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“If I recall correctly, you actively avoided listening to reason when assassins were hunting you months ago. And being here, associating with you all, puts a target on your backs, not just mine.”

Maeve holds up a finger. “That’s completely different.”

“How?” I smirk. “Please enlighten me.”

She stabs her finger into my chest, and I wince.

“I’m the leader of a criminal family, and I have to take those risks. You do not.” Her green eyes bleed black, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “None of you are collateral in this world to me. If I die, I accept that. I do not accept you dying for some bullshit bounty Pops put on years ago. There may be risks, but with you here, I can protect you.”

Sliding my hands into my jeans, I rock back on my heels. “Eventually, I’ll have to go home. Being here is a risk.”

For her. For Collins. Fuck, for Sloane too. My sisters will be caught in the crossfire, and I’d rather chew off my left arm before I let that happen.

Staying in the shadows, alone, has kept my troubles from finding them. Coming here, living here for the last few days, has been fun but dangerous.

The O’Brien clan is being watched—by enemies, Bruno, and the cops. I might have stayed away from windows and rarely left, but if one person recognizes me, that’s it. It’s over. They’re dead by association.

“Then stay,” she pleads quietly. “I can handle the risks. I can handle the fallout. If you promise to stay⁠—”

I grab her shoulders, cutting her off. I’ve already caused too much damage by being selfish.

“You have an empire to run,” I remind her. “You have too much to worry about. If you add my shit to it, your head will explode. And nobody needs that.” My joke doesn’t crack a smile, but she deflates.

“I’m going to sneak home and finish the program run. Once I have information, I’ll be back.”

She bites her inner cheek, glaring to the side. She won’t look at me—she doesn’t want me to go. Frankly, I don’t either. Being here reminded me of the good reasons to be included in this family. Ferguson couldn’t take that from us.

Sighing, I weigh my options. I can make her one promise before I go, though.

“After we take care of Bruno,” I say, voice low, “and you’re not in the middle of a war, and old stuffy dude aren’t trying to make you kneel, we can have that family dinner. Maybe we can make a plan to get rid of the bounty, too.”

If it’s gone, they’re not in danger, and I’m not hunted. Me being at the house wouldn’t be a downer—my picture being associated with them wouldn’t end in gunfire. We could be a proper family again.

Maeve finally looks up at me, eyes bright. “Do you know how to dissolve it?”

“No. But we can figure it out together. Deal?”

She exhales harshly. “Deal. But you better stay alive until then, kid. I will drag you out of Hell if you die before this is resolved.”

I do not doubt that.

Saluting her, I grab my keys and walk out into the fresh moonlight. The coolness of the night washes over me, and I crack my neck, inhaling the summer blooms. Jasmine and gardenia fill my lungs, and I smile as I enter my newly repaired car. Give credit to Lex and his cousin for their fast work.

Opening my phone, I search for Valentina’s signal. Would it be weird to have a tracking device on her phone? Yes, that’s why I never planted one like a rookie. Ahem, Lex.

I hacked her GPS, connecting it to my phone. It pings downtown, and after a moment of zooming, my blood runs cold. I know exactly where she is.

The Docks. She’s at the club.

Why the fuck would she be there?

Using my phone, I access the cameras at Roman’s establishment. I can’t do much other than watch, or they’ll be alerted, and I jump through the various points to locate her. There.

She arrived thirty minutes ago, with that fucking dickweed, Freddie Scipione. Is he going to do something there with her? Use her like Roman uses his girls? I should’ve cut off all his fingers.

I spilled my heart out to her and meant every single word. She’s captivated me in ways no one else has—or should. What I feel for her isn’t poetic like that in the movies, but so wretched and obsessive I’ll burn this world down just to have her. Whether or not she agrees.

If Freddie thinks he owns her, I’ll have to remind them both who she belongs to.