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“You know the delicacy of this information—”
“Drop it, Cranston. ” Rhylan breathed out roughly as he gave his head a hard shake. “He’s right. She’s the one who’s been in danger, not the rest of you. ” He turned to her again. “I’m sorry, Ms. Mackay; you were caught in a web of deceit that had nothing to do with you, other than the fact that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ended up with belongings we were unaware were in that car. The jewels you inadvertently ended up with are the belongings of a particularly sadistic Russian mobster. They’ll be returned to him, so we can then track where they end up and what they’re being used to pay for. ” He turned to Tim. “If you’ll gather the jewels together for me, I have the paperwork you need. ”
Timothy’s lips thinned as the situation was explained to her. “That’s information that could get her killed, Rhylan. ”
“Only if she tells anyone what she knows,” Rhylan objected. “And I think she’s proven she knows how to keep her mouth shut. ”
No, he was wrong; she didn’t need to hear this particular argument.
Jed had tensed to a breaking point, and Dawg, Rowdy, and Natches looked as though they were facing the gallows at the thought of her hearing whatever information this man had to give.
“Mom’s waiting for me. ” Turning to Jed, she felt the tension slowly easing from his body. “I’ll be in the kitchen. ”
“I’ll be there soon. ”
His head lowered, and his lips touched hers with a gentleness that filled her soul with a warmth that went far beyond arousal, need, or hunger. It filled her with a knowledge she hadn’t understood until now.
As Jed released her she moved quickly to Dawg, threw her arms around him, and immediately felt him enfold her in his arms.
“I understand,” she whispered in his ear quickly. “I never understood how you feared for our safety until now, Dawg. ”
“Understood what, sweetie?” How could she have ever thought it was just arrogance and male superiority that caused him to hover over her and her sisters so closely?
“Why. ” Her arms tightened around his shoulders. “Why we have to stay safe for you. ” Leaning back, she stared into his eyes and saw the bleak knowledge he held in his soul.
The knowledge of all the ways she could die, and all the ways he couldn’t protect her, her sisters, and her mother if he weren’t always diligent.
It was the curse of loving men such as this, whether they were lovers or the best damned brother and cousins anyone could have.
His jaw bunched, emotions whipping through the light green of his eyes and clenching the muscles of his face before he nodded sharply.
A quick hug to both Rowdy and Natches, and Piper hurried from the room.
As Tim had said, her mother was waiting in the hall, but she wasn’t alone. With her were Lyrica and Zoey, and moving up the hall Eve and Brogan strode toward them quickly.
Brogan’s gaze surveyed her swiftly before he nodded and moved past her, leaving Eve to give her a firm hug as their mother wrapped her arm around Piper’s waist.
They were all safe—this time.
But they were Mackays. The sisters were Dawg’s, Brogan’s, and now Jed’s weaknesses. They would always live beneath the shadow of the Mackay males’ strength, as well as the strength of the men they loved.
A strength that had acquired enemies for them through their dedication to justice.
Flashing a grin first to Lyrica, then to Zoey, she warned them with amused reflection, “I’d acquire ninja training if I were you. Otherwise they’ll never stop hovering. So give in, or get tough. ”
Lyrica slumped against the wall.
Zoey just stared back at her with eyes a fierce celadon and an expression of complete rejection of such a thought.
“We’re Mackays,” Zoey stated then. “We don’t give in. ”
“Hell, no. ” Eve laughed lightly.
“Not in this lifetime,” Lyrica assured them all.
“It looks like it’s time to get tough, then,” Mercedes stated as she had so many times in the past, her smile bright and filled with anticipation as they turned and moved quickly to the kitchen.
Coffee, a sweet, and a game plan. That was how they dealt with the problems life had thrown at them for as long as Piper could remember. Her mother would prepare hot drinks, some sweet she had baked, and they would figure out the best way they could handle the situation. The best way to get tough and fight back against whatever problems they faced.
