Page 136 of Allegiance

Maura laughed.

“Uh, we kill them.”

He sighed.

“Okay, guys, I get it. I’m an idiot. Now, how about something to help me show her I’m slow, but I eventually come around.”

Maura knew.

“I might have a plan,” she said.

Dakota stared at her.

“If you’re busting my balls, I’ll cry. I’m a man on the edge now.”

“I’m serious,” she said.

When she whistled, Dakota saw movement and looked over toward the kitchen.

What he didn’t expect was to see her standing there watching them.

It was Eve, and it was clear that she’d heard everything that he just said.

God.

The mortification.

“Oh, fuck,” he said, standing up as he waited to see what would happen.

“Dakota,” she said.

He didn’t move.

It was the deer-in-headlights look that was particularly amusing for Zayn.

“Numbnuts…we just helped you. You’re welcome. The lady came looking for you. The family came through again.”

As he stood there, she and Violet came out of the kitchen.

Dakota couldn’t believe it.

As she moved to stand in front of him, Eve stared up at the man she loved.

Oh, she’d heard it all, and he’d been honest. She needed proof, and these people gave it to her. She was finally ready to let the anger go and move on.

“I forgive you,” she said.

He stared, mouth open.

She lifted his chin and closed it.

“You’ll catch flies.”

When she showed up, she’d told them how she wanted back in, and she wanted to know if Dakota was really going to be a better person.

Maura had told her to go wait in the kitchen and let them do the hard part.

Well, he’d not known she was there, and he’d laid it all on the line.