Page 96

Freyja nodded. It seemed my woman had bonded with Gavin over a throat punch. Mac opened the door just as Freyja announced, “There’s more.”

Mac closed the door and leaned against it, waiting for Freyja to continue.

“Tyran had a young man with him. Brian. I don’t have a last name. But I got the feeling he didn’t have a choice in being there. In fact, he didn’t know about the explosives either. It was why he helped me escape.”

“How?” Cian asked.

Freyja rubbed at her wrists, and my anger boiled over. We needed to put some cream on them. Stevie opened her purse and pulled out a small jar.

“When I heard what happened, I thought you might need this.” She unscrewed the top, scooped out a generous portion of the cream, and rubbed it into Freyja’s arms.

I pulled her back against my chest and wrapped my arms around her. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I let her strength ground me. All I wanted was to scour the city until we found that bastard. I wanted to wire an explosive to his fucking dick for what he put her through.

“Brian used zip ties to keep me in the chair. But only on my wrists. Tyran went into the other room and called someone. He really needs to learn about inside voices.”

She wasn’t wrong. Tyran didn’t understand discretion very well. He was too fucking cocky, and cockiness led to mistakes. Like talking in front of people before you made certain they were dead.

“When he talked about the explosives, Brian got nervous. He said no one was supposed to get hurt. So, while Tyran was distracted, Brian cut the ties but left them in place so you couldn’t tell. Tyran’s plan was for you to rush into the room I was in and trip the wire in the doorway. Taking everyone out at once. He even placed duct tape over my mouth so I couldn’t warn you on the way up the stairs. I waited until I was sure they had left, then I slowly made my way out of the building. And waited for Sal to arrive. He said Sean would be next. He also mentioned someone named Bellamy. That if she didn’t fall in line, she would be gone too.”

Freyja slumped against me, and I knew everything had begun to sink in. She had been strong for long enough.

“I’ve got you,mo bandia.”

She turned her head against my chest and I saw the tear slip out. I knew she wouldn’t want her family to see it. She wanted to be strong for them. Fearless.

She had no idea how fucking fierce she was.

Mo bandia.

My goddess!

“Cian, go to Flynn’s. I want Bellamy and Sean both in a safe house. Mac, go get my sister and Maddie and bring them here.”

“I’ll get Caity and Maddie,” Cian countered.

“You will stay the fuck away from my sister until this shit is dealt with,” Sal ordered.

Cian’s jaw flinched, but he didn’t say a word. He wouldn’t, not in front of guests. He simply nodded and the two of them left the room.

“There is one thing I don’t get?” the oversized biker who had been quiet until now said.

“What’s that, Frank?” King asked.

“If Freyja wasn’t supposed to leave for a few more days, how did this Tyran know she was leaving? And how did he know she was flying to Boston and not home to New York?”

“Someone from New Orleans was watching her,” Sal offered. “The question is, who?”

“Freyja, did Lucille tell you how Tyran would know?” Stevie asked, and her brother groaned.

“Mom, don’t encourage her.”

“Dimeter Malpas, close your mouth before I call Bailey and tell her you’re being mean to your sister.”

Freyja’s brother’s face paled, and he backed up.

“Who’s Bailey? His wife?” I whispered in Freyja’s ear.

“No, she’s King’s wife. But Dimeter’s best friend.” Freyja giggled at the look of panic on her brother’s face.