The Enforcer or The Mafia Prince

Chapter 33

Before her alarm could ring, Jessica awoke to find Declan's side of the bed empty. She'd rolled over in the middle of the night to find him lying next to her. He smelled of body wash and whiskey and was snoring. Jess didn't worry he'd wake up as she kissed his forehead and snuggled closer to him. She hadn't expected Declan to stay; today was the day they'd cut ties forever.

A weight fell in the pit of her stomach. Jessica checked the time on her phone. It was too soon for him to leave. She threw back the covers and grabbed a long sweater to cover her pajamas. The morning looked cold and cloudy. She'd have to wear her fuzzy socks if Jess were to brave the balcony this early.

"Good morning," yawned Declan when Jessica walked into the kitchen. He was making a cup of coffee to combat the mild hangover he had. The flight to LA would take a little over five hours; Declan would have plenty of time to nap on the plane.

"Good morning," Jessica replied. "Are you all packed?"

"I have."

Declan looked grim and stood in the kitchen to watch Jess make her mug of tea. He loved everything about her. The way her wrists moved as she unwrapped the tea bag fascinated him. Jess's hands were elegant as they held the mug and poured in the hot water. Her tussled hair fell down her back. Her pink slippers were too big for her feet; they made them appear dainty and small.

The realization that Declan loved Jessica hit him hard. He excused himself to his room for a moment to unravel and gasp for breath. He was leaving the woman he loved to protect his friend, the only family he'd ever known, and advance his career. Declan reasoned that he couldn't stay for her. He'd be giving up too much, putting them both in Ciaran's crosshairs.

Jessica watched Declan retreat to his room with a strange look on his face. He seemed to be in pain. Did he have too much to drink last night? Worried for him, Jessica put the bottle of ibuprofen on the counter for him. She realized that he'd done the same thing for her almost two weeks ago when Jess woke up on her first morning here. The thought put a rueful smile on her face. It was a fitting end to their short romance. When Declan returned, his eyes looked red.

"Declan, I put the ibuprofen on the counter for you. It seems like you have a hangover this morning. When you get to the airport, grab some motion sickness pills to help you rest. You don't want to spend the entire time in that tiny airplane bathroom."

"Thanks," Declan replied. He didn't want to tell her what was going on in his mind. It'd make it too hard for him to leave. With a swig of his coffee, Declan swallowed a dose and returned it to the cabinet.

"Um, Declan," Jessica called from the table.

"Hmm?"

"Will you come have breakfast with me?" Jessica had set the table with fruit, nuts, and dry toast for Declan.

"Sure, Jess." He appreciated the sentiment. Jessica watched Declan walk to the table. He looked more handsome than ever. He had a light stubble all over his head and face. It looked as if Declan had decided to stop shaving, but Jessica didn't bring it up.

"What are you going to do when you land? Go straight to the office, or do you already have a place settled?" Jessica bit into a deep red strawberry.

"Ciaran already arranged a place for me in one of his buildings. I'm going to go there and get settled in. I report to work first thing in the morning." Jessica nodded along and continued eating.

She didn't want him to leave, but the atmosphere felt uncomfortable. Tense wasn't the right word; it felt like the air between them was alive with everything they'd left unsaid. Declan bit into a piece of toast. Normal humans can't eat toast without getting crumbs everywhere, but Declan wasn't normal. Jessica smiled as the crumbs landed on the plate.

"Declan," Jessica said. She built up her courage to say what she needed to, "I hope that this opportunity is everything you wish it to be." She gave him a bright smile. This was his decision. Declan would leave her in Chicago for three months, and when he returned wouldn't be around. Still, if this made him happy, she wished him the best.

Declan squeezed her hand, "Thank you, Jess."

The familiar click and beep of the door signaled Tristan's arrival. Declan removed his hand. He was going to drive Declan to the airport himself. When Tristan walked into the room, Jessica thought he looked a bit sad.

"Good morning, Tristan. Come sit with me and join us for breakfast." Jessica asked Tristan to join them. She had a sense of ease when he sat down. The air didn't feel as heavy anymore. He took a blueberry off Jess's plate. She frowned but didn't stop him.

"Good morning, Jess. Declan." Tristan nodded hello to both of them. He noticed that Jessica looked happier than he'd anticipated that morning. She munched on her breakfast. Declan, too, looked more relaxed than Tristan thought he would be. From the outside, it looked like nothing was going on between Declan and Jessica. Tristan hoped he was mistaken and nothing was between them at all. Jess wouldn't want to be with Declan since he chose to leave, would she?

Tristan forced himself to stop his line of thought. He wouldn't dwell on the possibility of Declan and Jessica anymore. Declan was leaving, and Tristan would have Jess to himself. Tristan knew that Jessica liked him and found him attractive. He hoped that when Jess learned what he was working on, she'd see him in a new light. He longed for her feeling for him to grow deeper.

"Jess, I'm coming back here after I drop Declan off. I'm going to join you for your defense training and then take you to meet with the legal team."

"Oh? Why?"

"Why what?"

"Declan," Jess turned her head, "I thought your flight wasn't until tonight?"

"It got canceled, so I'm leaving earlier. It's not so bad. I'll have more time to settle in this way." Declan finished speaking and ate the rest of his toast.

"Okay. So, why are you joining my training?" Jess turned her focus back to Tristan.

"Gia said that you might feel more comfortable hitting me instead of her. She wants you to try punching a person instead of a bag." Jessica frowned.

"But I don't want to hit you. What if I hurt you?" Declan and Tristan snickered at Jess's innocent statement. "What's so funny?"

"Trust me, Jess, you can't hurt Tristan," Declan said.

"He's right, Princess. I've been training since I was like five. Not only can I take a hit, but I can definitely take your hit."

Jessica remembered how Tristan called her 'princess' at the club. A sweet fluttering sensation filled her core. When Tristan said it, he sounded genuine and sweet. When Liam said it, he sounded creepy and manipulative. It was peculiar how two men who were alike could utter the same word, and yet it would sound different.

Jessica realized that Liam Ryan was the man everyone thought Tristan was. While Tristan was the man that everyone thought Liam was. Ironic that everyone would get things so wrong. Both men had similar backgrounds and felt the need to hide a part of themselves behind a fake persona. Was it their motives that made them seem so distinct from one another? Jessica wasn't sure. She could tell that Liam pretended to be a respectable person when he wasn't. Meanwhile, Tristan pretended to be a villain when he wasn't. Well, Tristan wasn't entirely a villain. He still had his flaws.

"I'm gonna hit you so hard you cry," Jess grumbled over her tea before taking a sip. Both men laughed again, annoying her further.

"If you want me to cry, I'll cry, but it won't be from pain," Tristan remarked.

"Fine, I'll get Gia to go first and show me how it's done." Tristan's eyes went wide, and Jessica gave a sinister smile.

"Ha! Take that pretty boy," she thought.

"Looks like you're going to have your hands full while I'm gone," Declan told Tristan. If he felt jealous, Declan did a superb job hiding it. Even Jess thought that Declan didn't seem all that sad he was leaving her behind.

"You're the one that's going to work with Miss Spitfire," Tristan laughed.

"Oh, come on. Ciaran said she's good at her job," Declan responded.

Jessica realized that the vice president Declan would be working with was a woman. She knew it was unreasonable to assume the VP would be a man, but she had. Jess didn't like that he was going to be working with another woman. Miss Spitfire? She must be a single young woman. Would Declan like her?

"Jess!"

"Huh?" Jessica jerked from her thoughts and felt cold. She looked down and realized she'd spilled her tea on her lap.

"Are you burned? Are you okay," Tristan asked as he jumped up to get her some towels.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. The tea went cold a long time ago," Jess responded, waving away his worry. She took the towels from Tristan and blotted the mess up. Jessica ignored Declan's gaze. She didn't want him to know that she'd gotten lost in her thoughts because she was jealous.

"That's good." Tristan kissed the top of Jess's head. She looked up at him with a smile. "Well, I'll be back in a little while. You behave and don't give Gia a hard time in yoga." Tristan winked at Jess. He must have known about Monday when Gia announced her to the class.

"Oh, all right," Jessica laughed, "Drive safe. Declan, have a good flight." Jessica shook Declan's hand goodbye. A hug felt inappropriate at that point. The boys left, Tristan helping to carry Declan's luggage. The silence that followed the door closing behind them felt empty and oppressive.