Page 11 of Twisted Contract

I walk up the street with a steel spine, holding my head high and my temper back, and call my brother. “Pick me up on the corner.”

“Here.” He pulls up, and I hop inside.

“What the hell was that about?”

I scrub my hand over my face and shake head. “She’s the fucking governor’s daughter.”

“You have to be fucking kidding me.”

“I wish I was.”

We’re both silent for about six blocks when I say, “We need someone to hack Nora’s phone.”

“Don’t you dare accuse my wife.”

“She’s not your wife yet, and I’m not accusing her of shit. I’m thinking someone had to lead her to that fucking bakery. Someone had to know. As much as I want to believe Claudia was involved in the shooting, it doesn’t make sense that she’d risk getting shot in the process.”

“Yeah, she was a sitting fucking duck, so something doesn’t add up. Do you think it’s the governor, or an enemy of both of ours?”

At once, we both blurt out, “Espinosa.”

“He’s on the run and he’s gotten to us from the inside before, so it’s possible.” We pop onto the expressway, and fear worries in my brain. If she’s not the enemy, she’s in danger and I left her as an open target. I don’t say shit because we’re just thinking out loud, and she could be just as corrupt as her father but with a gorgeous face and perfect ass.

“We’ll have to figure it out. For now, I want to get home, shower, and then get some sleep. I’m tired and pissed off.”

“I’ll have one of the guys get your vehicle after we run cursory surveillance and look for cameras from a six-block radius. After the shit with John, I’m a little more cautious, so I’ve already dispatched a team to hit the areas around the perimeter and to move inward as the cops leave.”

“Good.” He stops in my driveway, and I exit his ride.

“Take it easy, and tell Nora I’m sorry about the cake.”

“Trust me when I say that will be the least of her concerns when she learns that you were shot at.”

When I get through my front door, my dog is anxious to see me and jumps all over my chest. “Fuck,” I groan. “Okay. Let’sgo for a walk.” I take him around the estate briefly before going back to the house and settling down on my bed for a long damn nap. The club will be calling me tonight to monitor it, so as much as I hate doing it, I have to go in.

Chapter Five

Claudia

The medics work on my arm, but all my attention is focused on the man who saved my life. He’s brooding in the corner, and then the truth falls from the cop’s mouth. His face becomes darker, anger vibrating from his body. It’s evil, but nothing I haven’t seen before. I’m afraid of him—as I should be. Still, when he approaches, I don’t move. I accept his rage as he grips my throat in hateful spite. He believes I’ve set him up, and when I look at it from his perspective, I can see it, but I’m not capable of such duplicity.

I take his threat seriously, but there is something behind his eyes that makes me think he doesn’t want to believe I’ve betrayed him. Maybe it’s the last bit that gives him a hint of faith in me. Connor MacNamara desired me, even for a brief moment. I felt the same way, and damn myself, because I still do. It irritates me because it seems I have no backbone. He threatened to kill me if I betrayed him, and all I could think about was if he leaned in a little farther, our lips would touch.

“Claudia, Claudia,” Nick calls out, rushing toward the ambulance. Ah, biscuits. Man, do I regret seeing him.

“What are you doing here, Nick?”

“What do you mean? I got the notice from my people about your bakery.”

“Your people?”

“I’m the head of law enforcement, Claudia, as the AG.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“How much blood have you lost, sweet thing?” I’m going to punch him in the head. He takes my hand, and then it hits him. “Where is your ring?”

“It’s upstairs. I can’t wear it while I’m working. It’s safer to put away so it doesn’t end up in the batter,” I inform him.

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