Page 32 of Darkness of Mine

“Freya.” River’s voice drops low in warning.

Freya switches her gaze to me. “So, what are we doing today? Or am I supposed to go back upstairs after breakfast like a good little captive?”

My brows raise and I try to silently communicate that she might want to shut up but apparently Freya’s on a roll.

“You know, I’ve spent my fair share of time around criminals, but I’d have thought the FBI of all people would be at least a little hesitant to break the law.”

River reaches for Oz’s iPad sitting on the island and pulls up the contract Freya signed when she joined our team. He scrolls down and places it in front of her. “I’m not breaking any laws. You sure you want to keep up the silent treatment?”

Freya scans the document.

I reach over and take her plate in case she feels like throwing something after she’s read it. Keeping her here, in our house, may be unconventional but Freya’s role as a profiler was contingent on her cooperating with the FBI. If she went AWOL, the agreement was void and the Chief of the SCU had the authority to revoke her status.

As acting chief, River is within his rights to make Freya an asset again and place her under our protection. It’s a gray area but, technically, he’s not breaking any laws.

Freya’s cheeks hollow as she reads. Her nostrils flare a little with each breath, but she still refuses to look at River. When she’s finished, she shoves the iPad away and storms out of the room.

I nod. “That went about as well as expected.”

“Shut up, Eli.”

“How long do you think she’ll ignore you?”

River eyes the hallway Freya disappeared into. “Probably until I punish her for it.”

Oz takes off his glasses and rubs his face. “Dude, I think she might stab you if you try to put your hands on her right now.”

“I won’t touch her. I can’t.” He doesn’t explain that further, just shakes his head and walks off.

I plate up a couple more pancakes to take to Freya and drown them in syrup. As far as I’m concerned, they’re both being idiots. We’ve done the hard part, we found her. Now we just have to remind Freya that she loves us.

Oh, and catch her fucking psychopath of a brother before he follows through on his threat and kills us all. That too.

15

FREYA

Turns out I do get to leave the house. Maybe I should feel happy about that but I’m still fuming over the stupid contract. I should have known River would find some technical loophole to justify his actions. Only he could kidnap someone and make it legal.

The thing that hurts most though is that, technically, I’m no longer an FBI agent. I’m an asset.

I knew I’d be giving everything up when I ran but actually seeing it in writing had my stomach sinking. I dreamed of being a profiler for years and I finally got it, only to have it taken away because River wants to control me. It’s a fucking dickhead move so I continue to give him the silent treatment all the way to the morgue.

We’re here to see if Eva’s managed to get any more information from Millie’s autopsy, the first girl Zach kidnapped, but Eli snags my hand just outside the doors.

He waits till the others go into the morgue and it’s just us in the corridor before tugging me towards him. “Are you angry at River or all of us?”

My gaze drops to our joined hands. I should pull away, but I don’t. “I’m not sure.”

“You know, back in the kitchen, that’s the first time you’ve said you love me.” A tender vulnerability floats around him.

“No.” I furrow my brow. “Is it?”

Eli shrugs, the trademark cocky look on his face nowhere to be seen. “Figured you might hate me right now.” He runs the pad of his thumb over the back of my hand and after how we left things this morning, it’s enough to have me melting for him.

“I do, a little bit.” I sigh and bring my free hand up to his chest, fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. “I guess that doesn’t mean I don’t still love you too.”

Eli smiles, a slow and honest thing. Joy radiates from him like a golden aura and I bathe in the glow. His hand settles over mine and presses it flat against his chest. “I will always and forever love you, Freya Danvers. Even when you hate me.”