The Bandit (The Stolen Duet 1)

“Well, that’s too bad.”

Her frown deepened. “The senator has agreed that you and your son deserve more.” I looked up to meet the senator’s gaze. “Isn’t that right, Senator?” Her head turned in the senator’s direction, and her body tightened even more.

“That’s right. One hundred and fifty grand in cash to you and Caylen.”

“I—I don’t know what to say.”

“The senatordoesn’t deserve your gratitude.” She looked uncertain and ready to thank that assholeanyway until I promised death with a glare.

“I assure you it’s not necessary,” he rushed to agree. He slid his gaze back to me. “You have your money now leave my home.”

I almost put a bullet in his skull just because.Chapter Forty-EightYou need me.

MIANWhat the helljust happened?

We were back in his father’s home where I watched Angel take a drink while I sat on the couch in his father’s office next to Z. Lucas disappeared somewhere in the house as soon as we arrived, and I worried over who had been watching Caylen all this time.

I was surprised when Angel pushed his glass away and then slammed two briefcases down on the desk. His strong fingers deftly popped opened the cases and lifted the tops. Stacks of money filled both briefcases to capacity.

“What is this?” I asked when he stared at me expectantly. I needed to react. I just didn’t know how.

“Child support.”

I gaped. A part of me didn’t believe the senator had really offered me so much money and it was all because of Angel.

Instead of grateful, I felt trapped. “Am I supposed to thank you?”

“I don’t want your gratitude.” I nodded and relaxed until he said, “But you should know this money was originally payment to kill you.” I gasped. “Bothof you,” he corrected, sending my heart to my stomach.

“I don’t understand.”

“The senator paid me to make you and Caylen disappear, and since neither of us like loose ends, which took making you simply leave the city off the table.”

It was scary to know my life had a price on it. There were many questions running through my mind, but only one spilled forth. “You were going to kill me, anyway. Why not just take the money?”

His face looked like I’d just ripped out his gut at the thought of taking my last breath when he’d been so eager just days before. “That was before I knew you were innocent.”

It was an answer, but it wasn’t good enough.

“If you believe that, why haven’t you let us go?” I felt the pinch from my nails digging into my thighs. “Why haven’t I been able to see or hold my son?”

“Believe it or not, I’m protecting you.”

“I don’t believe it,” I confirmed. “What do you think you’re protecting me from?”

“The bounty on your head?” he answered as if I was dimwitted. I was well aware of the bounty, but what he didn’t realize was thathewas the only danger to me.

“Who will protect me from you?”

“Angel may not be many things, but he is loyal,” Z answered when Angel couldn’t. It was the first time I’d seen him speechless. I’d forgotten Z was even in the room. “He’ll protect you because you need it, and he owes you. It’s as simple as that.”

“I’m supposed to trust the man who had my son ripped from my arms while he slept?”

“Like I said… he owes you.”

“That’s not loyalty. That’s guilt.”

“I may be guilty, but I’m still in control,” he growled. “And you aren’t leaving until I say it’s safe.”

“I know the senator only agreed to pay me the money instead so I’d disappear. What makes you think I’m still in danger?”

“Because as long as you’re breathing, you’re a threat to his position and name. He’ll just pay someone double what he gave me to kill you.”

“What about the book? Isn’t the purpose to keep your clients under control?” His gaze slid to Z accusingly, but Z shrugged in an “it wasn’t me” gesture.

“The book holds power, but it doesn’t stop bullets.”

“I can leave Chicago.” I refused to accept that Angel was my only hope.

He was already shaking his head before I finished. “If I let you go, he’ll find you. One hundred and fifty stacks isn’t enough to get you out of his reach.”

I continued to argue, but he backed me into a corner at every turn until I was too mentally exhausted to keep up.

“Promise me you’ll stay, and I’ll give you back your son.”

No. Never.“I can’t do that.”

“Then I can’t trust you with him.”

“He’smyson.”

“You say that, but you aren’t putting his safety first like a mother should.”

“How the fuck would you know? Your mother was too busy hiding, and your father was too busy stealing livelihoods and getting blood on his hands.”

“And your father was right there with him.”

We both seemed to back down at the same time knowing our parents left lasting damage on both of us. Pointing fingers didn’t change our past, and it sure as fuck didn’t make our present easier to swallow.