Page 70 of Forbidden Protector

The car suddenly takes a U-turn in the middle of the road and we double back on ourselves. We careen past the SUVs still going in the wrong direction.

“That guy that spoke to us, his name is Morris. I know him from back when my uncle was in charge. The guy’s a complete sadist.”

“What the hell does Padraic want with me?” I half shriek as we take a corner at speed.

“It’s a long story.”

The tires screech as we career around another sharp bend. But the Italian sports car handles the acceleration like a dream, leaving our pursuers in the dust.

“Can you give me the Cliff Notes?” I shriek as the car pulls into oncoming traffic.

But Arnie isn’t fazed, weaving in and out of cars that blare their horns at us as we pass them by. “Duffys hate Maguires.”

“I got that much!”

Arnie suddenly lurches the car to the left, taking an exit I hadn’t even seen. “Padraic killed your mother, so Connor killed Padraic’s other son.”

“What?”

“Which made Jack kidnap Aimee,” Arnie slams the brakes and looks over his shoulder. “But they fell in love. So Padraic disowned Jack.”

He waits a moment, studying the stream of cars on the main road until our pursuers drive straight on by, completely oblivious.

Arnie hits the gas again, but slower this time, as we approach what looks like an abandoned garage.

“And that’s how Roisin becomes the catch of the season,” Arnie concludes as he presses something to open the doors.

As I dwell on this information, an uneasy sensation fills my stomach. “Because hurting me not only hurts Connor…”

“It hurts Jack and Aimee too,” Arnie finishes for me just as he pulls into the space and hits the button to lower the door back down.

The light gets dimmer and dimmer until the door completely closes, flooding us in darkness.

“Where are we?” I say as my eyes adjust to the blue light of the Lamborghini console.

Arnie pulls the keys from the ignition. “Nowhere. We just need to lie low for a bit. If there are anyDead Eyesstill following us, this place will cut off our scent.”

“And if they find us?”

“We drive out that back exit,” Arnie glances over at me and places a hand on my shaking thigh. “But they won’t find us.”

“You promise?”

“Promise,” he says with a soft smile.

With the little light we have, shadows play across his face, making him look even more dark and mysterious than before.

Something surges in my chest and I find myself pushing up to peck him on the cheek.

“Thank you,” I say softly, now dangerously close to his mouth.

Arnie’s eyes flutter closed.

“Do that again,” he breathes.

This time, I kiss his other cheek, lingering a little longer as my heart beats wildly within my chest.

I draw back slowly. I am not able to bring myself to move far. His hot breath mixes with mine as the tension between us thickens.

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