Page 84 of Forbidden Bond

“Helios Manzani went to jail, in part, due to evidence betrayed by a McDade,” she said. “A four-year-old McDade.”

The go-ahead to explain wasn’t necessary. This was Whisper. Her explanation saved Razer from telling the story during their sex time later.

“A four-year old?”

“She’s been in Manzani hands since then,” Play said, sweeping up his glass. “As long as Helios was imprisoned, she was too.”

“Shit,” Whisper said, slapping a hand on the table. “Your father agreed to that?”

“Her father agreed to it,” she said for Conn. “Kept everyone alive.”

It didn’t bear thinking about that the Manzanis would consider killing an innocent child. Despite society’s progression, in the right circumstances, the possibility of murder still existed.

“You’ll meet with Silvio Manzani? Arrange it?”

“Not yet,” Conn said. “Timing is everything. Nicole’s head goes to Byrne, send the rest of her to Manzani.”

“Let’s dirty everyone’s hands, damn right,” Whisper said. “I’ve got to say, for a McDade, you know how to plan an operation.”

“Enough from you,” Razer said. “We have business downstairs. Ladies, want a ride back to the mansion?”

“No, we have business of our own,” Whisper said and leaped to her feet. “High Class is gonna fill me in on all the McDade lore I missed.”

Everyone was leaving the table.

“She can tell you about the Manzanis too,” Play said. “Especially Hell. They exchange love letters.”

“Not love letters, just letters.” She pushed in her chair. “And if you make the margaritas, I’ll tell you whatever you want.”

“Cheap date.” Whisper came over to steal her hand. “I love it! Bye, boys, behave yourselves!”

The guys went downstairs, she didn’t know what floor, but down there somewhere. And she happily took her seat at the bar while Whisper went around to the other side.

“I want to hear about your prison visit with Biz too.”

“Then we better call down for more tequila. This is gonna be a long night.”

The wink was punctuation Whisper always carried. Aggravating or accommodating, Whisper Doherty-McDade made no apologies, which was just the way a McDade wife needed to be.

TWENTY-SEVEN

“OKAY, OKAY, GEEZ, husband,” Whisper said into her phone then hung up. “We’re going back to the mansion, want to come with us?”

If they were the only ones left, Conn may prefer just to stay at Stag.

“I’ll wait,” she said, accepting her friend’s hug. “Have fun.”

“No doubt about that.”

Whisper rushed to the door at the back of the room to exit. The one to the club balcony, not the office. Hmm, must be a reason she was avoiding it, could be she didn’t want to step on any toes. They didn’t know who might be working down there. If Raze was heading out, Play might be too.

She washed up her and Whisper’s dishes, dried, and put everything away. Time trudged on, tiring her. Washing her face, brushing her teeth, combing her hair, she went through the motions of getting ready for bed. Whether it was there, at the mansion, or the loft, she couldn’t imagine there would be any need to be social before she and Conn crashed.

If Strat was still there, he might have hung around under the misconception he had to be there so long as she was. Her friend didn’t have his phone, and her purse was in the office. With what he’d been through in the last couple of days, last couple of weeks really, Strat deserved a break. At the mansion, he’d be looked after, though he may prefer staying at Stag if Ford stayed.

Music still pumped from the club, bass rocked the walls, maybe some of those stragglers got in after all.

She’d check with Conn before going down to the basement for Strat, just in case. Vex would be restrained, but she still preferred to let her man know her location. Anywhere he was she was safe, something she’d assert to him any time he forgot.

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