Page 50 of His For The Keeping

It was a revenge mission.

A revenge mission against the monster who had killed her family.

She wanted to know what was going to happen.

No, fuck that.

She needed to know.

He wasn’t telling her.

He sat next to her, brooding, and she could feel the energy radiating off him. He was angry, so incredibly angry.

“Shane—”

“Francesa, I can’t. I need you to sit here and be quiet. I’m one second away from baring your ass and whipping it in front of everyone.”

“I just wanted you to understand where I was coming from.”

“I know where you’re coming from. I listened to you last night and heard everything you had to say. I then told you whyit couldn’t happen, how a distracted SEAL is a dead SEAL. I told you I would be too busy concentrating on keeping you safe. After we discussed it rationally, you threw a tantrum when you didn’t get your way, and I tanned your hide. Apparently, I didn’t do a good enough job of it. I won’t make that mistake twice.”

“Shane!”

“Enough, Francesca.”

“But—”

“That’s five.” He fingered his belt and looked at her.

Biting back her retort before he added more to a count, she was already high enough, she sat quietly, trying to figure out how to get on the mission.

The flight landed on time. Shane’s cousin was there with several men and three black Tahoe’s. Frankie stood back and watched as the cousins embraced and introductions were made all around before Shane motioned her forward.

“This is my beautiful bride, Francesca.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ronan said, then turned quizzically to Shane. “I didn’t know you were bringing her.”

“I didn’t know I was bringing her, either. She stowed away.”

“I see.” Ronan raised his eyebrows. “Brave girl. My wife wouldn’t dare.”

“It will be the last time she dares.”

“Does this change the plan?”

“Yes. I’d like her to go back to the house and stay under watch. I don’t want her to go to the bathroom alone. I can’t trust her not to leave.”

His words were like a punch in the gut.

“One of my men is going with you.” Shane waved Mitch over.

“I’ll stay there. I’ll listen. Please take Mitch with you.” She didn’t want them to be a man down. If anything happened to them, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life. “Don’t do this,” she begged.

“I have to.” He turned and walked away, but not before giving one more order, this time to Mitch. “Keep her safe.”

CHAPTER 13

Frankie