Page 91 of Forbidden Bond

“No.”

She didn’t expect to be stood up, but a question hung in the air over how sane it was to set this up. Not because it was Imogen, she was a fan of the woman. Now she was. It had taken a while for them to get together and actually find common ground.

Her apprehension came in the subject matter, it could be dicey.

“Good,” Strat said. “‘Cause I’d rather you didn’t listen to me when I tell you the rumor I heard last night.”

Last night? Wait, did he say rumor?

Suddenly, Strat was her whole wide world. “What rumor?”

He laughed. “You’re predictable, Scamp.”

“Tell me.”

“Word is, there was a Huntsman in town last night.”

Okay, so, humph.

“Cool,” she said and fixated on the door again.

She’d asked Imogen to come alone. Maybe she thought it was weird they weren’t meeting in the office. Or maybe she was reluctant to come to a place she’d frequented with her ex.So long as those were the reasons for the tardiness, they were okay. If something happened to Imogen, if she had to tell Lach the woman he’d loved was hurt or in danger… Loved? Was it past tense? How fast did someone fall out of love after being dumped?

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Her friend’s acceptance was curious in itself. “Thought what?”

“Figured I’d say it out loud and your reaction would tell me if it was true or not. Ire told you?”

“Not exactly.”

“Just be glad you didn’t lay eyes on him. Word is they never leave witnesses.”

“To their existence?” Okay, slightly scary because she hadn’t just seen an intrepid Huntsman, she’d watched him murder for money. “It’s a myth.”

“They’re a myth. How do you think they stay that way?” He flattened a hand on the table. “By never leaving witnesses.”

“I’d check your sources.”

Damn sure she’d be checking hers.

“Still haven’t told me what happened at the Grand last night. Guys downstairs thought it was something, you know, McDade related.”

“We’re not the only Irish in the city.”

“And there’s more to that story.”

“I didn’t ask specifics,” she said.

“Wow, maybe you got hit on the head, or…” He leaned in. “Are you a doppelgänger?”

“Ha, ha, ha.” Why hadn’t she asked Conn for details about what went down at the hotel? She would. As soon as she circled the wagons around her brother. “Maybe I’m holding off until you give me a full rundown of what happened in Hustle the night you were abducted.”

“I told you what happened.”

“You told me up until Conn walked in, what happened after that?”

Damn fate would choose that moment for Imogen to arrive.

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