Page 137 of Forbidden Wish

They’d survive this, both of them, no matter the cost.

FORTY-FOUR

JAGG PUT HIMSELF between them when they got out of the car too. He held her hand tight, keeping her locked to his side.

“Vex was right,” Swerve said. “You are possessive with this one.” A snicker. “No one gives a damn about her pussy. You’re the free toy with the meal today. What a treat for Silv.”

Swerve marched on ahead and Jagg held her back.

“Should we keep up?”

“We know where we’re going.” He kissed the back of her hand as they crossed the hospital threshold. “I don’t want you taking any risks up here. Stay behind me.”

“I thought you didn’t want to make my choices for me.”

Swerve held the elevator door open. Despite others obviously waiting, no one passed him to go inside.

“Genny—”

Speeding up cut him off. They were with Swerve and then ascending. No going back.

The door opened to an ominous sight. At regular intervals, lining the walls were guys. Big guys, not guys she’d want anyone to bully. The couple at the end she recognized as Jagg’s men.

They approached.

“Ford called,” said one of them. “We didn’t know what to do. It’s Silvio fucking Manzani.”

“You’re good,” Jagg said, nodding him away. “It’s all good.”

They backed off, leaving her and Jagg alone with Swerve.

“Everything said in this room is off the record. Everyone will deny this little get together ever happened.” Swerve paused, Mila’s door handle pushed down. “That’s far enough, Dunn. You’ll stay out here.”

“How many guys has he got in there?” Jagg asked. “Are you staying out here? No fucking way. You’ll have to shoot me first.”

“Fine, but no fucking talking. I want this shit done. I have a date tonight.”

She almost couldn’t believe it. “You have a date?” What the hell would that romance look like? “You?”

Landing a glare on her that she couldn’t decipher, Swerve opened the door and gestured inside. “Ladies first.”

Confidence meant everything. Sersha carried herself with confidence, which couldn’t be easy when dealing with such intimidating men. In that moment, she learned its necessity. Holding her head high, she strode inside, noting Mila’s still form under the crisp sheet. The man at the other side of the room, sitting in front of the window, commanded attention.

Gray-white hair, still thick enough to give a glimmer of youth, there was almost a majesty about his stature. The man may have wrinkles by his eyes and a few elsewhere, but he carried it off. Men like him always did. And had she been thinking confidence? Shit, nothing she could bolster came close to his obvious superiority.

As she assessed him, he did the same, giving nothing of his opinion in his perusal of her figure. It wasn’t sexual or particularly predatory. If anything, somehow, the scrutiny minimized her, reduced her to nothing more than a fleck in the atmosphere.

Only a few seconds could’ve passed, but the sound of the door closing startled her out of a daze.

“Very nice, Jagg,” Silvio said.

Easy on the words, bold in expression, a hint of a smile hid behind his expressive lips.

“I don’t give a shit what—”

“You’re here to be quiet,” Swerve said and stepped up beside her. “Miss Stratford, I don’t suppose I need to introduce you, but this is Silvio Manzani.”

“Charmed,” she said like it was a period movie. God, she had to get on her game and fast. “Why do we have to do this here? Mila needs her rest.”

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