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“The feeling is mutual,” Seb mutters. “You’re the one who kept Rose’s identity to yourself.”
“I had my reasons,” I say defensively.
“And that reason is now buried six feet underground,” Freddie says. “You need us, Callen. You don’t want to admit it, but you’ve got used to being a Duke and part of our family.”
I weigh my options. I don’t hold grudges, and working alone has its challenges. That, and I can’t get into the Killers Club’s base without help…
“Fine.” I grin, and swivel around and stretch my legs to rest them on the coffee table to annoy Freddie further. I turn to Seb. “Did you miss me, sunshine?”
“Fuck you,” Seb says, but his tone is light.
Freddie grins and shakes his head. “Welcome home, Callen.”
I wink at Seb, hoping to get a bigger rise out of him. “You can’t get rid of me.”
“But there is one condition to your return,” Freddie says. “You tell us everything you know, and no more lies.”
I snort. “You’re the one who let Rose blind you with her tight snatch.”
For a second, Freddie’s calm exterior drops to give me a glimpse of the raging monster within. But his anger isn’t for me. It’s for her. He strolls over and holds out his hand. I stand, staggering slightly—whatever I was drugged with is still in my system—and grasp his hand.
“The Dukes are a family,” Freddie says. “We stick together. If we don’t have trust, we have nothing, and we won’t be making the same mistake again.”
I swallow and nod. His grip is firm, crushing my fingers, filled with a promise and drive for justice. Now that he’s lost the doting puppy-dog look, I can respect him as my boss again… well, for as long as it suits me.
“So, we need to fill you in on what we’ve discovered,” Freddie begins.
CHAPTER38
IVY
Imust have drifted off. I didn’t think sleeping would be possible, but I managed it somehow. I wake up and find my head resting against Bram’s bare, inked chest with his arm wrapped around my shoulder, holding me close like he doesn’t want to let go. Considering the circumstances and lack of cushions, his muscled pecs act as a decent warm pillow, providing a barrier from the damp brick wall. He notices me stir. My eyelids feel heavier than usual, and I sit up, wipe them and then tilt my neck from side to side to get out the kinks.
I’m exhausted. We only have two water bottles left and no food. I’d kill to have beans on toast right now. The lack of natural light means we can’t tell what time of day it is, and don’t get me started on going to the toilet and the zero privacy. Thankfully, Bram always turns away when I use the wretched hole in the floor, but having to use drawing paper to wipe almost gave my clit a paper cut.
“We have to get out,” I croak. Even the glow from last night’s intense orgasms doesn’t erase the bleakness of our situation. We have to act fast before we lose all our energy. “I’m—we’re—not dying in here.”
Bram stays quiet, sporting a stoic, easy-going expression, like he’s lost in a meditative trance and lusting over an imaginary breakfast.
“There has to be an escape route,” I say desperately, racking my brain to think of anything Alaric might have told me about the cells in the past. Although HQ was my home for a while, I never spent much time in this part of the building and only encountered prisoners in the torture chamber. “A loose brick could open the door.” I think of all the tricks I’ve seen in films, clutching at hope. “Or a hidden key. Something like the fireplace in the Dukes’ man cave.”
He arches one eyebrow.So you found the hidden room?
“What do you take me for?” I scowl. “An amateur?”
I get up to my feet and stretch. My muscles scream for me to sit down and conserve strength, but we have no time to waste. Bram jumps up. One of his giant hands wraps around my waist while he slaps the other over my mouth.
“Hey!” I object, my voice muffled, but he presses his hand tighter over my lips.
I’m about to bite him when I hear it…
Voices approach.
“What do you mean, he’s still alive?” Stephanie’s voice floats down the corridor towards us. I recognise her angry tone. A low rumble from Alaric follows her outcry, but they’re too far away for me to understand what he’s saying.
Bram removes his hand and backs away. He catches my eye and puts a finger to his lips.
No shit, I mouth.
