Page 78 of Forbidden Bond

Once upon a time, she’d worried when approaching Stag. Worried whether anyone would get in her way or obstruct her. God help anyone who tried that now.

She wasn’t really aware of who was behind her as she ascended the stairs to the office. None of her people joined her when she went inside. Boy did she immediately wish someone had got in her way.

Conn, yep, the guy she loved, standing up close to Madison Byrne. Was this what she was supposed to see? What a set up.

“Upstairs,” Conn said to her, his fingers in Madison’s hair.

Upstairs? Yeah, fine, she’d rather be anywhere but there.

“No,” Madison said, her smile growing sly. “Why does she have to leave? Maybe she should watch.” And that would empty her stomach fast, though liquor was the only thing in it, so… “Where’s Play? Let’s go upstairs and find him.”

Being raised with position gave the Byrne woman confidence. Though that could also have something to do with knowing she was seducing this man away from his true love.

The curtain moved and Play appeared, glass in hand, moving at a slow, deliberate pace, yet exuding only masculinity. Strange how he could be delicate and overwhelming at the same time.

“Where’d you get to?” Play asked her like they were old pals, and completely alone.

“Traffic,” she said.

That wasn’t entirely true, they’d left the mansion late because it took her longer to get ready than—what did it matter? She’d arrived.

“Want to come upstairs?” Madison asked, threading her fingers through Conn’s to guide him over to his cousin, who was granted the gift of Madison’s other hand. “I have a secret to share.”

Oh, a secret? Yeah, she’d still rather eat her own vomit than partake in anything that might involve.

“You don’t care about secrets, Madison,” Play said. “Show your cards.”

Her guy wasn’t in the mood to screw around. “You know what we want.”

This had been a day for quid pro quos.

“In exchange, I want…” Madison raised Play’s hand to her waist, and twined Conn’s arm around her. “Both of you.”

Yep, that was exactly the enlightenment she wasn’t in the market for.

“I have work to do,” she said, getting a few steps closer to the curtain.

It flew aside with more flourish than she’d expect from—Nicole? Niall wasn’t far behind with Razer and Whisper in their wake. Where had they come from? Nicole kept on going,marching right on up to the window that overlooked the clubbers below. The woman was alive, which was something. Maybe something. She wasn’t clear on what actually happened at the hotel.

In a twirl, Mrs. Parker McDade raised her arms. “You people are crazy!”

“We people are your—hey, High Class!” Whisper swerved around her husband to pull her into an embrace. “Oh, baby, we’ve got so much to catch up on.”

Whisper hooked their arms together and instantly she felt better, stronger. The connection reminded her that this was their domain, her domain. She kissed Whisper and slunk away from her, through the others to the man who shared her bed. His arm may still be around the Byrne, but her hands slithered up his body onto his cheeks. Without resisting, he came down to meet her kiss. Not only meet it but amplify it with the enticing dive of his possessive tongue.

He hooked her body, yanking it to his. Even though she bumped against Madison, she didn’t relinquish the kiss. This was her man. No matter what might happen later, what he might have to do for the good of the family, he would always be her man. Mistress or not, no one would stop her showing him love.

“This family is…” Amped, Nicole dominated the stage. “Someone tried to kill me! I could’ve been killed. You people are supposed to be keeping me safe not making out like teenagers!”

Foreign words from Niall’s tongue stole Conn’s from her. Throughout his response to his lieutenant, his gaze stayed on hers, dark, aroused, tempting. Were there other people in the room? How could he hold a conversation when so much electricity zipped between them?

“I love this family, so friendly.” Whisper closed in and caught her free hand in both of her own. “We look after eachother, look out for each other. Making out like teenagers is bonus content, and our guys are all about the extras.”

Turning her head to lay it against her man, she smiled at Whisper right there next to her. Nicole appeared just beyond.

“You told me no one knew where I was!”

“Shit, you’re shrill. And you wonder why someone would want you dead, Pretty Nicki?” Whisper wasn’t shy. “First time in my life I ever agreed with a Byrne. Feels icky, but I can’t fight it.”

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