Freed By Fire (House of Payne #3)

Chapter One

London

“I was beginning to think you were going to act like our conversation never happened.”

I clear my throat. “It’s just been a crazy few days.”

“I know.”

“I’ve thought about what you said, and I don’t think now is the time to be reaching out through secret messages.” I run a hand over my face. “Maybe it’s better if we just lie low.”

Not with everything else that’s been happening.

A few days ago, when Olivia told me she wanted to reach out to one of the warring families, using her history to get a foot in the door, I was relieved.

But the past seventy-two hours were a blur, bleeding together into one startling reality.

I was no longer confident in Mason’s ability to lead us out of this unscathed, not with so many odds against him.

Mason might’ve been the head of the Payne Empire, and I was sure he’d been forced to squash a rebellion or two, but never one of this magnitude.

He has too many enemies, even within his own ranks. You can’t blame him for not being able to stay ahead.

Olivia lets the curtain swish back into place and turns to face me, the dark circles under her eyes prominent even from across the room. “Now is the time to act, London. They think they’ve made us weaker, so I say we let them think that they’ve won the battle.”

I frown and let my hand fall to my side. “And you really think reaching out right now is going to make a difference?”

Olivia straightens her back. “He won’t be expecting it.”

“You’re asking me to put a lot of faith in you and history that’s been dead and buried for a long time.”

Olivia’s eyes sweep over my face, her expression giving nothing away. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it’s better than the alternative. Aren’t you tired of sitting around, praying and hoping everything works out?”

“Yes.”

“Help me then. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being pushed to the sidelines and underestimated. I’m tired of having things happen to me, and I think you are too.”

Something about the emotion in her voice makes me pause.

Olivia and I are a lot more alike than I thought, but it still doesn’t mean any of this is a good idea, not with the kind of people we were up against.

I have a feeling we only get one shot at this, and if it blows up in our faces, it’ll only make things worse.

How would Mason feel about me conspiring with his sister, even with the best of intentions?

You know damn well how he’d feel. Why are you even considering this? It’s a suicide mission, and you know it.

I sigh. “Even if I was, I still don’t see how going rogue is going to help. These people—our enemies—they tried and almost succeeded in having your brother killed.”

Olivia crosses over to me, her eyes never leaving my face. “Exactly. With all the resources and manpower they have, do you honestly think it was an accident that Mason was able to walk away?”

“You think they let him live on purpose?”

Olivia shrugs. “I know what they can do and what they’re capable of. I think if they wanted Mason dead, we’d be planning a funeral, not a recovery.”

My mouth falls open, my mind racing a million miles a minute.

Is Olivia right?

She’s grown up in this world, and even though I’d like to pretend otherwise, I can’t overlook the fact that she knows what to look for, learning how to navigate survival in a labyrinth of violence and chaos.

Olivia knows the warning signs like the back of her hand, and the thought sends another chill racing up my spine.

Who else has put the pieces together?

I clear my throat. “Let’s say you’re right—”

“I am,” Olivia interrupts after a quick look at the door that I left ajar. She inches closer and drops her voice to a whisper. “Everyone here knows it, too. They let Mason walk away because they wanted to send a message. Killing him ensures their victory.”

I search Olivia’s face. “But it means they’ll have another war on their hands, with the people loyal to the Paynes.”

Olivia offers me a grim smile. “Yes.”

I take a step back. “Okay, so assuming I agree, and I’m not saying I do… How do we help?”

Olivia draws herself up to her full height and tilts her head, her bright eyes moving over me intently.

“I already told you what needs to be done. I can’t use any of my old channels to reach out.

Mason is watching too closely. Besides, if the wrong people intercept the message and find out it’s me, it would be catastrophic, so you need to—”

I hold up a hand. “Won’t it be just as bad if I send a message? I’m not a Payne, but they know what I mean to Mason. They know what we….”

I trail off, the knots in my stomach tightening.

I don’t think Olivia has thought any of this through, and her desperation and eagerness to help has blinded her.

But I don’t know her well enough to mention any of this.

Olivia sighs. “Someone else will be delivering the messages. You just need to pass them along somewhere public. You can even wear a disguise if it’ll make you feel better.”

I dig my nails into my palms. “Olivia, I really think we should go to Mason with this. Now that everything has changed, I’m sure he’d be more willing to listen.”

“If anything,” Olivia says, “the direct attack will make him more stubborn. He’s going to increase security and probably send us into lockdown. No one is going in or out.”

“Let me try talking to him then,” I say. “He’ll listen to me.”

Or at least I hope he does.

As much as I hate to admit it, Olivia’s words have struck a chord.

I have to do something.

Calling in favors with other families and tailing our enemies isn’t getting us anywhere.

We’re running out of time. If the Payne Empire were razed, it would offer Mason and me a fresh start, but I know it won’t be that simple.

A Payne without his empire would be fodder for the masses, a sitting duck for anyone within five miles, and that’s assuming he survives.

You know damn well that if they don’t get their hands on him while trying to rip apart the empire, they won’t stop there. Mason is too dangerous to be left alive, especially when he can rebuild in the shadows and come back to challenge them.

Mason does not give up easily, a trait I love and dread in equal measure.

Olivia places one hand on either side of my shoulders and waits for me to meet her gaze. “London, listen to me. I know you love my brother, and I know you’re trying to help, but you cannot go to him.”

“But I—”

“No.” Olivia’s nails dig into my arms. “You don’t understand how bad it would be if he got involved. It would put him further at risk. You don’t want to do that, do you?”

My mouth is very dry as I shake my head. “No.”

Olivia releases me. “For this to work, you’re going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”

Finally, slowly, I nod. “I can try.”

Because it’s better than the alternative.

I will not be a damsel in distress sitting around waiting for Mason to save us.

I will not be a weak link.

Mason won’t be happy that I teamed up with his sister, but he’ll understand what drove me here.

He has to.

Olivia turns away and begins to pace. “Okay, good. Now, we need someone else to help. Mason will expect me to try something, so we need to make sure he doesn’t stop us.”

My throat feels tight as I stare at her. “Who did you have in mind?”

“I’m thinking we bring Oliver into the loop. I can go and find him now, and—”

“No,” I interrupt a little louder than I intend. I shake my head and exhale. “I mean, the fewer Paynes that know the better, right? We’re less likely to draw unnecessary attention to ourselves this way. Besides, Oliver barely knows anything about this world.”

Olivia stares at me, and I hold myself still.

She begins to pace again, and when she stops next to the window and peeks through the slit, I feel like kicking myself.

I don’t know, exactly, what Oliver has done to land himself in Mason’s bad graces, but I know enough to recognize the signs.

Something is happening, something Mason doesn’t want to bring to light.

I can’t make him confide in me, but I can at least try and mitigate the damage.

After what feels like forever, Olivia faces me again with a gleam of steely-eyed determination. “Alright, then we bring Carlisle into the loop. No one else.”

“I still don’t think it’s necessary to bring in someone else.”

“We have to.”

“But—"

Before I can say anything else, Olivia crosses to the door and throws it open.

She says something quietly while I remain rooted to the spot, my thoughts tumbling over each other.

When Mason’s right-hand man comes in, he’s favoring his right leg, and my eyes go to the bandage.

He drifts closer, and I stare at the gash over his left eye, a bright and angry red that reminds me of what he narrowly escaped.

What they all did.

Carlisle slides his gaze from mine and turns to face Olivia, who closes the door. “Whatever you’re planning, it’s not too late to pull the plug.”

Olivia covers the distance between them and stops an inch away, her expression softening. “You know me better than that, Car.”

Carlisle purses his lips.

I tell myself to look away, but I can’t.

“If you help me, there’s less of a chance it’ll go badly,” Olivia says quietly. “You know Mason is too stubborn to listen, and my idea could help us all.”

Carlisle stiffens, regarding her intently with dark eyes. “You always say that, and it usually goes badly.”

“Carlisle…”

Carlisle turns back to Olivia, and his frown deepens. “You know it won’t just be my ass on the line this time.”

Olivia draws her bottom lip between her teeth and begins to chew on it. “Yes, you’re probably right.”

A muscle ticks in Carlisle’s jaw.

Finally, he glances back at me. “I have no idea how she roped you into this, but you’d better be sure you want to go through with this because if whatever you’re planning blows up in our faces….”

I nod uneasily. “I know.”

Carlisle’s gaze moves between the two of us. “I’ll keep an eye on things. He’ll have my head on a platter if anything happens to either of you, especially her.”

Olivia spares me a glance before looking back at him. “That’s not going to happen.”

Carlisle exhales. “This feels a little too familiar.”