Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN HE REFUSED TO RETURN
News spread that Mave Collins was alive.
So did a worse rumor.
DECLAN HAYES KEEPS RIVAL'S DAUGHTER.
Some stories called her hostage.
Others mistress.
One newspaper called her “the scarred bride.”
Mave threw that one across the kitchen.
Declan picked it up.
“Want me to buy the paper?”
“To stop them?”
“To fire everyone.”
She stared.
“That was a joke.”
“Was it?”
“Mostly.”
Mave had been at the safe house nine days.
She packed.
Declan found her near the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“To Arthur?”
“No.”
“To Chloe?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“My apartment.”
“Gideon is still missing.”
“I know.”
“He knows where you live.”
“Then I'll move.”
“Mave.”
“No.”
He stopped.
She looked at him.
“You were right the first night.”
“About?”
“Sending me back to my family would've been dangerous.”
His jaw tightened.
“But?”
“But you don't get to keep me because danger still exists.”
“I never said—”
“You have armed men outside every door.”
“To protect you.”
“Protection I didn't choose.”
Declan went silent.
Mave lifted her bag.
“I need my life back.”
“You don't have to leave to prove you're free.”
“And I don't have to stay to prove I trust you.”
That landed.
Declan stepped aside.
No argument.
No threat.
No dramatic claim.
Just space.
“Finn will drive you.”
“No.”
“Mave.”
“I'll take a cab.”
“Absolutely not.”
She almost smiled.
“Fine. Finn.”
Declan nodded.
Then:
“Take this.”
He held out a phone.
“Emergency number.”
“I have your number.”
“That's different.”
“How?”
“This one reaches everyone.”
Mave took it.
“Thank you.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more.
He didn't.
Mave left.
That decision saved her life.
Because Gideon wasn't watching her apartment.
He was watching Declan's safe house.
Two nights later, it exploded.
Nobody died.
The house was empty except for security.
But the message was clear.
Gideon believed Mave still belonged to Declan.
He was trying to punish Declan through her.
Mave was furious.
Not frightened.
Furious.
“I am not ammunition.”
She said it in Sean's hospital room.
Declan looked at her.
“I know.”
“Then stop treating this like your war.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We make it mine too.”
“No.”
Mave laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You deciding.”
“Mave—”
“My father decided I was expendable. Chloe decided I didn't deserve the truth. Gideon decided I was useful as leverage. You don't get to become the fourth man deciding what I'm allowed to risk.”
Declan stared.
Sean tapped the wheelchair.
Three.
Pause.
Two.
Mave smiled at him.
“See? Sean agrees.”
Declan looked betrayed.
His brother almost smiled.
Finally Declan sighed.
“What do you want to do?”
Mave placed the ledger on the table.
“Gideon needs this.”
“Yes.”
“And he thinks Sean is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then let's let him keep believing both things.”
For the first time, Declan looked at her not as a kidnapping mistake.
Not as someone Sean had saved.
Not as a woman with scars.
As a partner.
“What's your plan?”
Mave smiled.
It wasn't a particularly nice smile.
May you like
“We give him the wrong bride again.”
---
