Page 51 of Savage Hearts
“No. They’re in New York. They think it’s safest if you’re not together for the moment.”
I drop my hands from my face and look at him. “Safest for me or for them?”
“You, lass. Declan’s the one with the target on his back.”
Then I hope wherever they’re staying in New York is as secure asFort Knox. From what Spider told me about Malek, Declan won’t be safe anywhere else.
Watching me think, Spider says gently, “Sloane feels awful.”
“That she didn’t believe me about a man being in the bathroom at the restaurant, you mean.”
“Aye. Declan says she’s inconsolable. Blames herself for not taking you at your word, how she spoke to you in front of the lads, everything.” He pauses. “I’m probably not supposed to tell you that.”
I mutter darkly, “Don’t worry. I won’t ever be speaking to my sister again, so I couldn’t repeat it, anyway.”
He smiles at me, shaking his head.
“What?”
“The two of you are so much alike.”
“Say that again, and I’ll make sure you’ll never be able to have children.”
Kieran snorts. “Yer just provin’ his point, lass.”
“Oh, no. Don’t tell me you’re as much of a pain in the ass as he is.”
Spider pretends to be hurt. “Oy! I’m sitting right here!”
“Calm down. I called you that already. To your face.”
“Aye, but you were joking before.”
I say acidly, “Was I?”
Trying not to laugh, Spider pulls his lips between his teeth.
Our descent ends with another jolt. Kieran drives off the pneumatic lift and parks the SUV against a wall, then hops out of the driver’s seat. Spider exits, too, coming around my side to open my door. When I step out of the car I see that we’re in a small garage area, with parking for maybe a dozen vehicles.
Ours is the only one here.
“This way,” says Kieran, holding open a door.
The three of us enter a short, lighted passageway. At the end of it is another door. Kieran enters a code into the keypad on the wall, and the door unlocks.
“Ladies first,” says Kieran, gesturing for Spider to proceed ahead of us.
“A pox on your mother, you spanner.”
“Shut up about my ma, ya feckin’ gobshite, or I’ll burst ya.”
Their friendly, incomprehensible insults end when I push past both of them through the door. They protest loudly, like I’ve broken some ancient, ironclad, macho rule.
“We have to clear the place, lass!” says Kieran, all in a huff. “Ye can’t just waltz in like the bloody queen!”
“Wait,what? You have to clear a safe house?”
“Aye!”
