HAD SHE THOUGHT of her grandfather’s as a neutral location?
In the car, they weren’t too far from their destination. She really didn’t want to be dealing with more of her father’s bullshit. He better not embarrass her in front of—who was she kidding? Of course he’d embarrass her.
She sighed. “I wish we were going to the club.”
That none of this was happening and their lives were carefree. So many dreams.
Conn kept texting but threaded his free fingers through hers. “I’m on a promise when we’re through here. Focus on that.”
What did that mean? “You’re getting more sleep when this is through.”
Typical her father should call and inject himself at one of the worst possible times. They didn’t need the extra aggravation right now. No, not them, Conn. Conn didn’t need the extra aggravation.
“You’re laying down and spreading ‘em wide when we’re done here, Macushla.”
Well, that was their agreement, after sleep came sex. She brought their joined hands to her lap, guiding his arm over her. God, it felt good to be with him, sharing air and space with him. Being in proximity balanced her thinking.
“What about tomorrow?”
“What about it?” he muttered.
“Will I see you?”
He stopped texting and a second passed before he put the phone down to slide a hand onto her face.
“You’ve woken up lonely enough.”
“I’ll always be waiting for you, with you,” she said. “Don’t ever worry about my loyalty or our relationship. I’m always with you. Always yours.”
A guarantee she wouldn’t retract. Even with Madison Byrne on her way into town. With him bogged down in work, she wanted to be a source of strength for him, present or not.
“And if you’re in trouble?”
“You’re my first call,” she said, understanding why he needed to reiterate that with so much else going on.
“Where are you always safe?”
“With you,” she said, stroking the back of his hand. “You know it’s the same in reverse, right? That I’ll always be safe for you. And if the time comes and you want to cut ties, I’ll be with you then too.”
The angle of his whole body shifted. “Cut ties?”
“If we have to get out of Dodge fast. You don’t need to explain anything to me. Just come get me, tell me it’s time to go.”
“You’re betting against me.”
His air of harsh incredulity reminded her of the night they’d met.
“What? No!”
“You expect me to fail.”
“No, I didn’t say—”
“Your job is—” The car stopped.
“Conn, I—”
But he was already out, on the sidewalk, his men approaching from behind.
Damn. She shouldn’t have said a word. What an idiot. That wasn’t the time to—she’d called Strat out for contemplating their king’s demise and she’d just blurted it out. Conn did not need that. Her job was to support him and instead, she’d put doubt in his head. If she couldn’t believe in him, as he thought, how could he have faith his people would foresee success?
Dingo held the door open. She’d sat there so long that he ducked to check on her. “You coming?”
Her father was the one in the building, so yes, she didn’t have a choice.
Slipping out of the car, leaving her purse on the seat, her discomfort didn’t bode well.
“You got it?” Conn said to the guy who seemed to be taking instructions.
She didn’t like strangers having their back. If they’d had Niall there, Daly, any of her guys, she’d have some certainty that they knew what they were doing. Though the men present now were strangers to her, these were McDade men too. Loyal to a fault. They’d have to be or Conn wouldn’t have them on his detail.
They just had to get through this meeting. Their familiar people, their First Team, deserved their rest. With some sleep, they’d be better equipped to do their duties.
Without a word, Conn linked their fingers and led her up the external stairs.
“Conn,” she said, wishing they had more time.
He produced something from his pocket and flashed it at the door. Sneddon’s security card. Good. The last thing she’d want to do was knock and wait for her father to grant them access. Was security still downstairs or would they be alone in the building?
The hallway was dark. Shadowy. Cold.
The front door closed behind them and she nestled closer to her guy. A light up ahead beckoned, dim, warming the crack between the office door and its frame. Okay. This was it.
Conn didn’t need her to direct him. With all the confidence in the world, he strode on down there and into the room.
“McDade.”
Her father’s voice near the fireplace.
“Superintendent,” Conn said.
She peeked around his arm. And, yes, her father was by the unlit fireplace, a hand on the mantle.
“What’s he doing here?” her father asked. “I said alone, Sersha.”
“I heard you,” she said, moving to her guy’s side. “And this is what alone gets you.”
Conn took control. “What’s this about?”
“Family business.”
“Conn’s specialty,” she said. “Where’s Lach?”
“We have to talk. Alone.”
Her father turned his back. Did he expect her to send Conn away or send him to the hallway?
Like he read her mind, Conn didn’t consider either.
Irritation in his air, her father spun around wearing a glare. “He shouldn’t be here.”
“You don’t make the rules, Superintendent,” Conn said. “If you have something to tell us, talk. Otherwise, I’m taking your daughter back to my bed.”
“Don’t you see this, Sersha?” Her father gestured at Conn. “Why can’t you see it? How he uses you—exploits you.”
So much for Conn’s warning working long distance.
“Is that why I’m here? To hear you criticize my relationship?” She tightened her hold on Conn’s hand. “Take me home.”
“No!” Her father bounded toward them, stopping by Henry’s angled desk with the window behind it. “We have to talk, Sersha. We have to do it without outsiders.”
“Conn isn’t an outsider. You get both of us or we leave.”
They’d achieve nothing if her father kept throwing up objections.
“Our family…” Like he’d just decided Conn was no longer there, her father’s eyes drilled into her. “We have a special position in this city. People respect us. They follow our example.”
“I’m not interested in being worshipped.”
“It’s not about worship, it’s—” Sealing his lips, anger flared her father’s nostrils, but he held onto it. “We need to consider what’s best for the city. Not what’s best for us.”
“Meaning?”
“The man you…” He swallowed what appeared to be a bad taste on his tongue. “He doesn’t want what’s best for the city. His family is not—heritage is important.”
“History? Is that what you’re selling?”
Conn edged to the side, closer, putting his arm in front of hers. “You called the meeting to demand inside information,” her guy said, stating what it would take her father all night to clarify. “You want to know the McDade position, our plans. You thought she’d be weak enough to turn on us if you could get her alone. Tried that before, Superintendent, and it ended with her in the hospital. That won’t happen again. I’ll take down any threat to her. Including you.”
“That was your fault,” her father snapped. “You didn’t protect her in your territory.”
“It’s her territory too and she’s never in danger now that she’s safe behind the McDade shield.”
Maybe not totally safe, but safer than she had been before the world knew about her and Conn.
“You better hope that’s true.”
That sounded like a threat and she didn’t like it. Neither did Conn.
“Say that again,” he growled beneath his breath. “We’ll lay son next to father.”
“Recruiting me was never going to work, Dad.” If they didn’t walk away, the situation would become grave. “I won’t turn on Conn, on the McDades. I wouldn’t then and I definitely won’t now. The McDades are my future.”
“He’s manipulating you,” her father barked. “How can you be so stupid? So naïve? He’s using you to get to me!”
Her lips curled just before a laugh escaped. “Wow, and I’m stupid?”
“Sersha—”
“He doesn’t need you!” Dropping Conn’s hand, she put herself in front of him. “You are irrelevant. Unimportant. Insignificant.” Her sneer startled her father, not that it stopped her. “What is it you think you can give? What is it you think we need? You don’t take up any space in my man’s head. None. No McDade gives a shit who you are or what you think. We don’t need you. And that’s what you hate. You want us to covet your help. You want Conn to need you, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t need you. I don’t need you. You have nothing we need.”
“Which gives you no bargaining chips,” Conn said, sliding a stable hand onto her shoulder and around to grip her throat, drawing her back against him. “Sersha’s loyalty is not for sale. She won’t deliver on the promises you made, promises you can’t keep.”
Sound from the hallway interrupted the moment. People. What was happening? Person. Just one judging by the footfalls. The door squeaked and those feet came closer.
“Ire.”
Her inhale wasn’t quite a gasp, but the last thing she’d expected was…
“Silvio,” she whispered as he passed them and stopped by the fireplace. “What the hell is going on here?”