Chapter 12

Keavy~

A s my eyes fluttered open, it didn't take a genius to figure out that I'd been drugged, and I couldn't remember a time when I'd ever been so disappointed in myself. It'd been a rookie move to assume that Declan O'Brien had been by himself. Yeah, I could blame it on being blindsided, but Cian had taught me that you only got blindsided when you underestimated your opponent, and if there was anyone that should never be underestimated, it was Declan O'Brien.

Now, when he'd been sitting at the bar, I hadn't had the time to really appreciate the man as a whole. By that time, Miller's had been packed, and everyone at the bar had been clamoring for a drink. I had served him three whiskeys, but that'd been it, not a single moment for any further conversation. Yeah, his face had stood out among the crush because he was just so damn gorgeous, but I hadn't given him much more thought than that.

However, the second that he had stepped out of the dark, that charming man at the bar had vanished with his first step. Declan O'Brien carried his six-foot-two frame with a confidence that only came from not giving a fuck about getting blood on your hands. His dark blonde hair and dark blue eyes had looked the same, but standing at his full height, there was no denying that the man must work out every morning to have the build that he did. His jacket, t-shirt, and jeans had done nothing to hide just how dangerous he was, and for God to put a face like Declan's on a body capable of anything was a sin if I'd ever seen one.

As I raised my head, nausea hit me hard, and I had to breathe through my nose and out my mouth to keep from vomiting everywhere. Everyone reacted differently to sedatives, and whatever I'd been given, it'd been a lot and it'd been the good stuff.

I also wasn't surprised to find that I was tied to a metal chair, my hands secured firmly behind me. Maybe I shouldn't have been so forthcoming about killing Declan's men, but there wasn't anything that I could do about that now. As my eyes glanced around the room, it was obvious that I was in some kind of basement, and the only thing on my side of the bars was me and the chair. There wasn't anything in here that I could use to escape…well, except for the chair.

On the other side of the bars, there were two chairs, a desk of some sort, and a couple of computer monitors. There was also a cart full of what I could only presume were torturing tools. When my eyes scanned the stone under my feet, I noticed a drain in the middle of the floor, and I had no doubt that the room would light up like Christmas if a blue light ever made it inside here.

I let out a steady breath, still trying to work on the nausea, and as I glanced around the room again, I noticed the cameras in the corners, and that was going to make escaping a tad bit more complicated, though I had no doubt that I was going to get out of here. Thanks to Cian and his unconventional ways, this chair and the ropes wrapped around my wrists weren't going to stop me from getting free. There was only one way to make sure that your prisoner couldn't break free, and that was to wrap their actual hands up, not just their wrists. As long as your hands and fingers were mobile, then you could get free, and as long as you didn't let fear and hysteria take over, then you could figure it out.

Now, as long as Declan didn't walk down here to just put a bullet through my head, I'd be fine. I just needed some time, and I had a feeling that I was going to get it because I wasn't dead already. Declan had drugged me for a reason, and if I could just buy some time, then I had a chance.

When I heard the sound of a door sliding open, I looked over to see two sets of feet walking down the stairs. As soon as the first man cleared the steps, I saw that it was Declan, and he was immediately followed by another man, and I started to wonder what was in the fucking water, because the second guy was just as gorgeous as Declan was. He kind of reminded me of Mike Thurston with lighter features, and the color of his eyes were damn near hypnotizing. They were actually a cerulean color, and I'd never known anyone with that color of eyes.

It also didn't take a genius to figure out that I was probably looking into the face of Noah Murphy. It was said that Noah Murphy was Declan's cousin and right-hand man, and I could see the death of two of their people warranting such a grand audience.

"Glad to see you're awake, lass," Declan said, and it really was a shame that I might have to kill him when he really was such a good-looking sonofabitch.

"You know, you really are turning out to be quite a disappointment, Mr. O'Brien," I said, my voice sounding scratchy but strong.

Declan arched a brow. "Oh, really? And why's that?"

"Not only did you need someone to sneak up behind me to subdue me, but I'm locked in a basement and tied to a chair, yet you still felt like you needed to come in here with backup," I said, jerking my chin towards the second guy. "It makes sense now why it hadn't been so hard to kill your men."

"Ere ye feckin' kiddin' me?" the second guy muttered.

Instead of rising to the bait, Declan said, "Noah's here for the same reason that I am. We want to know what happened last night."

With nausea still roiling around in my stomach, I let out another steady breath before saying, "Well, I guess I should be flattered that the notorious Noah Murphy would bother with a nobody like me."

Noah's bright eyes narrowed a bit. "Something tells me that you're a far cry from a nobody, Ms. Collins."

"Cut the shite, Keavy," Declan practically snapped. "What happened last night?"

Since they were going to try to kill me either way, I saw no sense in lying. "I went back to Kenneth's place, and while I was in the restroom, I overheard raised voices." My eyes closed a bit, bile still a very real threat, then opened them again as I took another breath through my nose.

"Do you need some water?" Noah asked, and I almost laughed.

"Would you accept something to drink from your enemy, Mr. Murphy?" I asked, arching a brow condescendingly.

His lips twitched a bit, but he just said, "Fair point."

Looking back over towards Declan, I continued with my story. "After hearing the voices, I cracked open the door, then heard your guys accusing Kenneth of hiding from them. None of it was my business until one of them noticed my purse."

"Then what happened," Declan asked.

"It was either let them go looking for me or face what I was dealing with," I told him. "So, I walked out of the bathroom, then asked them if I was interrupting."

"Sweet Jesus," Noah muttered.

"Catching them off guard, that's when Kenneth made a run for it, and when your men got distracted by going after him, that's when I killed the first guy," I went on. "I kicked the gun out of his hand, then after a few seconds of dancing around, I stabbed him in the kitchen." Noah's brows shot upward while Declan showed no reaction at all. "Taking his gun, I waited for the other guy to come back, and when he did, I shot him." I let out another calming breath. "Knowing that Kenneth wasn't going to come back, I grabbed both guns and the knife, stuffed them in my purse, then got the hell out of there."

After a few seconds of silence, Declan asked, "And where did you learn how to fight and shoot like that?"

"That has nothing to do with what happened last night," I replied evenly.

"What did you do with the guns?" Noah asked.

"Same answer," I told him. "Now, what is Kenneth saying?"

"Well, he's no sayin' much anymore, Ms. Collins," Noah smirked. "He's dead."

Well, that answered that question. There was no way that they weren't going to kill me now. If they killed Kenneth for just owing them money, then there was no way that they were going to let me live after having murdered two of their men. They probably really were just curious as to what had happened last night, and no one in their right mind would believe Kenneth Swanson, even if he had been telling the truth. Luckily, I had my affairs in order, and it looked like the ASPCA was going to inherit a lot of money come tomorrow morning.

"Something tells me that Kenneth Swanson was dead the moment that he got into bed with you guys," I remarked, not really concerned about Kenneth's fate. After all, the man had left me behind to save himself, so good riddance.

"You're not wrong," Noah chuckled.

Looking from Noah to Declan, I asked, "So, what now? A bullet, or do you have a more elaborate plan for me because I bested your men?"

Declan cocked his head to the side a bit. "And what makes you think that I'm going to kill you?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

His blue eyes slid over Noah's way. "Ere ye hearin' this shite?"

"I am," Noah replied as he nodded.

Looking back over at me, Declan asked, "Ere ye so eager ta die then, lass?"

"I'm not scared to, if that's what you're really asking," I replied, meaning every single word.