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"I know this one" Ti, his expression reflective "Marcel Genoa He’s one of Rudy Genoa’s fists, and Marlena’s cousin"

"I thought we had that organization taken care of, Timothy?" The question rumbled froer’s voice intruded into the conversation then "It’s according to your definition of ‘taken care of,’ Agent Booker"

Piper’s head jerked up as Jed rose to his feet i with hi to defend theaze fro the room around her

Rhylan stepped into the roo into the pockets of his jeans, lean, ray silk shirt he wore

"Marcel was a bit of a wild card ere unaas lurking in the dark," Rhylan said,the other to prop both on his tapered,down at Marcel Genoa, he shook his head wearily "We’ve been looking for him since the attack on Ms Mackay"

"You could have infor to Piper "It’s not as though she was forthco with the information"

Piper refused to flush

"Perhaps, Tim, if I’d been allowed an opinion or a choice in the past year where my security was concerned, thenwith the infor o was the best choice her male family members could haveto Jed’s "Good luck, Agent Booker Youwith Mackays"

"I rather doubt it" The confidence in Jed’s voice had Rhylan inclining his head with a grin

"What’s going on, Rhylan?" Tim asked

"Why the hell do all of you seem to know this man far better than a few days’ stay would warrant?" Piper asked Wasn’t it just like Dawg and their cousins, along with Ti everyone else in the dark?

She was fucking sick of being left in the dark

"Piper There’s information you can’t have, and there will be tiaze to Jed as Piper felt her chest tighten in pain She was the one who had carried the bruises, who could have died Who deserved this infor in the hall We’ll figure this out--"

"No"

Piper had never been so happy to hear that rough, growling refusal come from Jed’s throat as she stared back at Ti more lined, his expression more concerned than ever

"You know the delicacy of this inforhly as he gave his head a hard shake "He’s right She’s the one who’s been in danger, not the rest of you" He turned to her again "I’ht in a web of deceit that had nothing to do with you, other than the fact that you were in the wrong place at the wrong tis ere unaere in that car The jewels you inadvertently ended up with are the belongings of a particularly sadistic Russian mobster They’ll be returned to him, so we can then track where they end up and what they’re being used to pay for" He turned to Tiether for me, I have the paperwork you need"

Timothy’s lips thinned as the situation was explained to her "That’s inforet her killed, Rhylan"

"Only if she tells anyone what she knows," Rhylan objected "And I think she’s proven she kno to keep her ; she didn’t need to hear this particular argu, Rowdy, and Natches looked as though they were facing the gallows at the thought of her hearing whatever infor to Jed, she felt the tension slowly easing from his body "I’ll be in the kitchen"

"I’ll be there soon"

His head lowered, and his lips touched hers with a gentleness that filled her soul with a warer It filled her with a knowledge she hadn’t understood until now

As Jed released her she , threw her arms around him, and immediately felt him enfold her in his arms

"I understand," she whispered in his ear quickly "I never understood how you feared for our safety until nog"

"Understood what, sweetie?" How could she have ever thought it was just arrogance and male superiority that caused him to hover over her and her sisters so closely?

"Why" Her arhtened around his shoulders "Why we have to stay safe for you" Leaning back, she stared into his eyes and saw the bleak knowledge he held in his soul

The knowledge of all the ways she could die, and all the ways he couldn’t protect her, her sisters, and her ent

It was the curse of loving men such as this, whether they were lovers or the best damned brother and cousins anyone could have

His jaw bunched, ereen of his eyes and clenching theto both Rowdy and Natches, and Piper hurried fro in the hall, but she wasn’t alone With her were Lyrica and Zoey, and an strode toward theaze surveyed her swiftly before he nodded andas their mother wrapped her arm around Piper’s waist