Page 61 of Desperate Needs

My father didn’t raise a fool. I walked to the back, getting the license plate, then I quickly snapped a picture of him and sent both to Lucy.

“Smart,” he said, looking impressed.

“Thanks,” I replied and climbed inside the vehicle.

The inside was just like a thousand other SUVs I’d ridden in before. Leather seats that were heated, which helped since it was frigid outside.

We rode in silence, but I didn’t mind.

The partition between the back of the truck and the front was half closed, which was for my comfort, I assumed. It didn’t matter, my mind was preoccupied.

The drive took exactly twenty minutes and for the duration Balor remained silent. I appreciated that. My nerves were such, I didn’t think I could speak coherently if I tried.

We’d had snow earlier in the day, but the roads were clear and well-salted. New Jersey was nothing if not keen on keeping the highways rolling in inclement weather.

Houses decked out in holiday glitter and twinkle lights dotted the landscape, and I smiled a little at them. Some of the places we passed were crappy, dank little places, but seeing strands of garlands and inflatable snowmen made me smile.

It was just the average person’s attempt to brighten up the regular gloom of their environment.

I probably sounded like a snob, but I didn’t mean to.

Sure, I grew up in Manhattan’s finest, but I had an appreciation for New Jersey’s cities and suburbs.

It was probably all that time I spent helping my mother at her non-profit. St. Elizabeth’s Shelter for Women and Children had been taken over by my parents when they were first married, and now had locations all around the world.

She was such an inspiration to me, my mother. It was part of the reason I was leaving my cozy job at Sigma International and starting Drew’s Place.

“Come on. Boss is waiting,” Balor said, and I startled, not even realizing we’d arrived.

He held my door open but made zero move to help me down. I was used to that, though. Pop was the same way. None of his men were allowed to touch the family.

But I wasn’t Connor’s wife. I wasn’t his woman or his family. I wasn’t sure what I was, but I knew it wasn’t that.

Shit.

Acknowledging that was difficult. The feeling bashed into me like a battering ram, and suddenly, I felt sick. I wanted to leave, to retreat before he could tell me what I strongly suspected was going to be an it’s not you it’s me kind of speech.

Stop it, Clem. You don’t know that.

I sucked in a lungful of icy air and glanced around at my surroundings.

How had I not noticed Balor driving through that enormous wrought-iron gate and up the beautifully paved cobblestone driveway?

I frowned and turned my head, gazing at the path that might very well lead to my destruction.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, like I imagined a bunny’s would when walking into a wolf’s den.

I should just turn around and tell Balor to take me home.

I resisted the impulse. Barely.

But my father didn’t raise me to be a coward.

Just take the first step, Clem.

Chapter 26-Clementine

The property was incredible.

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