Page 86 of Rogue

“I told you about my younger sister, Madelyn,” I say, frost in my tone. “You know about my family.”

I fall silent, and shake my head.

“Keep going. Your sister . . .”

“The night of the hit I returned home.”

“I remember.”

“Franco found out I’d been spying on him and sent his men to find me. As you are well aware, I wasn’t home. But my sister was . . .”

“Did they hurt her?”

I’m so furious at the thought of how Madelyn could have been hurt, at this situation, at the one person standing before me who I believed was in my corner no matter what, my entire body is shaking. “No. I haven’t exactly had time to piecemeal what happened together. Two of Franco’s men dead—that’s what was waiting for me when I returned home, around the same time Declan came by looking for me.” TORC’s most ruthless hit man. At our trailer. With my sister. I still can’t believe it. There’s more to tell Jaxson, so much more to explain.

Except we’ve got company.

Over Jaxson’s shoulder, I spot the three Pricks further down on the pathway. One is pointing and waving the other two forward. Yeah, the Prick must of gotten in another phone call with my location before Jaxson killed him.

I turn to go but Jaxson grabs my arm.

“Finish,” he demands.

“Now’s not the time,” I hiss.

“You might not get another chance.”

I grind my teeth together. Seething. Did he hear anything I just told him? I stand up straighter, spin and pull my arm free, and manage to get a few steps ahead of him before he grabs me from behind.

“We have company,” I snap.

“I see them.”

“Let me go.”

“Hayden has proof you’re a traitor. Pictures of you at lunch with Novák.”

What? The only time I was in that man’s company was . . . God. Oh God.

I send an elbow back into his stomach and am rewarded by his sharp intake of breath.

“Fuck.” His arms drop and he lets me go. And for a second, I regret what I’m about to do.

“Here they come,” I say.

His eyes narrow on my face. But . . . it’s too late. “And there you go.” With all my body weight behind me, I throw myself into him and knock him backward. Surprised when he actually falls into the Seine. Surprised, and suspicious.

That was a little too easy.

I wait until I see his head bob up. What I don’t expect is that familiar grin lighting up his face.

“Whatever is in those goddamn pictures, isn’t what you’ve been led to believe,” I shout down at him, before turning and sprinting away.

23

Shelby

“Meet me at the Pitt at one o’clock. I’ve traded up.”