Page 78 of Rogue Royal

Damon took the paper and turned away. Freddie rested his hand on Mav’s shoulder again. “Father will come around to you and Douglas, Mav. Fight as hard for your relationship as you have for Douglas’s freedom, okay?”

Mav’s throat closed up, and he nodded.

“Let’s get going.” Freddie stepped towards the front door, Damon and Umar following behind, but Quinn closed the distance between them.

“Master Douglas is one in a million. I wish you every happiness, Mav, but could I ask one favour?” Mav nodded. “Please don’t stop him from doing the good work he’s doing with the subs here. Many would fall through the cracks if he didn’t check up on them like he’s been doing. There’s only so much other submissives can do, but a Master like him can make an enormous difference to their lives. I don’t mean sexually. I mean the visits. Please help him continue.”

Mav nodded his head. “I intend to.”

Quinn wrapped his thin arms around Mav’s shoulders in a small hug, and Mav could do no more than reciprocate. “Thank you.”

The four men left, leaving Zara, Tex and him standing in silence.

“Well, that was interesting.”

Mav glanced at his two friends. “You must be exhausted. Why don’t you get some sleep? There’s not much else we can do until I hear from Freddie again.”

“Freddie, is it?”

“Oh, shut up!”

****

Chapter 26

Frederick

Damon slammed the car door harder than usual, his fists clenched on his knees.

“Are you okay?” Freddie asked from beside him. He glanced to the front of the car and nodded at the driver, who pulled away from the kerb.

Damon sighed. “Not really. I can’t believe this fucker won’t just disappear.”

Freddie chuckled. “Yeah, I know the feeling. Unfortunately, Talon is safe where he is, and Charles is untouchable at the moment. We can build a case against him, though. I’m going to collate all the stories and as much evidence as I can against him and Aunt Charlotte and whoever else is involved. It can’t be just those two.”

“They have many backers, but some are too clever and hide behind the scenes.”

The tone of voice showed what Damon thought of those people, and Freddie wholeheartedly agreed. He took the sheaf of paper Maverick had given them and flicked through it. Maverick was bloody good, thorough. If he did that for all other aspects of his job, he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Freddie glanced over his shoulder at the car following behind them, containing Umar and Quinn, and pulled out his phone.

“I’m busy, Frederick.” His father’s voice was hard, but Freddie knew he’d listen.

“I have some information to help Douglas.”

“What?” he barked.

“Where are you? We need to do this in person, preferably with the police present.”

His father remained quiet for a moment, then asked him to wait. The phone went silent, and Freddie caught Damon’s gaze. His expression was tight, and Freddie knew his would be the same. He itched to remove that look from his best friend, but only ending this case would work.

“Frederick, come to the police station but go around to the back.”

“Yes, Father. We’ll be there shortly.”

He closed the phone and asked the driver to take them to where his father was obviously waiting.

“Do you think Umar will tell the truth to the police?” Damon asked.