Page 106 of Illicit Temptation

Smart. If she looks weak, they’ll think she can be taken quietly. She’s not going anywhere.

But I’m keeping my emotions close to the vest. Acting like this all means nothing to me. All while I’m ready to fucking detonate.

“Of course, you don’t care about money,” Fergus snaps. “You grew up spoiled, getting everything you’ve ever wanted. That’s my fault. These may be aging eyes, but I’m not blind. You’re a beautiful woman, Shea. And you deserve a strapping man. It’s not like I’m arranging for you to marry a hideous monster. Do you not think Faolan is attractive?”

“Da, this is insane,” Darragh says, not letting her answer that.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Lachlan does somethingIwasn’t expecting. He pulls his gun.

Fucking fuck, I do the same. “I work for Lachlan.” I point my piece right at Faolan’s chest, the temptation to kill him makes me ache all over. “I suggest you listen to my boss, Malone. He’s strong enough to tear your arms and legs off your body. I’ve seen him do it.”

Torture. An outcome for Malone I’d prefer.

“You, sir...” Lachlan gives Malone his signature deathstare that has made grown men,killers, in his black site cry like hungry infants. “...are going to walk out of here. I don’t know what my father promised you, but we run his empire in New York and Shea-Lynne is part ofourworld. She’s also already promised to Nico Scava in Las Vegas.”

Shea gasps. The alarm on her face is a chink in our armor. Our eyes connect, and I can’t hide the surprise. I’m too raw, focusing my emotions on not getting fucking shot. But my face says it all. I knew, and I didn’t tell her.

A betrayal that might make me lose her.

“What the hell is this?” Malone fixes his anger on Fergus, whether it’s real or some kind of negotiating plot, I don’t know.

“Warden, I’d like to talk to my father alone.” Lachlan steps in front of Shea. “He came to you thinking you were his only option. We will take care of what my father needs. Da,tell himthe deal is off.” Lachlan waves his gun. “We’ll get Kieran on the phone. Then Ewan Quinlan. There are men right here in Waterford who can work for you, Da.Our people.”

Playing his cards beautifully, Faolan puts up his hands. “I thought I was talking to the boss.”

“I am the boss around here!” Fergus barks.

“I’ll take my leave.” Faolan cuts his gaze to me.

“I’ll walk him out,” I say, keeping my gun trained on him. “Darragh, take his weapon.”

Keeping one hand raised, Faolan opens his coat. “I’ve got plenty more at home. Keep it as a souvenir.”

“Any in your car?” I ask when we get to the front door.

“Take a ride with me and find out,” he offers sarcastically.

“And end up like Ian?” I push my face into his, my gun in his stomach.

Malone smirks. “Go on, pull the trigger. You know you wanna.”

“Get your arse off this property and over the border.Thisisn’t Dunbar. Lachlan is calling allies right now.”

“That’s him.” Malone continues to play it cool. “What about you? Are you an ally? Do you think screwing their one and only sister will make you one of them?”

“I said leave.”

“Come work for me, Quinlan,” Faolan whispers.

I hide my inward chuckle at the hand he just gave up. Offering me a job suggests he knows I’m the one to watch. If I take him out, Shea is free. I assume Malone doesn’t want to die.

“I have a job, thank you very much.”

“Don’t listen to that crazy man in there. I’m the one with the most leverage in this situation,” he says in a voice that rattles my nerves.

“How?” I ask because I know he’ll tell me.

“Those nurses taking care of Mrs. O’Rourke? They work formyprison.” He stands aside and sure enough, there they go into his car. And he’ll keep them if we don’t hand over Shea. “They know exactly what’s wrong with her.”

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