Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,20

stare with as much strength and dignity as I could muster. Lifting my chin, I said, “I’ll pack my things and be gone before the four of you return in the morning.”

Before Mr. Sparrow or either of the men beside me could respond, another voice was heard.

“You’re staying.”

Everyone turned to the man speaking; we turned to Patrick.

“Come on,” Patrick said, making eye contact with each of his colleagues. “We have a city to control.” He spoke to Mason. “Lorna is your family, Mason.” He turned to the man still emanating his displeasure. “Sparrow, you say all the time that we watch out for our own. That includes Lorna. No one in this room will be responsible for her being on the street where there’s the possibility of anything happening to her.”

“Get her a plane ticket,” Sparrow replied. “She can be out of the country by tomorrow. You heard her. She’s ready to leave. We can assure her safety in Europe.”

Patrick shook his head. “The ultimate decision may be yours, boss. Right now, you’re not thinking about family. Your mind’s on the fight for control of Chicago as it should be. Give this” —he lifted his hand toward the rest of us— “time. We all have time.”

At some point during Patrick’s speech, I’d stepped back, wedging myself between Reid and Mason.

Patrick turned his eyes back toward the three of us. “Mason, your family is our family.” He smirked as he turned to Reid. “In light of recent developments that sounds a bit gross, but go with me on this. Forget your last names. If we’re in this fight, we’re all Sparrows.

“The three of you will work out your issues with time. Currently, we have more important things to deal with. McFadden’s men are, as we speak, gathering at an abandoned flophouse in East Garfield Park. Shit’s happening. We have one man on the inside. Either we’ll get the intel or we’ll lose a man. Then there’s the shipment at the shipyard. I can’t get ahold of the capo we sent to investigate. That is where our heads need to be.” He gestured between us. “This here—can wait.”

We all turned toward Sparrow. With a grunt, he barked to the men, “Down to 2, now.” His dark eyes came to me. “Stay put. You’re already too much of a distraction.”

I ventured a step away from my brother and my lover and again lifted my chin. My voice was not as strong as before, but I forced myself to speak. “I’ll take the ticket if that’s what you want.”

Mason reached for my hand. “Lorna.”

“No,” Sparrow said. “You’re not going anywhere until things are settled. Just stay out of the way.”

I let out my breath, unsure if I was pleased with his change of perspective, or afraid for what would come once things settled.

Would I become accustomed to this odd grouping only to be sent away?

With my hand still in Mason’s, I remained silent.

Sparrow scanned the group. “Now, if you have balls, get in the elevator. If you don’t, go to bed.” Reaching the elevator, he stepped inside.

I looked down to Mace’s and my connection, wondering how many times we’d stood together facing a tyrant. The difference was that this tyrant was my brother’s friend.

When I looked up, Sparrow, inside the elevator, was holding the door open, his dark stare zeroed in on me. “I mean it,” he said. “Stay put. Don’t try to leave, the elevators won’t work.”

Patrick nodded, sending a suggestion of a reassuring smile my way before entering the elevator after Sparrow.

Mason turned to me as he squeezed my hand. “I know you’re grown up. It’s just...”

I fought tears as they prickled the backs of my eyes and stared up at my lifelong protector. I didn’t want to shut him out. I simply wanted more. I wanted Reid too. “Me too, Mace.”

As he released my hand and followed the other two men into the elevator, I wondered if I was selfish to want both men in differing roles.

Was I asking too much of the universe?

After all, I was living in a high-rise glass tower above Chicago. Did I deserve more than that?

Before I could contemplate further, Reid reached for my hand and whispered, “It will be okay.”

I looked from the way our fingers wove together up into the gaze I’d grown to love. “Do you promise?”

He nodded. “I give you my word, Lorna. Now that the news of us is out, we will make it work.” He looked over at the waiting