Page 68 of Betrayed

I tense. Are we asking too much? To kill Rory, too? Erin’s afraid Rory could come looking for Ryan one day. Rory is, after all, little man’s grandfather.

Erin and Cass don’t ever want Ryan to meet him, much less risk him trying to kidnap Ryan for his own.

And there’s only one way to make that happen.

“Lucian?”

“Huh?” I’ve been lost in thought.

He waits a beat. “I asked what you want.”

What I want is Erin safe in my arms. “If we do this—I don’t want to leave a mess for you to clean up.”

“We’re from the island,” Bayne says. “We’re used to mud on our boots.”

Still, I’ve already taken enough of their time, their energy, their risk.

“The Kings have done everything for us. I don’t want to start a war with the Hoax, one you have to finish.”

“We have a plan. We’re going to make it look like an accident. A grieving father had too much to drink one night. His health isn’t exactly his first priority. A heart attack isn’t out of the question.”

“And until we get out of here? My priority is keeping her safe.”

“I’ve got someone.” A pause. “His name is Raphael.”

“Raphael.”

“Yeah. He’s a good one. He floats around, a liaison, allies with a few of us, commits to no one—tough bastard with a steady aim. He can form a team.” Another pause, then he clears his throat. “I trust him.”

I snort. “You trust no one.”

“Well,” he says with a low chuckle, “I trust you. Which is why I’m offering him. Do you want him to head your way?”

“Yeah,” I say, distracted. “Send him. We’ll keep the place on lockdown.”

Send them all. A hundred men. A thousand. Walls wrapped in barbed wire. And Erin safe in the center of the storm, wrapped in my arms.

I won’t let what happened to Isobel happen to Erin. Not only did my men and Isobel die that day, but so did a part of me.

And Erin is the one who brought me back to life.

Now, her adorable smiling face pops into the doorframe. “Come on, Luce! We’re playing cards and eating popcorn. Please tell me now if Gregory can count cards. That man seems wicked smart.”

“First of all,” I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. “Don’t ever call me Luce again.”

“K, Luce,” her eyes sparkle as she winds her arms around my neck.

Staring down into her pretty blue eyes, I grab her sexy ass, squeezing it in my hands. “And second of all, watch that kid like a hawk. He is crazy smart and I wouldn’t put it past him to count cards.”

“I could have a few tricks up my own sleeve. You boys better keep your eyes on me.”

“When do I not?” I laugh.

She kisses me, takes my hand, and drags me out of the living room where my little brother waits for sodas, candy, and popcorn.

“What are you guys? Twelve?”

“We decided Red Shutters with the green shutters deserves a proper sleepover.” She sinks into a velvet armchair. Grabbing a bag of colorful gummies off the table, she holds it up proudly. “Baynes’s men even got me wine gums!”