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“Okay, we have a few hours to spare, let’s start with the notebook and work our way through it.”

* * *

We’ve been combing over the notebook for hours when the elevator chimes signaling someone has arrived. Kieran’s trying to decode my terrible handwriting from the early days, while I’m trying to piece together things from my own memory as well as the preteen years written out in front of me. A knock sounds on the door frame causing my eyes to lift up and catch Declan walk in. It surprises me just how much Kie and his brothers look alike. Seriously, a couple of inches, as well as hair and eye shades really are the only thing that separates them.

I gather up everything we’ve been working on while Kieran and Declan greet each other. It’s not that I’m hiding it from the others. I’m actually pretty sure I’ll have to tell them tonight. I just want to be the one to tell them, not my red tattered old spiral band that caught their eye. Once everything is put away I turn my attention to Declan. He’s a prickly one, he has the same charisma as the others, he’s easy to talk to and be around, but there’s something else there. Hurt recognizes hurt, every single time. However, I don’t make a habit out of making other people’s business mine. Unless it’s Kieran, or the men we’re now hunting down.

Declan nods at me, his hands placed firmly in his pockets, as he rocks back on his heels, “Hey, Britt.”

I nod at him in response, “Declan.”

Kieran lets out a low whistle from behind me. “Why did it just drop fifteen degrees in here?”

Before I can tell him I have no idea what he’s talking about Ryan struts through the room like he owns it, giving Kie a handshake-hug thing, then immediately wrapping me up in a bear hug and spinning me around.

“Hey, Brave Girl.” My eyes go wide at the use of the nickname only Kie uses, and if the growl from behind me tells me anything it’s that Kieran isn’t a fan either.

“Ryan.” Kieran barks out in warning.

Ryan chuckles, clearly getting the reaction he wanted from Kieran. “What? You mean to tell me I’m not allowed to acknowledge how brave she is after the last time I saw her?”

Declan chimes in, intrigue lacing his words, “When’s the last time you saw her, Ry?”

His eyes pop wide, but he recovers quickly, “The other day? Just because she doesn’t like the lot of you, doesn’t mean shedoesn’t like me.”

Of course at that moment four more brown hair, green eyed men strut through the door. I’ll just go die of embarrassment now. One of the twins must have caught what Ryan said because he’s not even fully in the room and he’s already inserting himself into the conversation.

“Who doesn’t like us, and why? I’ll have you know I’ve been on my best behavior recently.”

Mac pops him upside the head as he passes, “That would be because you’re in season and closing in on a playoff spot, and not because you all of a sudden have a burning desire to be a good person.”

They all file in giving both Kieran and I a nod of acknowledgment. Two other men I don’t know make their way into the office too, and I’m all of a sudden thankful that this office alone is the size of my apartment. Kie takes my hand and guides me behind his desk, motioning me to sit in the comfortable overstuffed chair. He moves to the back of his chair and rests his forearms on top of it. The symbolism of him handing me the reins and standing behind me for backup should I need it is enough to knock me off my feet, if I was standing. His brothers take note of this too. Most of them fighting grins.

“So I’m going to let Brittany take over, but before she does I want to point out that whatever is said in this room has to stay in this room. No going back to wives, girlfriends, friends, or bed buddies. I love every single one of you, but I’d slit your throat without even a moment of hesitation if you so much as disagreed with her nail color. You can’t even fathom what I’ll do if you break her trust. She doesn’t have to tell you shit, how little or much she decides is completely up to her but we’re in the cone of silence, is that understood?”

Everyone nods except Rowan, who narrows his eyes at his brother. “You’d threaten the Captain so nonchalantly?”

“Oh, brother. I’m devoted and dedicated to this life but don’t ask questions if the answer will offend you.”

Rowan nods slowly at Kieran’s response and turns to me along with everyone else.

“Okay, well I guess we should start with the most pressing matter here. My name is not Brittany Mitchell. My name is Phoenix Walker. And my dad and his friends trafficked me from the age of six, until I escaped at fourteen.”

25

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kieran

I’ve been watching Phoenix… Is it safe to call her Phoenix in front of them now? That’s a question I’m going to have to ask when they leave. Regardless, I’ve been watching her run this entire room, making plans, and executing them flawlessly for hours. My brothers have sat and listened attentively, asking questions occasionally, and gathering all the intel she’s willing to give. She hasn’t given them more than an eighth of what happened to her, just what she has to for them to understand. I look around and find every man in this room slack jawed and hanging on to every word she says.

“So that brings me to now. I want revenge, I need revenge. I’m going to do this with or without the backing of the BOCG. The extra help and resources would make this easier, but trust me I’m used to the universe sending difficult to my door. I can do this by myself if you decide to not get involved.”

Her head is held high, her shoulders back, and a look of determination sits firmly on her face. My cock twitches behind the zipper of my charcoal dress pants. She looks undeniably sexy when she’s commanding a room of made men. My thoughts start wandering to getting everyone out of here as quickly as possible so I can prop her up on the edge of this desk, spread her perfect thighs, and eat her pussy until she’s begging me to stop. I’m snapped out of my delectable thoughts by Mac’s voice filtering in.

“So say we refuse, what’s your plan for tracking these guys down? You’ll need an extremely talented IT guy for some of this stuff.”

Her smirk tells me she’s about to piss Mac off and I’m here for it.