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the knife she was using to cut up the chicken.
    Was she crazy?
    “Let me get this straight. You went out for coffee with someone you just met in a bookstore. I should be the last one to have to remind you how many psychotic maniacs are out there! You could have been killed. Or far worse you could have been raped and maimed and left alive! Have you no more common sense than that, Liv?”
    As soon as he said the words he knew he’d overreacted. Liv didn’t know he was watched from all sides, that because of him, she could be in danger. His mind took a mental step backward as he asked himself the question. Why hadn’t he thought of that when he’d called and ask her to come?
    Never one to back down from a fight, Liv threw the chicken into the sink with a wet plop.
    “I don’t have to answer to you!” she shouted back at him. “You’re the one being ridiculous over a bloody cup of coffee. He’s harmless. I’m not a baby, Ryan. I know how to look out for myself.”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked to the window. It was the only way he could keep from strangling her. “Sure, you do, but you’ve only been here two days. You can’t just go running off with strange people.”
    “How dare you talk to me like a child? I’ll do what I like, Ryan Michael Corrigan.”
    He winced at her use of his full name. Didn’t only mothers do that to strike fear?
    “…When I like and you can make what you want of him tomorrow evening.”
    “Why?”
    “We’re going to dinner. He’ll be here at seven. I expect you to be decent to the man.”
    “You’ll break the date. He could be dangerous.”
    Liv growled at him. “You listen to me. I will not. If I want to go, I’ll go. If I decide to have an illicit affair or elope I’ll let you know if I feel like it. No man, brother, father, lover or friend, tells me how to live my life. Ma raised me better than that, and you too.” Both their tempers were winding down now. The tears were starting to come on her part, and the guilt washed over him, just like it always did. He couldn’t help being overprotective. He’d been just shy of twenty when their father had died. She’d been fifteen and he’d slid into that father figure role.
    “What’s his name?”
    “Jack Roarke. You won’t do anything that will make me want to torture you?”
    Was it possible to turn the blood cold with a breath? Yeah, he knew Jack Roarke all right. Why had she had to run into him, of all the people in the world? He’d have rather it been a killer than him.
    “I mean it. He’s been hurt badly, and you won’t be adding to that.”
    By me, he thought. Ryan knew every detail the press leaked, and some they didn’t.
    “I’m sorry, Liv. You’ve come to visit, and we’re already fighting.”
    “Just like home, isn’t it? You’re forgiven, just don’t be a jerk.” She went back to cooking dinner.
    They ate in silence, Ryan still thinking about all that had happened and what she didn’t know.
    Ryan sat alone in his dark study, and waited. The call would come at midnight, exactly. He knew it, expected it to come. It was never late. He had the ringer switched off, of course, so it wouldn’t wake Liv. When the caller ID flashed green, he picked up the receiver, and spoke quietly into the phone.
    “I’m here.”
    “Do you have the lady?” the man on the line asked. His voice seemed to come through sand.
    “I have her, and she’s safe.” It was what he always said, meaning he picked up the Madonna statue, and she was hidden.
    “Ground her for two weeks, and then bring her to the usual place.”
    “Yes, sir.” He just wanted this conversation over so he could go on with life for another day and pretend everything would be okay. If only he had something useful to hand over, maybe he could squeeze his way out of this mess. The broken silence interrupted his whining.
    “Corrigan, I don’t have to remind you to come alone, or not to involve anyone else, do I? Remember the last