Page 189 of Bad Attitude

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Seven, with start-stop traffic on the I-5, and the need to take the 101 again.

Raven would be pleased.

I stare unseeing at the road ahead of me, only one thought on my mind: how to persuade Raven that she can trust me when she blatantly can’t.

Can an FBI agent and a wanted criminal really have a relationship?

I laugh aloud, bitter and sardonic.

The answer is simple: no.

Am I dreaming?

Am I risking throwing away everything I’ve worked toward my entire life just for thepossibilityof a woman who would never accept me anyway?

Would she have, if I hadn’t drugged and kidnapped her?

Maybe.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Hell, it still does.

I could resign. Take the diamonds. Grab Raven.

And do what? Keep her in a basement forever?

Shit. I’m all out of sedatives.

All right, Declan. Figure this out.

My job, my reputation, or Raven.

My financial stability, or Raven.

Being able to look at myself in the mirror for the rest of my life.

Or Raven.

Raven. Every single time.

Okay, that decision wasn’t difficult to make after all. I’m obsessed with the girl. It might not be healthy; it is what it is.

But that’s only half of it. Why the hell could she possibly love me?

She’s never said she does.

I’ve given her no reason to trust me.

Hell, I’ve given her every reasonnotto trust me.

In frustration, I thump the steering wheel. The horn gives a feeble hoot in protest. There’s no onearound to hear.

Am I really going to abandon everything and risk it all on one toss of the dice? No job, nowhere to live, only the money inMaddox’sbank account?

Two bags of stolen diamonds on the seat next to me, and I can’t touch them. The FBI might not know I have them, but Renner does. If they don’t hunt me down, he will.

I’m going round in circles, I know I am.

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