on, we better not keep Callum waiting."

"Yes, I would very much like to get my punishment over," I tell him, reverting back to the life I once knew.

I move to step around Declan, but he reaches out and grabs my arm, halting me.

"Nikita, this isn't your fault, and you aren't going to be punished. We don't operate like that. We don't hurt women. Not unless it's a last resort and they are a threat to those we love. Trust me when I say you are not a threat. You are family. We're just going to go upstairs and have a civil conversation, okay?"

"I am not used to that. Where I am from, that is not how things work…"

Declan's eyes soften. "You'll get used to it. This new life you have, you will never be hurt again. Not if I can help it. I promise. Now let's go."

His hand moves down my arm until his fingers meet mine, and he holds my hand gently. They still ache from the slices from this morning, but he is careful of my wounds. It's confusing. His simple touch makes my insides warm. That now-familiar feeling of being sick is sitting in my stomach. The good kind. The kind that makes me want to lean into Declan instead of pushing him away.

Side by side, we leave the basement and make our way to Callum's office. He's already there, seated behind his desk. The room looks as if someone tore it up. Almost like Declan's home looked this morning. He looks up as soon as we step inside.

"Take a seat," Callum says, nodding to the two chairs in front of his desk.

Everything in me is saying I should protest and stand. That he only wants me to sit to put me at ease before attacking, no matter what Declan thinks. Yet the new side of me, the one that is making it hard to keep my blank mask in place, wants to do as he says. She is telling me we can trust these people.

Before I can make a decision, Declan leads me forward and pushes me into a chair before taking the one next to me. Then his hand comes back to grab the one closest to him, that damn thumb of his brushing the back of my hand, causing my stomach to go crazy.

"Nikita, I need to thank you," Callum says, catching me off guard.

My eyebrows furrow. "For what? I brought danger to your home…"

"Did you call someone and tell them you were coming? Are you giving your old family every detail you learn of my family?"

I scoff. "Of course not. I have not spoken to any of them since I got on a plane to come here. My father dropped me with Haruaki, and I haven't spoken to him since."

Callum nods. "Exactly. This isn't on you. Both times we've found you after an attack, you have put yourself between my family and the threat, acting like a human shield. So thank you for putting yourself between them and what you perceive as danger."

I nod, unsure of what to say. My life isn't as important as theirs. Who wouldn't try and protect them?

"Nikita…" Declan trails off.

I look over at him and see that he's refusing to look back at me and instead keeps his eyes on Callum.

"Callum and I were talking, and we can't figure out how your family knows where you are all the time."

"Once is a coincidence, two is a pattern." I nod as I think about it. "I'm not sure how they are either. Maybe someone is watching me."

Declan is quiet for a moment. "We think they might be tracking you another way."

"How? I have bought all new clothes since I have been here. I do not wear jewelry…"

"Have you ever had a surgery?" Declan asks.

"When I was a child, I had my appendix taken out. Other than that, not that I know of. Why?"

"We think they put a tracker inside of you," Callum says bluntly.

Vaguely, I am aware of a knock on the door, but Callum's revelation has me frozen. Did my family really implant something inside of me? Surely I would know, right? It makes sense, though. The way my father always seemed to know where I was as I grew up. The two times I attempted to go against him, he always caught me right away. I figured it was the cameras and guards. What if it was something else?

Ice fills my veins as my thoughts begin to spiral. What else was done to me that I do not remember?

Declan squeezes my hand, bringing me back into the present. I try to pull away, but Declan holds on tight.

"Easy…" he says soothingly.

"I want it out of me. If there is something under my skin, I need you to cut it out," I demand as I squeeze his hand.

The panic is starting to set in. All those times I considered running, it would have ended badly. My father would have found me. There is nowhere to hide. Nowhere he can't find me.

Declan moves to kneel in front of me, cupping my face. "Shh. It's okay. Breathe. We won't let him keep doing this to you. We have a doctor here. He is going to check you out, okay?"

He glances over at the newcomer to the room.

I follow his line of sight and see a man standing at the door. I didn't even hear him enter. He looks old enough to be a grandfather and has kind eyes. While it's uncomfortable, I know it needs to be done.

"We'll do a full examination, and if I find anything, I'll gladly remove it," the doctor reassures me.

I look over at Declan and lick my lips. "And you will stay with me?"

It's another crack in my walls. I shouldn't need him, but the idea of him stepping out of the room so this man can look me over causes me terror. I don't want to be alone. Not right now.

"I won't leave your side. I promise, mo chroí."

That phrase again. I almost ask him what it means, but I don't. Now's not the time.

I turn, giving the doctor my attention. "Let's do this. Where do you want me?"