Page 83 of Forbidden Bond

“With the right pressure, it will happen when we want it to happen.”

“We may not need Silvio’s support,” she said and waited for Conn to meet her eye. “The Carlyle.”

“What about it?”

“I recorded it,” she said, sort of squirming.

“We’ll destroy the footage.”

“No,” she said, grabbing for Conn’s hand. “On purpose. I recorded it on purpose. I didn’t know what I would get until… The johns, the fire, we got the evacuation.”

Slow pride lit his gaze. “Bet some of those guys vote on the council.”

“I bet they do too,” she said, aroused by pleasing him.

“Vex stays where he is.”

Good. The streets would be safer. Saner.

“Silvio won’t like it.”

“I don’t care. Something else is more important,” her guy said, his hand slipping onto her thigh beneath the table. “If Silvio shows his commitment to shunning Biz, we’ll support Hell’s bid for freedom.”

Parole.

Silence.

That wasn’t something she’d expected him to say, and apparently the others were of the same mind.

Incredulity filled their Doherty. “Hell Manzani is dangerous.” Not something that had to be stated, Whisper’s unusual solemnity was a testament to just how risky the move might be. “If you let him out, he could bolster Manzani strength. They could become a serious threat. The man’s been in prison for two decades, I doubt he spent that time knitting booties.”

“Score came out a changed man,” Conn said with a tinge of duplicity. “Isn’t everyone worthy of a second chance?”

“Helios Manzani is no joke,” Whisper said. “That man is—”

“Agreed,” Play said, eyes locked to Conn’s. “It’s time.”

“It is,” Razer backed them up.

Shit, this was about more than anyone’s virtue. Clarity filled her lungs. It was a rescue mission.

Whisper’s head moved as she gaped at one guy, then another, and another. “What the hell is this?” Something Whisper, apparently, didn’t know about. “Since when are McDades in the habit of unleashing powerful enemies?”

Curling her fingers around Conn’s on her leg, she gave her support, if it counted for anything. “I agree too.”

“What the fuck?” Whisper exclaimed.

“We bring McDades home. All McDades.”

Dorsey, Conn’s young cousin, may be a McDade by name, but she’d lived her whole life imprisoned by Manzanis. What was left of her loyalty?

“Do we have the facilities for her?” Play asked. “Is she better here or elsewhere? I’d say we should ask her, but I’m not sure she…”

“Has the capacity to make decisions for herself,” Razer said and nodded her way, though his concentration stayed on Connel. “Use your woman.”

That got her the attention of everyone.

Whisper’s wide eyes would be amusing in any other situation. “Who the fuck are we talking about? Do we have the facilities for who?”

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