Page 94 of Forbidden Need

“They don’t know I have it. As far as I know, they don’t know.” He followed one hand with the other until his thumbs pressed into her jaw to tip her head back. “They know it’s gone. They don’t know I’m the one hiding it.”

“Why would you do that? Take that kind of risk without the McDade shield?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s pathetic.”

“Talk to me,” he beseeched. “Macushla, I need to trust you more than any other person alive.” Given the longevity of some people in his life, that was quite an ask. “Where are you always safe?”

“With you.”

His hold strengthened. “Trust me,” he said through gritted teeth. “Come on, baby. Trust me.”

THIRTY-THREE

“I’LL SHOW YOU. My phone’s on the bar.”

Conn let her go through to the living room to open her purse and take out her phone. As she loaded up an app, he sauntered up beside her.

The picture cleared and she handed him the device.

“What is…?”

“Live stream. We call her Jane Doe,” she said, peeking around the device to see the woman sleeping in bed. “Her first name’s Marseille. That’s all I know about her.”

“You took from them? You took her from them? From the Manzanis? You saved her.”

On a nod, she shrugged. “Like I said, it started with the right thing. I took her to the hospital. She wouldn’t talk to cops, which worked out, because… if she talked about the Manzanis…”

“They’d kill her.”

“Right. I went back to the hospital, asked if she had support, if she could keep herself safe. She doesn’t have a clue how deep she’s in but knows if the Manzanis find her, they’ll kill her. This woman is a loose end. I don’t want her dead but…”

“You planned to tell Swerve you have her. To ask what they know about your grandfather’s murder in exchange for this Jane Doe.” Disgrace coiled around her. “Strat said no. That was the fight. And when he showed up here…”

“He’s got a meet with Swerve, tomorrow, he’s going to do the dangling.”

“It’s her life—”

“No,” she said, touching him. “Strat doesn’t know where she is and didn’t ask. He couldn’t hand her over even if he wanted to. It’s not in him to endanger or jeopardize any woman. He won’t do it. No matter the cost.”

“He’ll make the deal then renege.”

“They’ll kill him.”

“Aye,” he said, turning the phone to her. “Where is this?”

“Lach’s old apartment. It was just lying there empty. He’s moved to mine and Imogen’s with Jagg. Imogen gave me her keys after her stuff was out, asked me to pass them onto Lach.” Which she hadn’t. “It’s quiet. No one’s looking for her there. I started bouncing around hotels, keeping her moving. Wasn’t easy when I didn’t know if Evander was watching me. This place feels safer.”

Providing Lachlan never went back.

“And your plan, long term?”

“I didn’t have one. I don’t have one. She’s innocent, Mo Grá. If she’d done something wrong, I’d understand it, but she hasn’t. They want to dispose of her like she’s trash and she doesn’t know why.”

“Because she’s seen too much.”

“Maybe. I didn’t ask. The more I know, the greater the chance the Manzanis want rid of me too.”

He put the phone down by her purse. “That won’t happen.”

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