Page 7 of Forbidden Need

“You said that already.”

“He wants the city. McDades have taken over ninety percent of Gambatto territory. And this Harvest deal, what he’s got going on at City Hall, it’s gone to his head. This isn’t going to keep the peace. He won’t stop at Harvest; he wants to keep going. To push deeper into Manzani territory.”

“Does Evander know that?” she asked, turning on Whisper’s suspicion. “I mean…” She slipped off her shoes to tuck her feet under her. “If Evander Manzani wants his own cut, if he wants to cut his father out, at some point, he intends to take over Manzani territory.”

Whisper relaxed. “Which puts him at odds with Ire.” Sersha shrugged in agreement. “I don’t think Vex is stable.”

Vex was what they called the youngest Manzani son, Evander, on the street.

“I know he’s not,” she said.

“He’s obsessed with you? That’s what I heard.”

“It comes and goes. Sometimes he’s everywhere, then he’ll get distracted by something else. He loops back eventually… or he used to.”

“Maybe his arrangement with Ire changed that? You think our boy nixed it?”

“I don’t think anyone has that power over Evander. He’s challenging his own father, for goodness’ sake.”

“True dat,” Whisper said, head bobbing in a nod. “A guy without limits is… dangerous.” A phone on the desk buzzed. “Damnit.” Whisper got up to go check it and groaned. “God, people are idiots…” She marched toward the door. “Stay here. I’ll be back.” The moment she opened the door, some guy tumbled in, like he’d been leaning against it. Unimpressed, Whisper looked at her, blank. “Idiots. We’re surrounded by idiots.”

Whisper stepped over the guy and went out. It took him a minute to get back to his feet. It was funny. Stupid funny. Until the guy closed the door with him still on the inside. Okay, so she was being watched? It wasn’t like she wanted to hang out in Connel’s office alone. Someone obviously didn’t believe that. Was it a trick? Was Whisper setting her up to see what she’d do? Except her memory was just fine. Even without the guy’s presence, she’d have been vigilant of being recorded.

Tossing her purse on the other end of the couch, she got up.

“Stay on the couch,” the guy said.

She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

“I told you to sit your ass down,” he said, marching closer.

“I don’t think so.” She knew better than to be in the corner against a guy like that. “All I want is a drink.”

She got two steps when he grabbed her arm to throw her down on the couch.

She’d never been afraid in that room and wasn’t about to break the trend. Getting to her feet, she didn’t care if he read her defiance as a challenge.

“You think I’ve never met a bully before?” she asked. “If a woman says she wants a drink, it’s polite to let her get it… or you could fetch it for me.”

“I’m not your bitch,” he snarled, getting in her face.

Her smile mocked him. “No, you’re Ire’s.”

She swerved around him and was quick enough to get further than before. Ha! Next time he snatched her arm, she was ready and braced enough to struggle.

“Let go of me!”

“You heard her.”

The Irish lilt in that American voice froze the moment. For a beat, she waited, then the thug turned toward it, showing her its origin.

Ire.

FOUR

CONNEL MCDADE.

“Get out of the city. Tonight,” he growled. “I hear you’re here at sunrise, you’ll never see the moon again.”

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