The Intern (The Dalton Family #4)(77)

Goddamn it.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“You’ve done nothing but bitch about Hannah since the moment she was assigned to you. You’ve begged Dominick how many times to relocate her? You’ve even talked shit to her fucking twin brother.” He crossed his shoe over his knee, his foot bouncing. “I know what your intentions were, but Dominick doesn’t. So, don’t you think it’s going to be a little odd when you’re discussing the questionnaire with him and he asks why you gave her such a stellar review?”

When the brothers had told me about this internship, they’d said nothing about a goddamn exit interview. Still, I knew better, and I should have assumed there would be one.

“I don’t have an issue with whatever is going down between you and Hannah—it’s your business, not mine. But I need to make sure things stay solid at work. Do you understand me?”

I didn’t know what the hell to say.

Up until a few weeks ago, I would have ripped her apart in that questionnaire because I was a bitter asshole who couldn’t fucking deal with his emotions.

I ground my teeth together. “I hear you.”

“Good.” He stood from the chair. “This is her dream, Declan. This is all she’s ever wanted to do.”

My eyes followed him to the door. “I know.”

With his hand on the knob, he turned to me and replied, “Then, don’t fuck this up.”

He opened the door and walked out, and my gaze instantly fell on Hannah.

Have I fucked this up?

Would it have been easier if I’d come clean at the very beginning, telling the guys what had happened, so I wouldn’t be in this situation?

And was the same true for Hannah and the alley?

Fuck.

My hands tore through my hair just as Hannah turned around and faced me. Within a few seconds of staring at me, she got up and came into my office, standing in the center. Not satisfied with that position, she walked closer, sitting in the same seat Jenner had just left.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” She was getting too good at reading me. “Is it Walter that’s bothering you? Is he becoming intolerable? I can see how that could happen.”

For so long, her presence had been the biggest cocktease. The only thing I could focus on while she moved around my office, bending over to file or leaning down to drop off coffee and food, had been where I wanted to stick my dick. But during those moments, I’d missed some of Hannah’s best qualities. The way she brought a sense of calm wherever she went. The way she cared about how I was feeling. The way she wanted to fix whatever was causing me to be angry.

This office was going to be an interesting place without her.

“No.” I mashed my lips together. “It’s not Walter.”

She lifted my coffee mug, seeing that it was empty, and set it against her lap. “I heard Jenner in the doorway, talking about him.”

“He was.”

I took a deep breath, focusing on my hands.

I couldn’t put this off any longer. I needed to be a fucking man about this. I needed to get the situation handled with Hannah and Dominick before things spiraled further out of control.

“Declan, what’s wrong?”

As I glanced up, there was concern all over her face. “What are you doing tonight?”

She shook her head back and forth. “Oaklyn’s out of town for the week. I didn’t plan on doing much. Baking, maybe some laundry, definitely some bar prep. Why?”

“How about I come to your place?”

“Is this a date? Or something else?” Her brows pushed together. “I’m not really getting the best vibe from you right now.”

There was no reason to hide my intentions. She wanted me to communicate more, and she wanted my honesty; she was about to get both.

“I’m coming over to talk.”

“Okay … about what?”

My computer dinged, and an email from Walter appeared on my screen. Even though I was working on several other cases, he wasn’t just my most needy client; he was also my highest paying. No matter what time or day he reached out, I made myself available.

Like now.

I clicked on the email, reading his list of questions, the demandingness of his tone prickling my nerves.

“Declan?”

I finished reviewing his list of needs, each one adding to this nagging feeling in my chest, one that made me gnaw my lip. “What?” I looked over at her, realizing I was snapping at the wrong person. “Jesus.”

“Don’t even tell me you’re going to turn into an asshole right now.”

God, that fucking mouth.

I wanted to remind her that I was still her boss.

But I held in my breath instead, working the anger through my body so it wouldn’t erupt. “I’ll meet you at your place tonight. I’ll be there whenever I’m able to drag my ass out of this office.” I attempted to lighten my tone as I added, “Now, I’d be really grateful if you could grab me a coffee.”

“This will be your fourth today.”

When I got to her place, I wanted nothing more than to tie her wrists to her headboard. To tie her ankles to her bedframe and keep her legs spread far apart.

To make her scream so fucking loud that we would worry her neighbors might call the police.