“It's alright,” I said softly, picking him up in my arms.
I cradled him against me, and turned to look at Declan, not sure what to do next.
“Do you really want your kids growing up without both their parents?” he said, leaning down to whisper the words into Meredith's ears. “Because if you continue playing Killian's games, that's precisely what's going to happen. He's not the man you think he is.”
Meredith spat in Declan's face. “Maybe I'm not the woman you think I am either,” she said.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes full of fury and rage. Her face was twisted up in such a look of anger and defiance, she didn't look human for a moment.
“Your kids deserve better than this,” Declan snarled.
I was already out the door and down the steps. With Killian alerted and on the way, I knew we had to get out of there, and fast. Declan was right behind me, his heavy footsteps pounding down the stairs, and Meredith was chasing after him.
The little girl from we'd met before stood in the living room, now with two little boys. All three of them watched us with frightened eyes, their mouths turned down into frowns. They all looked to be on the verge of crying, and my heart ached for them.
Declan was right. Her kids deserved better than that life. Better than a father who did the things Killian did. One day, they too might be a pawn in some crime lord's game. I wanted to scoop them up, to bring them with us. I wanted to protect them from all the pain their parents would cause them. I knew it was only a matter of when, not if, they would suffer for their father's misdeeds.
Declan nudged me out the door and we took off running toward the car. Meredith didn't follow us outside, probably more concerned with appearances than letting us get away. Can't let the neighbors know you're the wife of a crime lord who's kidnapped someone's baby, right? That would just be so tacky and unseemly in such a staid old neighborhood.
Jack was crying as we made our escape, his wails growing louder even though I tried to comfort him. I hopped in the passenger side with the baby in my lap. Declan jumped in and started the car, taking off before I could buckle him into the seat. The tires of the Camry squealed on the pavement as the little car roared down the street.
“Fuck,” he said, slamming his fists on the steering wheel. “I'd hoped we'd have a few hours before he realized we were missing. We needed that head start and now – ”
“Calm down,” I said. “We got the baby. We'll get out of town.”
Declan nodded, glancing down at Jack in my lap. His eyes softened, and he took a deep breath. He smiled at the child and Jack seemed to calm down. Something that looked sort of like a smile stretched the baby's lips as he looked up at his father.
“I have no idea what I'm doing, Kara,” he said. “No clue. Just a few days ago, I didn't even know I had a kid. Now, not only do I have a kid to care for, I'm running from my damn family too.”
“It's okay. We'll figure it out, Declan.”
I reached out and touched his arm. It felt natural to do so, to help calm him down. He looked down at my hand, then up at me, and there was something in his eyes.
Appreciation.
“Thank you,” he said.
“No, thank you,” I said. “It would have been easier to just let Killian have me, but you didn't let that happen. You saved me. I owe you my life, Declan. I really do.”
“I couldn't be part of something like that,” he said. “And I couldn't let anything bad happen to you. You're as stuck in the middle of this shit as I am.
“Because you're a good man,” I said. “And you'll make a good father too, I know you will.”
“I hope so,” he mumbled.
His eyes never stopped moving, checking all of the mirrors over and over again as he drove. He stared at every car as we passed, his face lined with tension. I had no idea where we were headed, but we were leaving the city, and that was good enough for the moment. As soon as we were far enough away from K
illian's house, I turned to him.
“Stop,” I said. “Let's put Jack in his car seat, just in case.”
Declan agreed, and we pulled over at a gas station. I buckled the little guy into the car seat, making sure his straps were secure, while Declan kept watch. Once Jack was all strapped in, I turned back around in my seat and gave him a nod.
“Alright,” I said. “Let's go.”
Declan had a lopsided little grin on his face. It was one of the first amused looks I'd ever seen cross his face and it made me chuckle.
“What's so funny?” I asked.