Chapter 21
Twenty-One
I'm turning into a possessive asshole. I know I am. I can feel it in my blood.
Watching Nikita get dressed in her work clothes this morning had me frowning. She admitted during our date that she missed working and wanted to go back. Somehow I found myself agreeing in the heat of the moment, and the smile she sent my way was worth it. But now I'm regretting it when I know I shouldn't. The most dangerous part of her job is handling hot food as she delivers it to her tables.
Still, I have this feeling inside that tells me not to let her go.
I won't be that husband, though. I won't make decisions for her. Some men like to dictate what their women wear and who they go see, but I want Nikita to have the freedom she never had. I meant what I said to her before. I know how to fight, so if she wants to dress skimpy as fuck, I'll just hurt every man who looks at what's mine. Simple as that.
Still, it makes me itchy to know she is out there in public without me. I know I have my men watching her, but if she's not in my sight, I don't feel like she's safe enough.
It doesn't help that I haven't told her about the last two secret admirer presents delivered. She thinks they have stopped, but they haven't. If anything, the notes are becoming more deranged.
My beautiful beloved. I see the way you are with him, but you won't be for long.
That one came with a single tube of lipstick. The last one came with a bullet.
If I see his hands on you one more time, I'll put this through his head.
He's escalating.
It's definitely not her father. He's in the wind still, but his interactions with her aren't sexual in nature.
These notes are from someone who is obsessed with her.
Picking up my phone, I dial Liam.
"You still got eyes on her?"
"Yes, sir. She has five tables. None of them hit on facial recognition. Seamus is running them individually, but nothing suspicious is popping up yet."
I feel my chest lighten a little bit. She's safe. At least for now.
"Good. Keep an eye out."
I hang up, turning back to my computer. I shouldn't be focusing on Nikita. She's a distraction. Especially when I know I have a team of eight on her. The only one she probably sees is Liam, but that's because I want him to be seen. I want her to know I have eyes on her.
Gone are the days when she resented me for that. At least, I hope so. She is friendly to Liam now. She even let him drive her to work this morning instead of walking like she normally would.
It's progress.
"I thought I would find you here." Callum's voice from the door has me looking up.
Instead of sitting at home or working from his home office, I decided to come work in this empty office building we own. It also happens to only be eight blocks from the apartment building and three from the diner.
"You did?" I muse, not willing to give him the satisfaction.
"You know the building across the street from her is for sale. I could buy it."
I narrow my eyes on him. "Why would you do that?"
I ask the question, but my fingers are already searching for the property. I scowl when I see that he lied.
He laughs at the look on my face.
"It's okay to admit that you want to keep her safe. It's not a crime to protect your wife."
"I never said it was." I turn my attention back to the scan I'm running.
Wherever Vladimir is, he is underground. Either that or he has his own tech person who can keep him off cameras.
Before he can continue, I get a secure message.
Found him. He's here, not there.
"Alexi found Vladimir. He's in California."
"Doesn't mean he doesn't still have men here. Has Haruaki mentioned any girls going missing?"
I frown. "No. He said it's been extra quiet. It doesn't seem right. We're missing something."
"Maybe they wised up and chose a different location to nab women from."
I growl. "Fuck, I hate this shit."
"As do I. Look at the surrounding cities. Ask our contacts to look around. If they aren't taking from here, then they are taking from somewhere else. I would bet that they are staying close, but not in the city."
I nod. "I'll drive down and talk to Rocky. He has a better idea of the small players on the outskirts."
"Good idea. What about your wife's stalker?"
"Still no trace. He calls in the order, but the number is always a burner. Then he sends a courier over with cash to pay for the order. I have tracked down every single courier, and they all have the same information. They are approached by a man with dark hair with no tattoos that they can see. He never looks at them directly. He hands them two envelopes. One for them and one for whoever they are delivering it to. Then he disappears. Never gives a name. I had one sit down with a sketch artist, but it's not anything to actually go on. They never get a good enough look at him."
"Who do you have on her?"
"Liam and Seamus as primary. Liam visible. Seamus behind the scenes. I took Finn, Aiden, and Rowan from the docks. They are on team one. Team two is Oscar, Lorcan, and Cormac. I have them staggering being inside. I believe Oscar is inside having a slice of pie as we speak."
"Good. Autumn will be pissed if she gets hurt. Get more info on Vladimir and share it with Kenji. Keep me updated."
He turns to leave, but before he can, I get an alert on my phone. This one set up specifically as an emergency alert.
"What is it?" Callum asks.
"Seamus. Something's wrong. I need to get to Nikita now."
I'm already halfway out the door, leaving everything behind. I don't even bother finding a vehicle. I run the entire three blocks to the diner. When I make it through the front door, I find Nikita comforting another server. She looks up when the bell rings, her eyes meeting mine. There's fear there.
I'm to her side in a handful of steps, pulling her into my arms. I let out a relieved breath.
"What happened?" I whisper against her head.
I glanceout the window once again. Liam is still sitting across the street in his illegally parked car. He doesn't care, though. His eyes are constantly taking in the street.
I used to hate it. Knowing I was being watched all the time. I did everything I could to get away from it.
Then Declan happened. Or I should say I let myself see him in a new light. Before, I was being watched because I was a prisoner. I don't think the reasoning is the same now. Before it was to make sure I didn't leave. Now it's because Declan doesn't want me to get hurt.
He thinks I didn't notice the men he has coming in every hour or so too. I should be mad. He's keeping tabs on me, but I can't be. Not when it makes me smile to know he actually cares.
My father would have never allowed me a job, so the fact that Declan is allowing me to keep mine is a big deal. If that means I have a few tagalongs for it, I don't mind. It does make me feel safer.
I'm grateful that I haven't heard from my father or my secret admirer since I moved out of my apartment into Declan's.
I considered asking him to let me move back into my own space, but now that I have him sleeping in bed with me every night, I don't want to give it up. He doesn't seem to mind me being there.
My cheeks blush at the thought of this morning. Yeah, he doesn't mind.
"Get your head out of the clouds. I just sat you a four-seater," Hank, the owner, teases me.
He mentioned that I seemed lighter today. I didn't want to admit that having an orgasm did that to me. Or that the way Declan cuddled me in his arms, his weight on top of me, made me feel something I've never felt before.
Cherished.
Loved.
Then he led me into the shower and helped me clean off. I almost didn't want to. Even knowing my stomach was sticky, I wanted to keep that part of him. A disgusting thought if you really think about it, but when it comes to Declan, I'm irrational.
Walking up to the table, the four men look up at me.
"My name is Nikki," I tell them the name I use when here. "What can I get you to drink?"
One of the men leers at me. I don't like the feeling it's giving me.
"Beer," he demands.
I give him a forced smile. "Sorry, the bar's down the street. We don't serve alcohol."
He huffs. "Coffee. Black. Same for them."
"I'll give you a minute to look over the menu."
Walking away from them, I glance around for one of Declan's men. They must be between shifts inside because I don't see them. I know Liam is across the street, though.
I glance out at him, letting some of the tension leave.
I'm safe.
Grabbing four coffee cups and the carafe, I turn and head back toward the table. As I do, I notice a delivery man come through the front door. I offer him a smile before dropping the coffee off at the table of men.
"Would you like any food?" I ask politely, but the hair on the back of my neck is standing up.
"No," the man who seems to be the leader says.
I don't question it. I turn and find the delivery man still standing at the counter. Hank must not have seen him.
"I can take that," I tell the guy.
He looks young. Probably about twenty-two or so. Just a few years older than me at nineteen. He gives me an appreciative smile. He likes how I look. I'm not surprised. I get hit on a lot here. It used to make me feel desired even if I never outwardly showed that it affected me.
Now, it does nothing. Not when I know I have Declan. Twirling the ring on my finger, I offer a polite smile.
"Just sign here, miss…" He trails off, obviously fishing for a name.
I hold up my ring finger. "Mrs. O'Brien. Thank you."
I sign his tablet, trying not to laugh at how disappointed he looks. When he hands over the box, he gives me one last flirty smile before walking out. I roll my eyes, setting the package on the counter.
Some men don't know when to quit.
"Excuse me," the rude man from the table of assholes calls out.
"Betty, can you open this and see what it is?" I push the box over the counter to her.
"Sure thing."
As I walk toward the man, I realize there's a glint in his eye. Something is not right.
He stands as I approach, and that's when I see it. The knife in his hand.
I stumble to a stop, but he's advancing on me.
My eyes meet Liam's as he gets out of the car, sprinting across the street.
Then I hear it.
A shrilling scream from behind me. It's enough to startle the man in front of me too. He glances over my shoulder as I drop to the floor and crawl as fast as I can behind the counter. Betty is still standing there screaming when the jingle of the front door happens. Then there is a struggle. Glass breaks somewhere, so I grab Betty and pull her to the floor with me.
Liam is likely inside now. I'm sure one of those other men are there too, but that doesn't mean it's safe for her to be standing there losing it.
"Shhh," I tell her.
She's shaking beside me, but pulling her to the ground at least stopped her screaming.
"All clear. Mrs. O'Brien, where are you?" I hear Liam's frantic voice.
I stand from behind the counter, bringing Betty with me.
"Right here," I tell Liam.
He comes closer just as I look down at the box. My eyes widen.
Now I know why Betty was screaming.
The delivery that I thought was for the diner is sitting open on the counter. Inside the plastic covering lies a head.
Not just any head.
My heart lurches in my chest.
It's the head of my sister. In the middle of the forehead is a knife with a note on its handle.
Ignore me, and I will get rid of anything you find dear. Sister first. That adorable baby you love next. Try me, beloved.
I can feel the emotions welling up, but I do everything I can to prevent them from escaping. I've become complacent. I've let my feelings free because Declan makes me feel like it is safe to do so. Not now. Not with this threat hanging over me.
My sister and I didn't have the best relationship, but she was still my sister. I'm still sad for the loss of what we could have been. She's the only one who has ever tried to help me in this life.
I suck in a breath.
Emily.
I put her at risk. This deranged man will find her and hurt her. I can't let that happen. My sister was protected, and look what happened to her.
The bell rings over the door. I look up expecting more bad news, but instead I find him.
My Declan.
He looks frantic as his eyes meet mine.
Then he makes his way toward me, pulling me into his arms.
Those emotions threaten to well up, but I can't. Not here. Not now.
"What happened?" he whispers against my head.
I take a few breaths before I nod to the box.
He looks down, frowning at the head. He probably doesn't recognize it. Why would he? He never met my sister.
I know the moment he takes in the note. He stiffens against me.
"Fuck, is that your sister?" he asks.
"It is. He killed her." I keep the emotions from my voice.
"I'm so sorry, mo chroi. I wish I could have saved her for you."
I shrug. "This may sound heartless, but I didn't love her. I was never given the opportunity to. I'm sorry that she is dead, but I'm more worried for Emily. You need to send me away, Declan. I can't be the reason something happens to that little girl."
He starts shaking his head before I even finish speaking.
"Absolutely not. Emily is the most protected person in this city. Connor is always by her side. We will add more guards and keep her inside for now, but she will be safe. You aren't leaving me. Not when I just got you." He presses a kiss to my head.
"Dec, it wasn't just the box. A man was about to attack Mrs. O'Brien. He ran when everything went down. He had three others with him."
I had almost forgotten about him.
"He gave me bad vibes. He had a knife in his hand," I offer up.
Declan holds me closer. "I want the videos to my computer within the next five minutes."
"Yes, sir."
"You're not going to find any cameras in here." I pull back, looking up at Declan.
"It's cute you don't think I have cameras in here of my own." He presses a kiss to my lips before cursing, "Fuck, I abandoned my computer when I got the alert you were in trouble."
"How did you get here so fast? I didn't see a car."
"I ran it. It was only three blocks."
"Excuse me? You are watching me from three blocks away?" I want to be mad, but honestly, it makes me feel better.
I like knowing he is close.
"Not watching. Working. We have a building over there, so I took up an office there to be close. I'm glad I did." He pulls me closer again.
It's almost like he can't bear to have me out of his reach right now. He needs to be touching me.
I don't mind. Even if I should be helping Hank with Betty, who is now quietly crying in the kitchen, I can't be bothered. In Declan's arms is the only place I want to be.
The door opens once more, and Callum walks through holding what looks to be a laptop.
"Everything good?" he asks.
Declan nods. "Sorry for running out."
Callum walks over, setting the laptop on the counter before looking into the box.
"I grabbed your laptop before following. Seamus updated me outside. Team B grabbed one of the men who were in the diner with the one who tried to stab her. He's being taken to the basement."
"What's Team B?" I ask, deciding to ignore the basement comment.
I'm sure I don't want to know what goes on there.
"Your security detail," Callum says.
Pulling back, I see Declan glaring at him.
"So was Team A the men you had in here spying on me?"
He looks down at me, surprised.
"Yeah, I noticed. No, I'm not mad. I actually was looking for one of them when those guys got here." I hug my arms around his middle, pressing my face to his chest.
"Yes, that was Team A," he murmurs, kissing the top of my head. "Thanks for the laptop. You need to add another team to Emily. The note threatens her. The head is Nikita's sister."
Callum changes in front of my eyes. He was tense before but still a bit rational. I can see the moment all rationality leaves him. He looks like a monster from a children's book with the way his eyes turn cold and calculating.
"Excuse me?" he asks as if he didn't hear Declan.
"It's my fault. I told Declan to send me away. They are after her because they know I value her," I admit softly.
Callum meets my gaze, a glimmer of compassion in his eyes. "Don't you dare try that shit. You are an O'Brien now, which means you are part of this family. No one gets left behind. That means if you are threatened, we all are threatened. Them focusing on my daughter is only adding flames to an already raging inferno. I'll let Connor know there's a new threat. What's your next step, Dec?"
Declan looks at his boss. "We hunt this fucker down and put him six fucking feet deep."