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Granted, this mistake doesn’t put anyone in real danger. The boys are helping me step in for Joe and his boys. My guys are used to being the ones with the bounty on their heads, not the ones looking for the bastards or investigating.

I have handled the bounties as I used to work for Joe when I was bored and wanted to spend time with my sister and the boys. Rory and Lochlann have been handling a bit of surveillance Joe needed done and couldn’t put off.

The boys fucked up. It was a rookie mistake, but I have high standards. They should have known better. They’ve done shit like this for me before.

“I hear ya, boss. This won’t happen again.”

I nod and climb out of the car with my duffel bag. My mind immediately goes to my woman. Last night was way more than I expected.

The connection between us was on a deeper level than I had anticipated. However, the one thing that has been ringing in my head since I arrived at her hotel suite yesterday is the fact that it’s all true. Danika is Demarco.

The character in the book is her true alter ego. My woman is a fucking madwoman, and I can’t say that doesn’t turn me on. She’s perfect for me.

To strike fear in a man like Bujar, to have him threaten to expose her, says a lot about her. I have little doubt that she’s everything I read in her words. My question to myself now is whether I want to reveal to her that I know.

Something tells me that’s not such a good idea. Dean wants to keep her worlds apart for a reason. Until I know what that reason is, I’m not going to reveal how much I truly know.

“Jaysus, the lass means to do a number on me,” I bite out as I walk into the suite where housekeeping is cleaning the place up.

I know in my gut she’s gone. I wasn’t the only one feeling it last night. She was with me, so why the heck did she disappear again? I growl and turn to storm out.

The deal was for more than one night. Where the fuck did she go? I don’t have time to chase her, but I’m not about to let her go either.

“We’re not done, Danny,” I growl as I get into the elevator.

CHAPTER18

Warnings

LaSalle

“You wanted to speak to me?”Wyatt says as he walks into my office.

I look up from the contracts I’ve been looking over. I need a break from this shit. Sometimes I wonder if these idiots would send me shit like this if they knew who they were dealing with.

I have a mind to let this deal go. The terms they have set are bullshit at best. I thought I could get my mind off LaSalle’s world for a bit, but this hasn’t helped in the least.

I nod for him to take a seat. “Logan feels I need to address this. No disrespect to Toby. The seat is his.

“I respect his play and what he has brought to the table, but you and I know you were the one we had our eye on. We chose you. Logan wanted you.”

He shrugs. “Things change. I’ll support my brother, so not all is lost.”

“Toby is young. He stepped up for his family. Logan and I admire that, but it was meant to be you with Noah as your second.

“Uri and I have been working with you all this time in the shadows. Logan’s disappearance threw everything off. I’ve been pivoting to move things forward.

“I can’t allow that to fall apart now. We just want you to think about it. Don’t step down from where we were going to place you. You will still remain a hidden leader, but we want you in leadership.”

“How long do I have to think about it? I’m still wrapping my head around all this shit.”

“I need to know by the time your cousin returns.”

He purses his lips as he seems to sit in thought. I give him time to think. I know what we are asking for is a lot.

“We know this all started with my grandfather. I respect his wishes. I see the vision.” He pauses in thought. “Sam, do you feel like there’s something we’re missing? We know where the immediate problem is coming from. Uri will find Zuko, but I can’t help feeling like there’s a bigger picture, much like my grandfather is the grandmaster of all this.

“You and Logan are heading things, but strings were pulled outside of both of your control and I’m not just talking about Oland.”