Page 148 of Arran's Obsession

“Good. It’s useful for me to know that particular drug doesnae fuck up memory too much. Okay, we were poised to take down Peters, but then Genevieve’s father appeared out of nowhere, and instead of stopping and waiting, ye were moving on him.”

“Because she’s been looking for him for weeks.”

The streetlights flashed over him. “I’m well aware. Ye weren’t listening to me. Ye were about to blow our cover, then her old man raised the gun and fired. Remember what happened next?”

Blue flashing lights. “Cops?”

“A patrol passed by, right at the wrong second. Instead of beating a retreat, ye lurched forward, right as shite went down. In a heartbeat, I saw exactly how it was going to unfold. Peters dropped, the two men he was supplying jumping into their car, the cop calling in for hasty backup, us trapped. I had no choice but to take control and save ye from yourself. I took ye down, knocked ye out, and hid your arse in the tree line. I did everything necessary to keep ye safe, using that permission you’d given me. I knew you’d be pissed off, but it’s better that than arrested outside the safety of Deadwater or dead.”

I scrubbed my face, dirt on my hands from that fucking hedgerow. “How the hell did we get away?”

“Because I’m damn good at my job. As the two in the car rammed the cops, disabling both their vehicles, I scooped up the old man and spirited him away. Then I returned for your heavy arse and got ye to safety, too. We stole away along the next warehouse’s rear exit right as a fuckton of cops swarmed.”

My mouth opened. “Her dad…?”

Shade ticked his head towards the rear of the car. “In the back.”

I spun around. There, in the back seat, was Adam Walker, Genevieve’s father. Out cold but breathing.

When I came back to Shade, he wasn’t smiling.

“Revoke the right, and I’ll never do it again, but don’t blame me for saving ye in the best way I could in a split second of thought. You’re my best friend, and you’ve put your neck on the line for me on more occasions than I can count. I love ye, man. So shut the fuck up about it and think about how you’re going to make your girl happy when we’re home.”

He stopped talking. I did, too.

A snore from the rear seats pierced the silence, and Shade’s lips twitched like he wanted to laugh, but concern was constraining him. Perhaps that he’d overstepped so far he couldn’t come back. But Shade was my boy. For him, I’d take a bullet, and in his way, this was him taking mine.

Begrudgingly, I gave him what he needed. “Permission revoked, asshole. And thanks.”

At last, my friend smiled.

Chapter 45

Genevieve

Alisha wrung her hands, her mascara obviously waterproof because her cheeks were wet but streak-free. She’d released me from the warehouse’s basement, escorting Convict back up to the captain’s office where he was supposed to be a prisoner. Until she’d let him go the minute Arran’s back was turned.

Convict had been the one to tell her of my scare at his hands. I’d been too shaken up to speak.

In Arran’s office, she paced in front of me.

“I didn’t know he was in the game,” she repeated. “He only said he needed to apologise and tell you about your dad. I knew he’d never hurt you.”

“I thought you were handing me to him,” I replied quietly.

“Shit. And you were terrified. I thought I was doing something right.” She rubbed her arms, shaking all the more.

Already once this evening, I’d forgiven her on account of her fear. Looked like I needed to do it again.

“It’s all right. At least it’s ended well,” I said.

Alisha darted her gaze to me. “Arran might not think the same.”

“I’m not keeping it a secret so don’t ask.”

She managed a subdued nod. “That’s fair.”

For a moment, I sat with my worries, the pile teetering high. Yet at least Arran’s safety wasn’t one of them. I’d messaged him, getting a reply that said he’d return in minutes and for me to wait downstairs. Thank God for that.

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