Page 146 of Forbidden Need

“And if you’re in trouble?”

“You’re my first call,” she said, understanding why he needed to reiterate that with so much else going on.

“Where are you always safe?”

“With you,” she said, stroking the back of his hand. “You know it’s the same in reverse, right? That I’ll always be safe for you. And if the time comes and you want to cut ties, I’ll be with you then too.”

The angle of his whole body shifted. “Cut ties?”

“If we have to get out of Dodge fast. You don’t need to explain anything to me. Just come get me, tell me it’s time to go.”

“You’re betting against me.”

His air of harsh incredulity reminded her of the night they’d met.

“What? No!”

“You expect me to fail.”

“No, I didn’t say—”

“Your job is—” The car stopped.

“Conn, I—”

But he was already out, on the sidewalk, his men approaching from behind.

Damn. She shouldn’t have said a word. What an idiot. That wasn’t the time to—she’d called Strat out for contemplating their king’s demise and she’d just blurted it out. Conn did not need that. Her job was to support him and instead, she’d put doubt in his head. If she couldn’t believe in him, as he thought, how could he have faith his people would foresee success?

Dingo held the door open. She’d sat there so long that he ducked to check on her. “You coming?”

Her father was the one in the building, so yes, she didn’t have a choice.

Slipping out of the car, leaving her purse on the seat, her discomfort didn’t bode well.

“You got it?” Conn said to the guy who seemed to be taking instructions.

She didn’t like strangers having their back. If they’d had Niall there, Daly, any of her guys, she’d have some certainty that they knew what they were doing. Though the men present now were strangers to her, these were McDade men too. Loyal to a fault. They’d have to be or Conn wouldn’t have them on his detail.

They just had to get through this meeting. Their familiar people, their First Team, deserved their rest. With some sleep, they’d be better equipped to do their duties.

Without a word, Conn linked their fingers and led her up the external stairs.

“Conn,” she said, wishing they had more time.

He produced something from his pocket and flashed it at the door. Sneddon’s security card. Good. The last thing she’d want to do was knock and wait for her father to grant them access. Was security still downstairs or would they be alone in the building?

The hallway was dark. Shadowy. Cold.

The front door closed behind them and she nestled closer to her guy. A light up ahead beckoned, dim, warming the crack between the office door and its frame. Okay. This was it.

Conn didn’t need her to direct him. With all the confidence in the world, he strode on down there and into the room.

“McDade.”

Her father’s voice near the fireplace.

“Superintendent,” Conn said.

---