He inhaled and looked at her. “My brother got married.”
Though that was apparently a fact, Shyla was none the wiser as to why it was relevant or what would prompt Score to believe it a bad thing.
“Shouldn’t you be happy about that?” she asked, knowing Biz couldn’t be the groom because he was already hitched to Nicole. “A wedding is a good thing… Are you disappointed you weren’t invited?”
“We wouldn’t have gone even if I was.”
Leaving her side, he went around the dining table to stare out at the ocean.
Shyla appealed to the non-brooding males. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why is he mad?” Various possibilities ran through her mind. Maybe he knew the bride, maybe she was an ex. Shyla gasped. “He didn’t marry Siobhan, did he?”
“Worse,” Score said, proving he was still listening, even if he wasn’t in their physical circle.
Trying to figure out who could be worse than the woman he’d gone to death row for, Shyla blinked at Beeks.
“It’s complicated, Shyla,” the lawyer said. “The McDade family are—”
“A Doherty,” Score said, turning to zero in on her. “Raze married a Doherty.”
“I… I don’t understand,” she said. “You said it was kill or be killed.”
“And I stand behind that,” he said. “If he doesn’t kill her first, she’ll take him down.”
“So what do we… I mean how do we…”
Score looked to Beeks. “We need to step up the timetable.”
“The timetable?” he asked. “You said we were out.”
Both Beeks and Fish glanced her way, anxiety and shock written across their faces.
“Shy says we’re in,” Score said.
“You… you told her?”
Instead of answering the lawyer, Score sought her. “Are you sure about this, baby?”
“Am I sure that I want us to be free of them? Am I sure that I want to be by your side and bear your children?” A grin curved her lips. “Damn straight.”
Taking another breath, Score’s shoulders relaxed as he exhaled. “The only way to keep my brother alive is to get him out from under the Doherty.”
“The Doherty.” Just the way he said it revealed his disgust. His brother was married to an enemy of a McDade. Shyla couldn’t begin to figure out how that had happened or why Razer would’ve fallen for a nemesis of his family.
Much as she wanted to believe it was love, her relationship with Score had shown her just how complex the McDade men were. Stoic, fierce, and true in their own way, McDade men shouldn’t be underestimated.
If “The Doherty” was gullible and innocent, she could believe that Razer loved her. But knowing how the McDades were brought up in the shadow of horror and debauchery, Shyla struggled to believe the Dohertys would’ve had it any better.
Something was going on under the surface. Neither family could trust the other, so why would the couple join their families in matrimony?
Shyla wanted some time to enjoy her own man. Time to plan their future. But love them or not, the McDades actions would always influence theirs, at least until they were off the streets and behind bars.
Going around to Score, Shyla stood in front of him, resting her forearms on his bare torso. “I love you, Phoenix. Whatever it takes, that’s our only priority. We are our only priority.”
“Could get messy.”
She almost laughed. “I don’t doubt it will. But I’m under your command and protection, my love. Nothing can harm me… Nothing would dare.”
One side of his mouth rose as he dipped down to kiss her. They were together and being honest with each other. Shyla had come to the residence desperate and alone. With her love and her man burning strong, she’d never have to worry about being either ever again.
Thank you for sharing this adventure!
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Also by Scarlett Finn
Click for blurb and to buy
MCDADE BROTHERS
ALL. ONLY.
ONLY YOURS.
WRECK & RUIN
RUIN ME
RUIN HIM
GO NOVELS
GO WITH IT
GO IT ALONE
GO ALL OUT
GO ALL IN
GO FULL CIRCLE
EXILE
HIDE & SEEK
KISS CHASE
THE BRANDED SERIES
BRANDED
SCARRED
MARKED
THE KINDRED SERIES
RAVEN
SWALLOW
CUCKOO
SWIFT
FALCON
FINCH
THE EXPLICIT SERIES
EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION
EXPLICIT DETAIL
EXPLICIT MEMORY
RISQUÉ SERIES
TAKE A RISK
RISK IT ALL
GAME OF RISK
HARROW DUET
FIGHTING FATE
FIGHTING BACK
MISTAKE DUET
MISTAKE ME NOT
SLEIGHT MISTAKE
STANDALONE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
RELUCTANT SUSPICION
RESCUED
STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
GETTING TRICKY
HEIR’S AFFAIR
MAESTRO’S MUSE
REMEMBER WHEN…
RIVALS ON AIR
SWEET SEAS
THIRTEEN
XY FACTOR
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