Page 111 of Forbidden Bond

“I hear what?”

Moving faster, Strat went to a car in the corner and dug something from his bag. In one slick move, he popped the lock and opened the door to drop side on into the driver’s seat.

“You’re—we’re—”

His scowl silenced her. As she sucked her lips into her mouth, he leaned back to do something beneath the steering wheel. Something? Yeah, he was hotwiring it, as proven when it revved to life.

“Get in,” he said. “Fast.”

Running around, she jumped into the passenger seat. The door wasn’t even shut and already they were moving.

“I didn’t know you could still do that to cars.”

“Gotta know what you’re doing.”

“And I thought Ford was the car guy.”

A slanted stare. “Where’d you think my boys got their skills?”

“You shouldn’t be—you’re bleeding, Strat.”

“It’s nothing,” he said again.

With the blood on the opposite side, she couldn’t check how much of nothing it was.

“They were Byrnes?”

“Yep.”

“How many?”

“Three.”

Their eyes met again. “Strat, I—”

“Don’t. What did I say about that bullet?”

That he’d always get between her and it.

They trundled through the city, not at speed, vigilant instead. Strat’s attention went everywhere. Her friend was on high alert, determined to keep her alive. After only just saying he’d protect her life with his, he’d proved it in real time.

“Are we okay?” she asked, glancing around. “Anyone else following?”

“No, and we left the phone in the fucking car.” He slammed his hands on the steering wheel. They had weapons and ammo, no form of communication. “We don’t know if the mansion is safe.”

“If we were followed, others might’ve been too. The mansion could be under siege, caught in an attack of its own. We could circle back to—”

“No, if the Byrnes didn’t put out a message before we engaged with those assholes, their silence will have brought others out. We can’t take the risk they’ll get the jump on us.”

“Where’s safe?”

“Maybe nowhere ‘til sunup.”

And even then, there were no guarantees.

“So we keep driving? In a stolen car?”

“We’ll get out of the city. Dump it.”

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