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McDougal is a savvy spender He only hires the best

Trust your teaoing to pay through the nose for their help, so use it I need you alive"

"Got it" While the order was given bluntly, Connor understood the friendship behind the words and took coe world, but he wasn’t as alone as he’d first felt

Disconnecting the line, he climbed out of the car and looked over the roof at Stacey as she did the saht-challenged, lifting to her tiptoes to see hi to handle this," he began "We’re just going to have a look around

Check out the car and the front desk See if they’re here or if they switched transportation and bailed"

She nodded griood, sweetheart, believe e at stake, I’ht them all and keep on eye on you

If they’re here, you need to stay out of har Justin back, not saving your ass"

He sa ht that her son could be close and she ht have to restrain herself Still, she said, "I understand"

"Do you trust me?" He ht now, his lack of detachest liability

Stacey’s lips colistened in her eyes

Connor sla her gasp and ju about all the losers in your past and think aboutmet!" she hissed back at him

"Don’t act like we’ve known each other forever"

"I care about you, Stacey It doesn’twe’ve known each other or not It comes from here," he hit his chest, "and it’s i to convince yourself that all men are the same, you’d realize that time doesn’t matter"

"Easy for you to say, Mr My-life-is-endless"

"Yeah, and your life isn’t and you’re wasting it"

Connor held up a hand to cut her off "I’ve lived centuries, Stacey I’ve known a lot of wos with them that I haven’t had time yet to do with you, but I already know this is different"

Shaking his head, he backed up and opened the rear driver’s side door "Forget it I don’t knohy I asked"

"I didn’t say I don’t trust you" She came around the back of the car

"You didn’t say you did either"

He motioned her closer and then held up a shoulder holster for her to un If you have to, defend yourself" He tightened the straps until it was snugly secured, then he turned her to face him "But I want you to run first Shoot only if you have no other choice Got it?"

"Yes"

Connor ht his aruy I’ve ever known" Her thumb stroked over his skin restlessly, an innocent absentrowled, kissing her hard and swift before she could pull away

"I’uy who’s going to uy who’s going to seduce you every chance he gets, even when you say no… Shit, especially when you say no"

Stacey gazed up at him ide eyes and worried her lower lip

"I can’t proht" He pushed her away and reached into the backseat for his scabbard, which he slung over his back "But I can proet used toa windbreaker, he shoved it at her

"That’ll help to hide the guns" Then he looked down at hiroaned "Okay We look like hoodlums Fuck"

"This is where I come in handy" Stacey reached into her pockets and pulled out a pair of colorful sparkling rubber bands Withinout the top of her head and garish red lipstick on her mouth She used the reflection of the carto secure a leather collar to her neck, then faced hied "I figured these pants were going to take some creativity to pull off, so I cah to wear theh or the goon squad" Stacey gestured to the s ready just a few feet away "We’ll just have to play it like we’re looking for a costuht… well… I like the collar"

Stacey shivered under the intense appreciation she saw in Connor’s gaze Even pissed off, frustrated, and under a great deal of stress he still tried to coardless of the situation between theo through all of this Sure, his "people" had a vested in interest in as going on But he was fighting for Justinover the trinity