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ARROW

“How did you figure it out?”Orion asked, folding himselfinto the chair. He gestured for all of us to take a seat in the lounge area. “Would you like anything to drink?”

I spotted several bottles of my Sacred Sins and Sensual Enigma in his wine selection.

“Sure.” I needed to calm the storm within me.

My boys and I exchanged glances. I had my suspicion when I’d asked him to look up information on Aimee and Orion.He’d taken his time in delivering information about her. But it was my request on Orion Reimann that told me something was up. He’d asked me too many questions.

Not that he didn’t ask me questions during prior requests, but his tone and swift reply made me wonder what triggered my PI. Besides, I’d been pondering on the people around me and my friends. Who knew the most information about us? Who knew of all the illegal—yet necessary—acts we’d committed to protect those we loved?

There was only one person—someone we hadn’t met in person. The initials O.R. connected the final dots. He’d told us to address him that way, but I’d been used to calling him my PI. So, a plan brewed in my head.

“No one but you knew about the special phones used at the museum today. My boys did, but I trusted them.”

Remi pulled out his phone and smirked. “We also discovered a photo of you at a café in Boston where an ‘informant’ was supposed to provide info on Orion Reimann.”

I’d fabricated a fake story about someone offering information on Orion Reimann in Boston. Orion had showed up and fallen into our trap.

Smiling, he placed the wineglass on the coffee table. “The PI work started as an accident.”

“What do you mean?” Remi asked, his jaw twitching.

Though Orion hadn’t done anything to harm us—not that we knew of—we felt betrayed by this ordeal. He also kidnapped a young girl. What else was he up to?

“Like you, I have my agenda. WhenI was contacted to do work for you.” He looked at Remi and the others before meeting my eyes. “I discovered something interesting about all of you.”

“What?” Grayson asked.

“That you’re like me—VATV.”

“What the fuck is that?” Royce asked, looking like an angry Thor.

Orion smirked. “Vigilantes against the villains. Everyone in this room has committed deeds that would put us in prison.” He looked at Forrest. “Even you, doctor. But we’re committing ‘crimes’ to fight the filth on this planet. Do you agree?”

My friends and I exchanged glances. Orion wasn’t wrong. We’d all done things that would be immoral or even evil in the eyes of society.

“And you helped us because of that?” I asked.

Orion nodded. “The more I helped you,the more I realized that you were men I wanted on my side—respectable men with a mission.”

“Why should we trust you now?” Forrest asked.

“I could’ve used your information against you from the beginning,” Orion replied. “But I chose not to.” He looked at each of us. “I’ve done nothing to harm you or your loved ones. In fact, I’ve saved your women twice.”

An uproar sounded in theroom.

“What are you talking about?” Remi rose from his chair, followed by Grayson, Forrest, and Royce.

The last thing I needed was a fight. That wouldn’t get us answers.

Rising to join my friends, I asked, “How?”

“Your women went shopping three months ago. I intercepted an order to have them eliminated by two eight-wheeled trucks.”

I looked at my friends. Fear and relief were splashed on their faces.

Vivian had gone on a shopping trip with the girls a while back. I didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if Orion hadn’t stopped those men.