Page 134 of Forbidden Need

“Trying to take power with one risky swing.”

“In cahoots with Silvio Manzani? He can’t trust him.”

“We can’t trust anyone,” Conn said. “There’s been too many distractions. We forge the path, we don’t follow others.”

“You sure about this?” Raze asked.

“They’ve come for your brother first; the rest of us will be next. You want Biz to represent your name? The McDade reputation?”

“No. Fuck him.”

“By the time we’re through, he’ll beg to surrender his name.”

The McDades weren’t quitters. Her guy had a plan, at least the beginnings of one. Parker “Biz” McDade wouldn’t know what hit him.

FORTY-FOUR

“YOUR OFFICE BIG enough?” Strat asked, approaching.

In the central VIP booth of the club, in the middle of the day, she’d spread herself out across the circular table.

“It’s quieter down here.”

His attention tracked around to the office windows above. “A lot of rumors flying around.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Strat slid in at the far end of the booth. “What’s coming next? How’s he doing?”

“Emotionally or tactically?” she asked, and he shrugged, laying both arms along the top of the seat. “I don’t know. He didn’t come to bed last night.”

“Your bed or anyone’s bed?” Her head fell to the side and he laughed. “Okay, Scamp, no yanking your chain, I got it.”

“That’s the kind of question I’d expect from Lachlan.”

“Ire needs an outlet.” Her friend grew serious. “A lot of pressure on him. The mood trickles down from the top. Someone needs to be on top of that.”

On top of Conn? Is that what Strat meant? If the words were judgment, she didn’t appreciate them.

“It’s not like the guys aren’t used to him having a temper. Except this time it’s…”

Gazing toward the office, all she wanted to do was take the weight of responsibility from his shoulders.

“It’s…?”

She exhaled. “He’s angry at himself.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he’s working flat out. Barking orders. I don’t know, it’s in his voice, his stance, it’s… he’s his own harshest critic.”

“Aren’t we all? Though, for the rest of us, getting it wrong doesn’t mean—”

His almost distracted tone halted when clarity hit his expression. Had he forgotten who he was talking to?

“So that’s what the guys are talking about? It’s treason to speculate about the demise of the king.”

“No one wants that, believe me. Biz? Who the fuck wants to work under that fuckturd? But you can’t deny the asshole’s fucking serious if he’s working with the Manzanis and the Byrnes. Says something when a guy’s only way out is to work with his enemy to screw his own people. It’s like the fucking apocalypse. You hear Madison Byrne’s on her way into town?” She’d known that was coming. “He talk to you about her?”

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