Bound by Moonlight Read Free Page A

as Furness was forgiving, Atcliff despised crime in any form. And in his eyes, Savoie was its bold embodiment.
    As police chief, he worried over the career of his most decorated detective because of her association with Max. As her godfather, he fretted over the happiness of his best friend’s only child.
    He regarded Charlotte with a disapproving frown as she pushed her unacceptable escort in front of him. To his credit, Savoie met his gun-barrel glare without flinching.
    “Uncle Byron,” Cee Cee said, trying to soften him up as she linked her arm through the rigid figure’s at her side, “Max Savoie. Max, Chief Byron Atcliff.”
    “I believe we know one another by reputation,” Max said.
    “Yes, we do,” Atcliff returned just as stiffly. No hand was offered. None was expected, considering At-cliff had spent his career trying to put Savoie and those like him in prison. Or the morgue.
    Atcliff was about to turn away when he caught Cee Cee’s flinty stare, calling him on his promise that he’d give the man behind the mobster a fair chance. And At-cliff prided himself on being fair, even when it choked him.
    Scowling, he pinned Savoie with a stabbing glance.“Father Furness tells me you’ve almost single-handedly been responsible for the rebuilding of St. Bart’s.”
    “The father was exaggerating to make me more palatable in your eyes.”
    That unexpected honesty didn’t throw Atcliff off. If anything, it made the chief sink his teeth in deeper. “The money Jimmy Legere spread around for charity was fertilizer. He hoped it would grow a good opinion to cover the stink of what he was. What are you spreading, Savoie?”
    Max remained unblinking for a long, lethal moment, then he offered a narrow smile. “I don’t have much of a green thumb.”
    Atcliff snorted. “You’ve managed to grow on my goddaughter. You harm her career, I’ll cut you off at the ground like chokeweed.”
    “Understood.”
    “I’m not in favor of this relationship,” the older man continued. “I can’t say I approve of you parading it around.”
    “Good thing for me your opinion isn’t the one that matters most.”
    At the coolly mocking tone, Atcliff warned, “You break her heart, I’ll pull you out by the roots.”
    Cee Cee stepped between them with an exasperated, “Would you two stand down? Uncle Byron, Max is my choice. Deal with it. Max, you will respect his right to be pissed off about it. Clear?”
    They gauged one another again.
    “Take care of her and stay out from under my feet professionally, and I won’t have a problem with you, Savoie.”
    “I’ll stay out of your way unless you push that professional foot into our personal lives again. Then I’d have to make myself your problem. In a big way.”
    Atcliff assessed the arrogant man who’d somehow managed to snag the heart of Tommy Caissie’s daughter. Did he have the steadfastness Cee Cee could depend upon, the strength to support her, and the wisdom to protect the best damned thing he’d ever have? Savoie wasn’t someone he’d enjoy seeing across the dinner table at holiday time. He doubted they’d ever make easy small talk while fishing off his boat together. But he was Charlotte’s choice, and Savoie didn’t give an inch when it came to claiming that.
    And there was nothing wrong with a little arrogance.
    Chief Byron Atcliff allowed a grim smile. “Understood.”
    “T HAT WENT WELL .”
    Max had no comment as they followed the movement of the crowd around the Square.
    Booths fronting the Pontalba offered handcrafted items from area artisans, donated for the cause: exquisite jewelry, paintings, one-of-a-kind and vintage clothing, as well as accent pieces in metal, glass, and ceramic with price tags only the rich could afford. Not much of a shopper, Cee Cee kept her attention on Max. She noticed his silence and distraction and followed his stare to the source: Karen Crawford.
    “Max, she’s a cold, soulless bitch from hell. You know better than to