Page 100

There it was.

Not a woman without dreams. A woman who’d learned not to look too closely at something she might never have.

She looked back at me.

“And I don’t know what happens when your people find out who I am.”

“They already know who Ciro is.”

“That isn’t what I mean.” Her fingers tightened together. “I’m his daughter, Lachlan. What if they decide that makes me useful to them too?”

She wasn’t questioning whether I’d keep my promise. She was afraid I’d carry her out of one cage and straight into another.

“They won’t.”

“You can’t promise what other men will do.”

“No. But I can promise what happens if anyone tries.”

She waited.

“Lucian is my brother. Nik, Luca, and the others are brothers I chose. They’re dangerous men, Mouse, and none of them are going to trust Ciro Delgado’s daughter simply because I tell them to.”

Her chin dipped, as though she’d expected exactly that.

“But they won’t hurt you. They won’t use you against Ciro, and they sure as hell won’t hand you back to him.”

“How can you be certain?”

“Because I know the men I call family.”

She still looked unconvinced.

“And because you’ll be with me.”

That got her attention.

“You helped me get out of this chair. When the time comes, you’ll help me get through those walls. Getting you somewhere safe becomes my responsibility. What you do after that is yours to decide.”

“I don’t want to be anyone’s responsibility.”

Despite everything, the answer almost made me smile.

“Good. I wasn’t planning to carry you around in my pocket.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I’m telling you that once we leave this place, Ciro doesn’t get to decide what happens to you anymore. Neither does Isabeast. My people may have questions. Hell, I have questions. But while we figure out the answers, no one touches you, trades you, threatens you, or sends you back.”

The tension in her shoulders eased a little.

“You really believe they’ll listen to you?”

“Absolutely.”

A tiny smile appeared.

“So,” I said, “what do you want once you’re out?”