Page 143 of Forbidden Need

“Forgot what?”

“That you’re the most important thing in my universe.”

“No. The family is your priority. I didn’t come to you to—it wasn’t about me. I’m worried about you and the family. You haven’t been sleeping, eating, taking care of yourself. To be at your best, you need to be at your peak.”

“To be at my best, I need my woman happy.”

“Your woman is with you.” Her fingers trailed down his body. “Always.”

“Biz won’t give up easy.”

Was that his way of telling her things would be like this for a while?

“Let’s just see what he says to Whisper. Maybe he has a proposal.”

“You think I should accept his terms?”

“I think him laying them out gives you an idea what he truly wants.”

“Know your enemy.”

“He’s your cousin. That gives you some insight. You have Score and Razer on your side. We’re strong.” His fingers drifted down her cheek and up to the hair at her temple. As his lips moved in a whisper, the foreign words didn’t need meaning for her to understand. “I love you too.” She kissed him slow. “I don’t care how many hours you go without sleep or how many times we argue in public, I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

“It’s about pride—”

“I know, you—”

“Not like it used to be,” he said, speaking over her, continuing his previous thought. “I don’t want to let you down.”

“And I don’t need you to prove anything to me. I love you no matter what you choose. No matter what happens.”

“Work is autopilot.”

“Focus grounds you, I get that.”

“Hurting you…”

“Distracts you,” she said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to disrupt your momentum.”

“You are my pride, my strength, Cushla Machree.”

“And you are mine.” Easing him onto his back, she tucked herself against him. “Sleep, Mo Grá. Recharge.”

The fight would still be there tomorrow. And with him ready and alert, she didn’t doubt the McDades’ chance of coming out on top. They had the right man at the helm, he’d guide them to victory.

FORTY-SEVEN

HER PHONE WOKE her on the first ring.

Awake, she lunged over the bed to grab it off the nightstand in the same move she slung her legs out of bed. She didn’t know the time but did know Conn’s sleep couldn’t be interrupted.

“Hello?” she answered in a whisper when she got to the closet.

“Sersha?”

It couldn’t be—she took the phone from her ear to check the screen. “Dad?”

“Are you alone?”

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