Page 45 of My Craving

“That’s what we’re trying to explain.” Alessia covers Kieran’s hand with hers. “You and I have more in common than you realize.”

“I’m having trouble imagining what that could possibly be.”

“There are things this family does that the public can never know about, because most people wouldn’t understand them.” Her attention stays on Nash. “Things we keep hidden for many of the same reasons you kept that apartment hidden.”

I look at her more closely. I had assumed Ronan found evidence connecting Nash to Bruce. The direction she’s taking this changes everything.

“There are people the justice system fails,” she continues. “Victims who never see the person who hurt them punished and predators who learn very quickly how to use money, influence or fear to keep doing what they do. Justin Mills is one of them.”

Nash gives her nothing.

“You were watching him at Obsidian and Perfection because he’s your next target.”

Still nothing.

Alessia doesn’t need an answer. “He’s ours too.”

Nash turns slowly toward me before looking back at her. “What?”

“We were already investigating Justin before we knew you were.” Alessia leans forward. “You have information we may not have, and we have resources you don’t. I think we should work together.”

For several seconds, Nash simply stares at her, and everything I’ve learned about him over the last few days finally makes sense. He hasn’t been running around Philadelphia looking for trouble. He’s been hunting the same kind of people we do.

I turn toward him. “How many of these men have you gone after alone?”

His attention snaps to me. “That’s what you took from everything she just said?”

“How many?”

“Enough.”

My hand moves from his shoulder to the back of his neck. “Do you have any idea how fucking dangerous that is?”

Nash catches my wrist, but he doesn’t push me away. “What exactly was I supposed to do, Duncan? Put out an ad looking for other vigilantes? Thirty-one-year-old smartass seeks morally flexible partners for occasional kidnapping and disposal of sexual predators?”

Under any other circumstances, I might appreciate the answer. “You could have been hurt.”

The humor leaves his face. “I was careful.”

“Careful kept me from finding you for a while. It didn’t stop my family from finding the apartment, and it won’t stop the wrong person from finding you next time.”

His grip on my wrist tightens. “After Joey, I couldn’t keep watching men like that get away with it. The man who hurt my brother never paid for what he did, and there wasn’t a fucking thing I could do about it. I wasn’t going to keep standing by while it happened to someone else.”

The mention of Joey drains some of the anger out of me. I still want to shake Nash for every unnecessary risk he’s taken, but I finally understand what keeps sending him back out there.

Alessia leans forward. “You don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

Nash looks at her. “What exactly are you offering?”

“Our resources, for one. Ronan can find information most people couldn’t uncover if they spent years looking for it, and we have people and places that allow us to handle situations without drawing attention.” Her hand remains linked with Kieran’s. “We go after people who prey on those who can’t protect themselves. The difference is that we’ve always done it together.”

Nash looks from her to Kieran before turning to me. “And all of you are just fine with kidnapping people and making them disappear?”

“Aye.”

He studies my face. “You really don’t have a problem with any of this.”

“No.”