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Ashley goes still, genuinely afraid. Larry glares at her, while Fiona tries to open her eyes to see what’s happening.
“Lower the lights, Regina,” Todd barks at the maid.
Once the room is darker, Fiona opens her eyes a bit more. Still squinting, she returns to eating. Todd doesn’t react to his daughter’s calm demeanor. He just eats his meal while glaring at everyone besides her.
Finding a quiet place inside my head, I imagine myself in a big house in the woods. I picture a fire burning in the fireplace. Fiona is playing her cello. Next to me, Eagle wears the soft grin he gets whenever the world is quiet. I add a wrapped-up baby to the dream. First, she’s in my arms and then snugly in Eagle’s stronger ones. I have no doubt he’ll make a wonderful father. He owns a tender heart he hides from most people. With our daughter, he’ll reveal all the love hidden inside him.
That future is what I hold on to as the estate locks down and the search for Jimbo hits its next stage.
RHETT
With the Rogers propertylocked down, Irina feels a million miles away. When we talk on the phone, she sounds on edge. I realize she hasn’t even considered I’m the one who snatched away the threat in her life.
Over the next few days, Todd Rogers sends his investigators around McMurdo Valley and the surrounding towns. They search for Jimbo in every dive and whore’s bed.
“Fiona’s afraid. She got upset at dinner tonight,” Irina whispers on the phone one night. “She claimed Ashley is planning to kill her next. Todd got angry and yelled at her to shut up. Fiona usually backs down, but she was so wound up. She claimed Ashley is plotting to get rid of Todd’s kids.”
“What did the old man do?”
“He told her to keep her mouth shut and eat. When Fiona wouldn’t stop crying, he sent her back to the guesthouse. He was so angry. I worry he’ll send her away.”
“Baby, you need to relax. Remember how Todd Rogers reacted to Marky’s death? The old man’s an asshole, but he’s never rash. Fiona will be fine.”
“She normally ignores the mayhem at dinner. I’ve never seen her lose control like that.”
Unable to tell her the truth on the phone, I explain, “Fiona’s lived in McMurdo Valley for less than six months. In that time, two of her idiot brothers died or went missing. Her fear makes sense.”
“What if they kill her?” Irina asks, her voice cracking with fear.
“Baby, it’s okay. Fiona calling out Ashley was a good thing. If something happens to Fiona now, everyone will blame Ashley.”
“But she’ll be dead,” Irina whimpers, losing control. “I can’t stop them if they come in here and hurt her. I’m afraid they’ll kill us both and claim we ran off.”
“Irina,” I reply calmly despite how much I want to ride over and comfort her, “take a deep breath. I know you’re scared, but you aren’t alone. Everyone knows your connection to the club. They can’t kill you without me going homicidal. Do you think Todd Rogers wants to die? Or Ashley? You’re protected.”
“She isn’t.”
