Page 54 of Forbidden Bond

Independent woman? Yes, she’d never alter that state of mind. What Conn offered was vital, as fundamental as the air in her lungs. He didn’t take her independence, he enhanced it. The McDade shield was strong, and she’d never stray from behind it again.

NINETEEN

SITTING ON THE FLOOR, spine to the wall, she switched one sentence with another. Dark mode meant light from the laptop screen was minimal. Editing, tweaking, the piece was almost—

“We got asses to kick?”

The croak of the voice from the bed raised her head. “Oh my God, Strat…” Putting the laptop aside, she jumped up to sit next to him and grab his hand. “How are you?”

“Still alive,” he murmured. “All that tap, tap, tapping. What you writing?”

“An obit.”

His lazy smile was a welcome sight. “Must be bad news then. The doc give me a timeline? Better just shoot me now.”

“Shut up,” she said, combing her fingers through his hair. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Sorry, Scamp.”

Chastising him wasn’t fair. Adrenaline became relief. God, it was good to hear his voice.

Took her a second to gather strength and subdue tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

“What’d you do? Crash the car? We’ll get another car.”

His eyes weren’t open, could be the meds. Couldn’t be the light because there wasn’t enough to hurt.

“I got you abducted, beaten, what happened?”

“Six of his guys jumped me,” he said and hazarded another half-smile. “Did not bad against six roided out gym geeks half my age.”

“Yeah, old man, they had it coming.” Her palm slid to his cheek. “You said three bullets but—”

“Immie, Ford, Jagg—”

“Oh my God, he—”

“It was the threat, Scamp. You’d have made the list too, if he wasn’t so eager to bang you.”

“So you went quietly.” After getting an ass kicking. “He threatened the people you love and—I’ve always been headstrong.”

“I know.”

“Stubborn.”

“Roger that.”

Her fingers slid between his on her lap. “In the last week… I’m putting the people I care about most in danger. How did the wheels come off the wagon so fast? And I don’t know what to do, I don’t know if…” She sighed. “Sorry, you don’t need me rambling.”

“That’s exactly what I need.” He took their joined hands to his chest. “Vex, the fuck, was too scared to lay hands on me direct.”

Just his style. “He’s always been like that. Evander doesn’t fight his own battles.”

“He’ll have to now. Ire fill you in?”

“He’s asleep. He’s pissed. Like he’s been pissed ever since I woke up here.”

“Here?” Yes, they were in the same room she’d first woken in. “What happened?”

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