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“Freyja, are you ok?” Dimeter asked.

“I am. I’m happy and I’m safe.”

“That is up for debate. He’s in the Mob, Freyja.”

“So is Maxim. Bailey was in danger from her family. Henley was in danger from some psycho who was obsessed with her. Sugar almost died at the hands of her husband. Her husband, Dimeter. And don’t forget Remi, Aksana, Phoebe, hell, everyone we know. But I have Duncan. And I have Lucille.”

I held up my hand when he opened his mouth. “I know you think I’m crazy. But you can’t deny that everything she has told me has come true. Maybe Lucille isn’t really talking to me. Maybe it is just my subconscious’ way of preparing me ahead of time. Christianity has prophets. Native Americans have seers. Cajuns have voodoo. I could go on. But the point is, it is not yourplace to tell me what I have experienced. Duncan is right. You don’t have to believe it. But please respect me as your sister.”

It wasn’t until the first tear fell that I realized how much it hurt that my brother believed I was crazy. He never gave Athena shit for her visions. Or Phoebe when she read the cards.

But when it came to me, he refused to believe.

“I’m sorry, Frey. I didn’t realize how much it bothered you. Come here.”

My brother pulled me into his arms, and the dam broke. Everything had been piling up for months. Falling for Duncan and believing I couldn’t have him. Obsessing about meeting my one in Louisiana. The stress of New Orleans and then being kidnapped when I flew into Boston.

It was all too much. But having my baby brother acknowledge my feelings and hold me while I cried helped to release all those emotions.

“Are you sure you’re ok?”

I nodded, unable to say the words.

I wasn’t ok, but I would be.

“You should all go home. Duncan has everything under control.”

“I gave Duncan my word I would stay until he returned,” my dad said as he sat on the couch. My mother snuggled up next to him.

“Yea, we aren’t leaving yet. Not until we know everything is done,” King confirmed.

“It won’t be done today. There is so much going on here, the entire organization will be shaken up before this is finished,” I told them, hoping to alleviate their fears.

“Are you sure this is the life you want?” Priest asked as he held my sister in his arms.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. This is my path. And anyone that tries to block that path will be bulldozed over,” I said confidently, eyeing my brother.

Mac was the first to return to the office with two women in tow.

“Freyja, this is Caity, Sal’s sister. And this is Maddie, his niece.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said as I shook the older woman’s hand. I looked at Maddie and saw the sadness in her eyes. She had lost not one but two people who meant the world to her.

“Are you my uncle’s girlfriend?” Maddie asked hesitantly.

“No. She’s Duncan’s girl,” Mac supplied.

“Duncan has a girl?” Caity asked.

If I hadn’t looked closely, I would never have noticed she was around my mother’s age. Caity was beautiful. Her dark red hair hung down her back. She was regal. Poised. But she didn’t seem snobbish. Her green eyes held warmth.

“I don’t understand why we are here?” she asked.

“Sal will explain when he gets back.”

“He does understand he isn’t my father, right? He can’t keep me here against my will. I already moved back home at his directive. If he thinks he’s going to dictate every part of my life, he is sadly mistaken.”

“Mother, please don’t make a scene,” Maddie pleaded.