Page 122 of Savage Promises

I force a smile, my throat thick with emotion. “Take care of Shane for me. He acts like he doesn’t need anyone, but he really does.”

A catch in my throat sets more tears free, and I quickly wipe them away.

Dorian carries my suitcases to my old Mercedes saying he’ll follow me. I settle Hawk next to me in the front seat. As I pull away from the curb, I don’t look back.

I can’t. I’m not strong enough.

With any decent hotel barring cats, and knowing I’mprobably not welcome back at The Sterling, I have no choice but to throw myself on Mara’s mercy. Thankfully, when I called her, she told me her spare bedroom is free. It will have to do until I’m brave enough to face the New York City real estate market. Shane made no arrangements for me this time. Maybe he thought I’d go back to Astoria to live with my dad. Or he figured with twenty million dollars I’d be all right.

That check sits uncashed at the bottom of my purse.

Mara wraps me in a tight hug in the doorway of her Murray Hill pre-war apartment. “I could kill him,” she mutters, squeezing me. “I swear to God.”

I let out a wary laugh. “That’s a mob boss you just threatened.” Glancing over my shoulder, I remark to Dorian, who stands stiffly in the hallway, “She’s kidding.”

“I got it.” Mara takes my bags from him.

Like a soldier, he clicks his heels and spins to leave. I’m not going to think about where he’ll be. I don’t need protection. I’m no longer a Quinlan.

“Come on,” Mara says gently, guiding me to a tiny second bedroom in the back of the apartment. “It’s not much, but it’s clean and yours for as long as you need.”

I glance at the twin bed, the small dresser, and the single window facing an alley. I stifle a laugh at the absurdity this has all turned into.

“It’s fine. Thank you,” I say, setting Hawk’s carrier down. “I’ll start looking for a place soon.”

Mara folds her arms. “You’ve got twenty million dollars, Lennox. You could buy a penthouse tomorrow.”

I reach into my purse and pull out the check, staring at it like it might bite me. “I don’t even know where to deposit something this big.”

Mara whistles, staring at it. “I know a realtor who also manages finances. She’ll hook you up.”

I nod, but my hand drifts to my stomach, andsuddenly, the tears come again. “I’ll need two bedrooms in about seven months.”

Mara’s eyes widen. “Oh my God. Are you pregnant?”

I swallow hard, my voice barely a whisper. “Yeah. I am.”

Damn crappy implant was no match for Shane’s powerful and abundant swimmers. Two pink lines showed up this morning when I had to face the reality that my period was six days late.

“And he still divorced you?” Her face twists in horror.

“I never told him. I didn’t get a chance.”

“Lennox! You’re carrying amafia heir! They take that shit deadly serious.”

“My baby is a Donnelly.” I shake my head. “I’m thinking they’ll turn the other cheek this one time.”

I can’t say for sure how Norah would feel if her son walked away fromherblood.

Mara stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You really believe someone won’t come for that baby?”

“If you don’t want me to stay here—”

“Of course, I do!” Mara throws her arms around me.

I sink into her embrace, loving how it feels. “I know I can’t keep it a secret forever. Shane is in Ireland. I’ll tell him once all the dust settles and he’s back to his numb self where this will just be one more thing he has to fix for his family.”

“What can I do to help?” Mara asks, sitting on the bed.

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