Page 11 of Forbidden Bond

“We had a confrontation.”

“Uh huh,” Lachlan said, coming to crouch by her. “With who?”

He unlocked the cuffs and she threw both arms around him, burying her face in his neck. For the first time, her grief wasn’t unjust, it wasn’t a ridiculed hinderance. Support. Love. Everything her brother’s presence offered, she lapped up, absorbing him, using him to keep herself breathing.

“I knew you’d come.”

“Damn right, I came,” he said and eased her back to check her bruised, cut wrists. “How long has she been in cuffs?”

“Since we left the city,” she answered. “He cuffs me to the shower rail when I wash, and to him and the bed when we sleep.”

Lachlan surged to his feet, taking her with him in his embrace. “Someone better start talking.”

“I need your phone.”

“No!” her father exclaimed. “You do not—”

“You can’t stop me! You won’t hurt your beloved son, will you?”

“Who else knows you’re here?” her father asked Lachlan.

“Don’t answer that.” So much for their tentative peace. “Don’t give him more targets.”

“Targets?”

“Lach, you didn’t believe me about Silvio Manzani—”

“What did you tell him?” her affronted father demanded. “You didn’t—”

“Tell you the full truth?” she spat. “Of course I didn’t. How does it feel to be in the dark?” She grabbed her brother’s hand. “We have to get out of here. We have to—”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down.”

“We can’t,” she yelped. “If he gets control, if he has the chance—you can’t get trapped here too. I couldn’t get away alone—”

“You’re not alone,” her brother said. God, if only she could be so optimistic. “Whatever’s going on, we’ll work it out.”

She shook her head. “He doesn’t want to figure it out. And I need to find my guy.”

“Why are you so worried about Ire?”

She pushed out of his arms. “You don’t think if I went missing, he’d do anything to find me?”

“Until right now, I didn’t know for sure who you disappeared with.”

“Dad and it wasn’t voluntary.” As the cuffs attested. “I don’t want to leave you here. He’s unhinged and—”

“Sersha! I did what was necessary.”

“The truth,” Lachlan said, tucking her under his arm. “Trust me, Sersh, you’re safe now.”

“Sorry if I find that difficult to believe. My father has held me captive for almost a week. He lured me to a meeting that he said would save your life. Instead, Silvio Manzani walked in and Conn got shot.”

“Conn? Ire? How is he involved?”

“He came to the meet with me—”

“Sersha, stop this,” her father demanded, marching over.

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