Page 105 of Forbidden Bond

She stroked his stomach. “Why were we deepfaked? Why us? What did they hope to achieve?”

“It’s game playing.”

“Silvio was the one making porn, not Vex,” she said. “This has to be him.”

“We’ll fire back but leave him playing in the sandbox.” Because the McDades were focused on building their empire. “Once he learns Vex went behind his back, they’ll go through their own civil war.”

And could be in the midst of it when Hell reappeared. Yeah, okay, there was a little schadenfreude in that. It would also give the McDades a chance to gain ground. There would be less of the pie to go around by the time the Manzanis got their head back in the game.

Taking pleasure in another family’s misery was somewhat hypocritical. Her own doorstep wasn’t exactly shiny, clean, and faultless.

“My dad still here?”

“Aye.”

When was the last time she’d slept under the same roof as her father before this recent palaver? A long time ago.

“Will he be here forever?”

How could he keep his job if he was never seen? People would ask questions eventually.

“Until he understands who is in control,” Conn said. “Who he has to thank for his freedom and his position. It’s time for an attitude adjustment.” Which was probably something her father said to her back in the day. “We’ll keep him on a close leash, provide private security.” McDades who’d watch his every move. “And we’ll pull him back in every time he steps out of line. He breathes free air because we allow it. He breathes at all because we allow it. He’ll figure that out fast or it’ll be taken away. He breathes while he’s useful, not a second longer.”

“And my grandfather’s house?”

“It’ll be cleared and sold.”

“You told me that already. I mean when will it happen? I asked the guys to burn everything in that office. That okay?”

“You don’t need my permission to give orders, but I grant it. Whatever you want, Macushla, whatever you want.”

What she wanted was to enjoy being intimate with him in the dark. “Are you sure you want to sell a house with a secret exit?”

“Think the mansion has none of those?”

She laughed. “We’re blocking them before we have kids.”

“Think so? How will we escape them?”

Maybe not straight comedy, but her guy had a sense of humor. Parenthood. Conn was so busy as it was, would it befair to pile on more responsibility? Why was she so mired in the thought of reproduction? It kept coming back. Something to do with her own position as child to a father who’d wronged them in so many ways. She’d do it differently, Conn would too. Illegality aside, she wasn’t lying when she’d dubbed her love a better man.

They could just stay there, like that, together and safe. Her breathing slowed and though his fingers tangled in her hair, they quickly stilled.

Quiet. Calm. Safety. Love. She’d never been happier than when she was right there, anywhere, existing with him.

An almighty crash shook the walls. The colossal sound reverberated through the floors and furniture, quaking her atoms.

One shout followed another. Movement. There was movement and—

“Stay here,” Connel said, leaping out of bed to rush out, sweatpants in hand.

Oh, geez, this couldn’t be good, wouldn’t be good. Whoever was visiting hadn’t got an invite. Would they leave quietly or make themselves known? Seemed they’d already made that choice.

THIRTY-FOUR

MORE VOICES, a shout, a ruckus. Shots, she definitely heard gunshots, quick, slow, some louder, some too close for comfort. She wanted to do as told and stay in their bed, but, at the same time, didn’t want to be naked if someone burst in. Grabbing clothes from the closet, she dressed and threw her hair up. The second her butt hit the bed, Niall materialized in the doorway.

“Come.”

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