Page 110 of Free to Judge

I feel the blood leave my face. “No. I mean, that’s not what I meant…”

“Whether or not you intended to, that’s what you did. Frankly, your argument sucks. You’re predicating your whole case on two main arguments—the first is that I’d be waiting when you came crawling back. The second being I’d be willing to forgive you for your mighty list of transgressions since it was for the greater good. Right?”

“I was hoping the news would…”

“What? Make me so happy for you that it would make me want to talk with you?” Bitterness is evident in every word she flings at me. “Go back to law school, counselor. I think you’ve spent too long outside of a courtroom.”

I stop her just before she storms off. My chest is heaving. Her eyes are the color of the deepest part of the sea. “What, Declan?”

“Is there really no hope for us, firebrand?”

“I deserve more than to be ambushed, Declan. I deserve to be wooed all over again. I expect you to earn back my trust. Then I’ll decide what happens next.”

When she says that, I know I’ll do whatever it takes to earn back her trust. Even if that means loving her from afar.

I watch her as she walks away, searching for her cousin or parents. I cringe when she’s stopped by—not a shock—another man. This time though, she stiffens when another man approaches her from behind.

That’s when I notice the glint caused by the chandelier off the object in his hand.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up. My heart skips a beat as panic slides through my veins, fast and furious. I take my eyes off her for a second as I scan the room for Keene, her uncles, her cousin, but I can’t spot any of them.

When I turn my head back to where I last saw her, she’s no longer there. Neither are the two men. The sudden realization has me on high alert. Where is she?

My instincts scream something is wrong.

Immediately, I begin pushing through the crowd, moving quickly. I finally lay eyes on her cousin, who is holding court with a gaggle of women. His smile falters and he immediately excuses himself. We meet at the edge of the buffet table. “Have you seen her?”

“The last time I saw her, she was with you,” Peter snarls.

Seconds later, we’re joined by Keene, who is holding his phone out like it’s a tracking device. He jerks up his chin. “She’s outside.”

My stomach drops. “She…she was just here.”

His voice is lower, clipped. “Now, she’s moving.”

“Oh God, Keene. She…she was just talking with me. Someone—someone took her.”

“What happened?”

“I got the call from Holder. They were taking in your father tonight.”

The blood drains from Keene’s face. “This is his play. He’s going to try…he took my…” Keene’s free hand grips my lapel and jerks me forward. His voice is lethal as he pulls himself together. “We’re going to get her out. In the meantime, you’ll catch me up on everything.”

Before I can agree, he spies someone over my shoulder. “Alison.”

I turn, already preparing for the worst. Her hand reaches out and grasps my arm in a grip so tight, I’m certain there will be a bruise left with five small fingers. “Do whatever you have to. Bring my daughter home alive.”

Then she grabs Keene’s face and kisses him hard. “Go.”

He shoves me forward toward the side door. “Move.”

Neither of us stops until we’re at street level. The moment we reach it, an unmarked SUV pulls up. A blond with cold blue eyesis driving; a black-haired man is next to him. “We dropped off our primary. Where are we headed?”

Keene looks down at his phone and snaps off coordinates before making introductions. “McCullough, Clifton, meet the jackass.”

The dark-haired man shifts around, giving me a once-over. “I’m Clifton.”

The driver weaving in and out of traffic like he’s stolen the vehicle mutters, “McCullough. What did you do to get on Keene’s shit list?”