Chapter 5 - THE CRACK IN THE ARMOR
The sound of two suppressed gunshots popped like dry twigs snapping in the morning mist. Vinnie and his associate dropped to the pavement, clutching shattered kneecaps and groaning in agony.
Dominic and three armed men leaped from the Suburban, efficiently securing the downed gunmen, disarming them, and dragging them into the rear of a secondary chase vehicle with military precision. The entire ambush lasted less than fifteen seconds.
Marin stood frozen on the sidewalk, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird. Declan holstered his weapon beneath his tailored suit jacket and stepped toward her, his movements fluid and urgent.
"Marin," he breathed, reaching out to steady her shaking shoulders. "Did they touch you?"
She slapped his hands away, adrenaline exploding into blind rage. "Stay away from me! Look what you brought here! I spent eight years building a normal, peaceful life for my child, and within four days of you showing up, men are shooting guns on our street!"
"They weren't shooting, Marin. I was," Declan replied, his voice low and uncompromising. "And they didn't find you because of me. The Rossi family had an informant inside the Maine state vital statistics office. They flagged Evan’s emergency contact file three weeks ago. They were coming for you whether I was here or not."
Marin gasped, stumbling backward against a wooden guardrail. "What?"
"Why do you think I booked Suite 14A, Marin?" Declan asked, his eyes burning with fierce, desperate intensity. "You think it was a coincidence that my venture firm hosted a retreat at this obscure resort? I found out the Rossis were moving a strike team north to hunt down a woman and a boy. When I pulled the file and saw your name... I took the first private jet out of Teterboro."
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them until she could see the raw torment etched into the lines around his eyes.
"I didn't bring the war to your doorstep, Marin. I came here to stand between you and the fire. Evan is my son. You are the only woman I have ever loved. I will burn every borough of New York to the ground before I let anyone harm a hair on either of your heads."
Tears spilled over Marin’s eyelashes, hot and furious. "You broke my heart, Declan. You told me you were an investment banker, and then I had to watch men bleed to death on your living room rug!"
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"I lied to protect you," Declan whispered, his hand gently cupping the side of her face, ignoring her flinch until she leaned into his warmth despite herself. "And I've spent eight years living in hell because of it. But right now, we don't have the luxury of settling old scores. Evan is at that elementary school, and Vinnie's crew wasn't working alone. We have five minutes to get to our son."
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