Page 122 of Forbidden Bond

“Yeah.”

“From now on, you make sure no one has to.”

As Conn’s attention moved, Strat took a step forward. “At the scene where—”

“It’s been handled.” Whatever that meant. “Macushla, the Stratfords will be protected by this family.” Like Strat protected her, yeah, but that wasn’t what he meant. Her guy was telling her Strat wasn’t getting a break, or a pink slip. “That’s final.”

“Your boy’s downstairs,” Niall said to Strat.

She’d barely noticed the lieutenant, her eyes stayed locked on Conn’s. Her heart beat faster, her throat hurt, her love grew.

That suit, the clear expression, his hair just a fraction damp. He’d showered and changed. Good. But what did that mean? He’d showered before coming to her, was that because his clothes could be used in evidence against him?

“What happened? At the club, Byrne—”

“Was no threat,” Conn said as she got closer. “I handled it.”

Yeah, like he’d handled Marseille.

“They wanted Madison,” she said.

“They didn’t get her.”

“I know. Won’t they come again?”

“Hard to come at me when they’re under our control.”

“All of them?”

“Enough of them.”

The thinning Byrnes ranks had been decimated at the same time the Dohertys lost almost a whole generation.

“And the club? Stag? The damage to—”

“Damage will be repaired,” he said, pinching her chin to raise her head. “We’re unshakeable.”

Which was his way of telling her to grow a pair.

“What about the authorities?” she asked. “The press? Want me to call Steeple?”

Steeple would know more, her editor always did. Except she couldn’t risk calling him from Conn’s phone, or the club, or from their secret location. Damn caller ID and backtraces.

“Has he called you?”

“My phone’s at the club.”

“Niall,” Conn said without turning.

“Aye,” Niall said.

“Strat’s phone was left in the—”

Niall tossed something to her friend in front of the couch. He held it up, his phone, huh. Guess the scene really had been handled, just like they said.

“Doc’s waiting for you,” Niall said to Strat, who looked to her.

“Bluebell patched me up. I’m good.”

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