AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You sure? Swerve isn’t known for his self-control.”
“He doesn’t have to be—” Outside, Ford stepped up beside Conn, Jagg not far behind. “Go, Strat. That’s your boys.”
She took the glass from his hand.
“I can’t leave you.”
Imogen rushed over. “Dad, get out there. Stop this!”
“Fuck,” Strat said, scooping both women against him to hurry them across the room. “Cop!” Her brother was literally coming out of the restroom, thank God, and hadn’t seen the show yet. “Do not fucking leave them.”
With that, Strat stormed across the room to go outside.
“What is going on?” Lachlan asked, following everyone’s focus. “Shit. Fucking Ire McDade—”
“No, actually,” she said, giving Imogen a glass. “He’s defusing the situation.”
“Since when is he a mediator?”
“Believe it or not, he’s an excellent negotiator, and he’s aware of the audience.”
“Oh, so if it wasn’t for the audience—”
“He doesn’t need violence to handle Evander Manzani.”
“How do you know?”
She smiled, very aware of the intention of her brother’s question. “Because he’s a professional.”
“Oh, a professional? Ire McDade? A professional what? Criminal? Gangster? Thug?”
“He is an entrepreneur; a business owner.”
She didn’t expect Lachlan’s laugh to be so genuine. “By day, maybe.”
Nearby, Whisper turned her back on the scene, squeezing her eyes closed.
“Whisper,” she called, getting the woman’s attention, gesturing her over. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not watching.”
“I see that. Why not?”
“Because I—”
“Before, uh, this is my brother,” she said, cutting Whisper off. “He’s a cop. Vice.”
That cooled Whisper’s focus.
“Thank you for being so subtle in telling her that, sister.”
“Why are you not watching?” she asked. “Because Raze told you not to go out there?”
“You know, he’s not wrong,” Whisper said, taking her glass. “Sometimes I just can’t help myself.”
“Oh, we have movement,” Imogen interjected.
Yes, Vex and Swerve returned to their car. The McDade side didn’t move, didn’t flinch until the car disappeared around the corner. When their boots were back on the sidewalk, traffic started again, moving as if nothing had happened.
