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“Connel is more than just a leader. Keeping his people safe is important. Loyalty is everything to him.”
“You think he’s been faithful to you?” her father asked with sneering pity. “That man sees you as a tool. An object.”
Exhaling, she picked up her wine and sank onto a stool. “Thank God he didn’t come. What an introduction to the family.”
“You invited him?” her father snapped.
“Wherever I am, he’s invited. We’re a couple, Dad. Together.”
“This is unbelievable. How can you be so stupid?”
“Okay, cool it,” Lachlan said. “We’re here for dinner, right? Let’s just sit down and eat like a regular, happy family.”
Now who was delusional? A happy family?
Lachlan had done his best with the spaghetti. Better than she could’ve. None of them had the time or inclination to cook.
They sat at the table and ate, paying more attention to the food than each other.
Grief should have the power to bring them together, especially still so close to their shared tragedy.
Someone’s phone rang. Not hers. Lachlan looked at their dad, who slipped a device out of a pocket.
“I have to take this,” he said and rose to head for the front door.
“Uh, Hock and Snuff are in the hall.” Both gaped at her, so she aimed for a light smile. “You can use the bedroom.”
Unimpressed though her father was, he diverted and answered the call as he went in and closed the door.
“He gonna find anything in there?” Lachlan asked with enough of a smirk to amuse her.
“Like what? Gags? Whips? Chains? Drug stash? Hooker boots?”
“Got experience?”
“Oh, yeah, with all the above. Conn denies me nothing.”
Her brother pushed his plate aside. “Does that stretch to intel?”
“He’ll share what he knows about Grandpapa—”
“I’m not talking about that. He says he’s in on that. I trust he’d tell you, though I’m not sure I’d want him to.”
“Why not?”
“Because no one answered my question. What will the McDades do if they find the perp first?” Now it wasn’t so funny. “I don’t want you party to anything illegal, even something like this. If I find out he’s put you in danger or forced you to be a part of his crimes—”
“He doesn’t force me to do anything.”
“I’ll take him down, Sersh. If he dirties you, it will be my life’s work to—”
“You know you said in the office that you could be allies. Why can’t you see that’s true? Look past your prejudice, your preconceived notions about him.”
“So tell me something else, Sersha. Tell me something about him that will pull the wool from my eyes.”
What could she say? Nothing that would make Connel look weak or vulnerable. It wasn’t all about the job. One thing that made him vulnerable who Lachlan would never exploit? Her.
“He values me, Lach,” she said, putting her own food aside. “You might think he’s playing me. Dad might believe I’m naïve. But neither of you have seen the way he looks at me, heard the things he’s said. You don’t know the lengths he’s gone to for me.”
