Page 155 of Forever Dead

“No.”

Selena paused for a moment. “I don’t know if I can keep this between us, Connor.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

His breathing caught as he shifted. Selena waited until he was comfortable again.

“Let’s just focus on you getting better, right?”

Connor nodded.

She had wanted him to finish the conversation they had avoided since Ray’s porch. Now he had, and she could offer him no easy reassurance.

"You need to rest," she said softly.

“Probably.”

"Definitely. Just… Selena… Don't go chasing this. He's too dangerous, and you're in no… Fit..."

His eyelids lowered.

Selena remained beside him as his breathing settled into a slower rhythm. After a minute, the pressure of his fingers around hers eased.

She carefully slipped her hand free.

Connor did not wake.

Selena leaned over the bed and kissed him gently on the forehead.

“Sleep,” she whispered.

Before leaving the hospital, Selena called Chuck.

“Connor’s awake,” she said. “Weak, but he could talk.”

“Thank God.”

“There’s something you need to know,” Selena said. “Connor says Morimer threatened the owner of Malone’s. He’d send men to hurt him if Connor didn’t get the bar shut.”

Chuck was quiet for a moment. “Has anyone warned the owner?”

“I don’t know. The closure was temporary. We can’t assume the threat’s gone away.”

“I’ll get someone to speak to him and arrange patrol checks,” Chuck said. “We’ll need Connor’s account when he’s well enough.”

“I know.”

“He described the man who attacked him. I’d like to go over it with you at Nora’s house.”

Chuck hesitated. “You can come through with Price. I want Connor’s account written down, too.”

“I’ll do that.”

“I’m authorizing a supervised visit with Price, Selena. That doesn’t put you back on FBI duty, though. I don’t want to get your boss angry. That’s the last thing we need.”

“I understand.” Though she knew that if Meg found out she was actively pursuing the case without clearance, there would be hell to pay.

Hell or not, this was now personal.