Declan + Coraline by J.J. McAvoy Page B

thought he could disrespect my family’s name? You’re lucky bones can heal. If it were me, I would have taken your tongue.” I replied as I grabbed the IV and wrapped it around his neck.
    “Agh—” he tried to scream, but I pulled tighter causing him to claw at my hands.
    “I’m going to say this once. You have two choices—work for us, or die for them. And remember, if you make the wrong choice, death will come for you in small, painful doses,” I hissed.
    I released the line just slightly, but he wasted his words.
    “The Seven Bloods will kill me.”
    I strangled him again and he gasped as his body rose from the bed.
    “Long before the Seven Bloods, and long after your pitiful little rats kill themselves, our family, our people, will still motherfucking be here. So again, choose wisely, because as we speak, your club is being burned to the ground.”
    His eyes widened as he glared at me. “What do you want?”
    “The drugs,” I hissed. “Where did you get them?”
    “I don’t—”
    “What do you think will snap first, this line or your windpipe?”
    “Please…”
    “Talk.” I lifted his head up and pulled tight before I allowed the line to go slack.
    “There is a man. He’s from Mexico. I don’t know his name, but I will get it, I swear. I’ll get it when I’m out tomorrow.”
    “We will be in contact. Until then, rest up. I wonder how they feel having a wounded dog in the house,” I said as I released him completely. He coughed as his good hand reached up to his neck.
    “How are you involved with Coraline Wilson?”
    He raised his eyebrow at me, confused. “You mean the bitch with the stick up her ass? She ain’t got nothing to do with us. I’m only with her cousin because she said she could help us clean some of our money though her Uncle’s bank.”
    “The Seven Bloods are keeping money at WIB? And here I thought you would be useless,” I said emotionlessly, before I kicked his broken arm.
    “What the fuck?!” he cried out as he cradled it against his chest.
    “Don’t refer to women as bitches in front me or I will kill you,” I sneered as I walked to the door.
    Eric stood waiting, keeping Otis’ girlfriend at bay. Walking around her, I stopped in front of Coraline.
    “Stay away from him, and if you care about your cousin, make sure she stays away too.” That was all I’d planned to say to her. I couldn’t…this was too close. I hadn’t thought these two parts of my life would collide like this. It was a wake-up call. I wasn’t just a guy…even though she made me feel like one. I was a Callahan, and Callahans were monsters in suits.
    “Declan?” she called after me.
    And I could hear her heels as she followed me towards the elevator.
    “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with Otis?”
    “Just trust me—”
    “Well, I don’t. If something’s going on please tell me. Do you know the man who did this? How serious is this?” she said when the elevator doors opened.
    The man who did this was my cousin, and the man who would do worse was me.
    I wanted her. I wanted her badly, but I couldn’t…what if she saw me doing something even worse or what if she got involved. What if my worlds collided again when she was around?
    “Never mind, Coraline.” I sighed as I stepped into the elevator. I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with.
    “Declan, why are you being so cold right now?” She frowned, confused. “You’re like a totally different person.”
    Because right now I wasn’t me; I was the person the family needed me to be. But I couldn’t tell her that.
    “Coraline, you’ve rejected me three times in the last week. I’m not going to keep chasing after you. Please step aside, it’s been a long day.” The doors closed on her and I felt both relieved and disappointed as I leaned against the wall. But then the doors reopened, and as her hand remained on the button, her eyes focused on me.
    Coraline, no, keep pushing me away, you’re right, your