HEART OF STONE 111

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Hope managed to get Nathan out. She didn't know how she did it but she did it. She did her own research and met up with the witnesses. She explained what Declan was capable of, how he would treat them afterwards, how he would eliminate them so neither of them ever said it was Declan who told them to say what they did.

It was a touch and go, Hope didn't think for one minute they would listen to her. But they did... She managed to get Nathan out. That was a good two month ago. Nathan made no appearance to her apartment. He never came to see if she had returned to Declan.

Asshole. She knew for a fact he had been cleared of all charges. Hope was so upset that Nathan was a no show.

In that time, Declan's obsession was becoming worse and worse. He would not leave her alone, he would not stop pestering her. He would show up to her place, Hope gave up trying to get him to leave and called the police on him.

Of course Declan Stone had enough money to get himself out of any situation. So nothing kept him away for too long.

Hope's life was all worked out. She would go to work and return home, cook herself something light and do nothing until the following day where she would repeat the same routine.

Saturday night Hope decided to take Simon's invitation and went out to the club with him. She was bored and boredom and Hope did not go well.

It was exactly what she needed, to go out and forget about everything. Simon was a sweetheart, he would make sure she always had a drink, make sure she was happy and always so attentive to her.

It was more like a pub, but it was nice to get out. Hope had herself a few drinks and even danced with Simon. He was not her type and she told him so. Said that they were only friends. She didn't want to hurt him, so she came clean. He was still more than happy to hang out with her.

Hope enjoyed herself, she felt alive again. At least for one night. That was until she came smack bang into Lucy. Lucy raised her eyebrows at Hope. "This is not your scene." Hope said bitchily. Lucy smiled.

"No... No it isn't." Hope shook her head at the gloating slut and turned to leave her. "He's with Lydia... Nathan... He's with Lydia now... They're at the ranch." Hope felt her entire body turned cold. She turned back to look at a smug looking Lucy. "Declan sends his regards." With that the evil bitch walked out of the pub.

She was not here by accident. She was here to give her that piece of information. No... Was it true? Hope felt sick suddenly, she wanted to go home.

The week passed and still Hope felt like somebody had punched her in the gut. She needed to know if it was true... She thought about going to see Declan... Ask him... But that would be exactly what Declan wanted. He wanted her to go to him, that was the first step... If she returned to Declan for whatever reason, it would just give him what he needed to take it further. No... She would go to the ranch and see for herself. She wouldn't even call Nathan. Nope...

If this was really happening, she wanted to see it with her own eyes.

That was it, her mind was made up. Time to get this show on the road. Hope left that afternoon. It was a dumb move on her part to leave so late, she didn't reach the ranch until literally just after midnight.

Fuck it Hope drove her car and parked it inside the gates. She braced herself before she made her way out and went to see what the fuck was going on. Hope heard music and knew they were sitting at the back. She walked around the house and looked over at the crew. Same old crew... They never did like her much.