“Nine.”
“When you go to work Wednesday, you are going to text me as soon as he gets there.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Depends on who he is. I know one thing: you will not be out of my sight between now and then.”
I nod quickly as I reach for him. I don’t want to be out of his sight—not now. The images flash through my head from each time I have seen the creepy guy, but I now see him in a different context, and it terrifies me. Who would have me followed? Sean? Whoever kidnapped me before? I have no idea, and I grip Deklan’s shoulders as tightly as I can.
“I’m sorry I got angry,” Deklan says. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this before.”
“I really thought you knew,” I say again. “With all the phone restrictions and making me carry a gun…I just thought you had him watching me to make sure I was okay, especially after the first time I went to the shop, and you didn’t know where I was.”
“For future reference,” Deklan says with a sigh, “I’ll tell you if I do something like that.”
“Okay.”
He pulls away a bit to look me in the face but doesn’t let go of me.
“Is there anything else you’ve been keeping from me?”
My thoughts turn immediately to Sean. I’ve never divulged the things he’s said to me, and all his lewd and obnoxious comments invade my head at once. Deklan must notice something in my expression, and he places his hands on the side of my head.
“What is it, Kera? Do not hold anything else back from me.”
I can’t say anything about Sean—I just can’t. Deklan is completely loyal to the Foley family, and Sean is his boss. Anything I say about Sean’s behavior has the potential to get Deklan in trouble. What if he gets angry again like he just did? And that was just over a guy watching me. What would his reaction be if he knew what Sean has said to me? What would happen if Deklan confronted his boss?
This time, I need to protect my husband.
“There is one thing,” I say seriously.
“What?”
“You know that shepherd’s pie you like so much?”
Deklan narrows his eyes at me.
“The biscuit crust…it’s not homemade. I use a mix.” I hang my head in mock shame.
Deklan rolls his eyes, and we both laugh. He presses his lips against mine for a moment before pulling away and standing up.
“I need to call Brian,” Deklan says. “Why don’t you jump in the shower? Take your time and try to relax a little. I’ll make you something to eat while you’re in there.”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“Well, you haven’t eaten anything, and there is probably still alcohol flowing through your veins, so you’re gonna eat.”
“Ugh! Fine!”
I head off to the bathroom. Deklan is right—the shower feels good, and I stand there and let the heat of the water seep into my skin. Staring at the blank wall of the shower, thoughts of Kathy flood through my mind, but I seem to be out of tears.
Deklan is still on the phone when I’m finished.
“You can’t expect him to just lie back and take it,” Deklan says. “Tell her she needs to be patient. We’ll work something out.”
I smile at Deklan when he looks up at me, and he points to a pot of macaroni and cheese on the stove. He places his hand over the phone’s mouthpiece for a moment.
“Eat,” he says softly.