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“About what?! Morri, talk to me!” The warmth of his large hand wraps around my entire bicep.
“My brother… How did it skip my mind?!” I sigh, bracing my elbows over my knees, mumbling under my breath. “He’s not on his side.” I focus back on the room, the men impatient as they regard me. “A few months ago, maybe five or so, my mother asked me to take something to my brother’s house. When I got there, he wasn’t inside, but out in the pool, and I ran into his open laptop. He never leaves that thing unattended, but he wasn’t expecting me to walk into his own home with no invite. I managed to read quite a bit before I went to him, and it was all about you—The Sanctum. A roadmap of your businesses, connections. One of them was the escort service, and only now did I make the connection. Ekaterina’s name was there—dead center. Only hers. She runs it, doesn’t she?”
“Yes,” Maddox responds.
“Might as well just give her our laptop passwords.” Finn sighs, annoyed.
“No, you don’t understand.” I shake my head. “My brother knows who Ekaterina is to you all. But my father had no idea over the phone today. None at all.”
Then it clicks, for all of them.
“He’s not on his side.” Maddox finally sits down. “Then whose?”
Cillian’s words run through my head.“We all have our roles to play, this one is yours. And I know you’re strong enough to do it.”
“Hopefully mine…”
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
MORRIGAN
“Darling, there you are.” I’m frozen, squeezing the cold metal of the door handle, as my heart tries to weigh the consequences of my next move.
Darling.To many, it is a term of endearment. Once, it was one for me too. Not anymore, not coming from this man standing in the middle of my parents’ foyer, head cocked as his muddy eyes study me.
“I’ve come to take youhome.” My body hasn’t moved, but a burst of current splits me in a shudder at those words.I should have stayed with The Sanctum.I should have waited for The Serpent to return after he called Finn to tell us Ekaterina was okay, but I couldn’t stay too long. I couldn’t risk these people knowing I have any dealings with their underworld.
“I am home…” The words crack as they tumble off my tongue.
“Don’t be silly,darling. We’re getting married. It’s time you come and live with me.”
I still haven’t moved. My entire brain activity focused on how to get out of this. It’s been a month and a half or so since the surprise, and I managed to avoid his advances. Only I suspect it wasn’t due to my own efforts, but with his attention pulled on establishing the new business, he’s just been giving me slack. Now, as that shudder lingers, my knees slightly weaker, I’m not sure how to keep him away.
“No.” I don’t think I can convince anyone with that whisper. I’m definitely not convincing myself.
“What did you say?” He turns his head, ear toward me, one brow cocked.
“N… No.” It comes out louder this time, and he draws back.
He takes one determined step in my direction, and I still on a hitched breath.
“What are you doing standing there with the door open? I’m trying to keep the humidity out and this house cool!” I have never been more thankful for my mother’s annoying high-pitched scolding voice.
I take the opportunity, shut the door, and step quickly toward the stairs, keeping to the edge of the foyer, away from Ryan.
“Morrigan.” My foot pauses just above the first step, fingers digging into the warm wood of the ornate balustrade. “Look at me.”
Taking a deep breath, blinking slowly as the air fills my lungs, I turn around and hold his stern gaze.
“This…”
“No!” I interrupt, my mother looking positively shocked at my daring attitude, and I do feel just a little bit sick. Not because of the attitude, that in and of itself is probably my most defining trait, but because I know… he’ll use it against me. “You cannot have any more say in what I do with my own life, Ryan Holt. I was yours once… once. Not anymore.”
“So you think you can stay here?” That voice sends chills down my spine, as the man that owns it appears in the foyer. “You have a duty to your husband.”
I roll my eyes, digging myself a deeper hole. “He’s not my husband.”
“Yet,” Ryan punctuates. “I packed a bag. You’re coming with me tonight. You can return tomorrow if you wish.”
