Chapter 30
KIERAN
Present day…
P ulling the box out, I flick it open and stare at the green, kite-cut gem.
I removed it from its place in her drawer after Eden went missing, staring at it far too often.
And then kept it hidden after I brought her back, not wanting her to see it until we were both ready.
But after the conversation the other night, I don’t want to keep it hidden away. I want to see it on her finger again.
I’m lucky she went to the cages from the training grounds that day—if I could call anything about my wife being attacked lucky. The only time Eden didn’t wear her wedding ring—with the matching gold band—was during her daily training sessions. It’s the only reason we didn’t lose it, too.
I’ve been hesitant to bring it up to her because, as tolerant as she has been when it comes to our relationship, she might not be ready to put it back on. Asking her to wear it is like asking her to marry me— choose me—all over again.
She hasn’t even told me she loves me since I found her. Not that I’ve dared to say it, either. I won’t be able to handle any reaction but hearing those three words from her, so I haven’t taken the chance. But I hate holding back when it comes to her. I’ve wanted all of her since I first saw her.
Which means I have to take that leap. Just like when I told her I loved her the first time. Just like when I asked her to marry me and surprised her at the altar a day later.
Resolute in this decision, I close the box, tucking it in my pocket, and slip out of my room. Ash told me Eden was already back when I came home, so I just have to find her. I’m hoping she’s alone so I don’t have to fight Mika for a little privacy.
Making my way to the patio—the only place she could be—I convince myself this is the right choice. I don’t have to drop to a knee again. I’ll join her in the pool, ply her with an orgasm or two, and mention the ring. Simple.
Or I thought it was going to be.
That is until I step out onto the patio, spotting Eden curled up in a chair in the shade. Before I can get a word out, the sound of footsteps behind me makes me pause. I turn, surprised to see Jude coming down the hall.
“Is it safe?” he asks, looking more at the ground than anything.
I chuckle. Eden hasn’t picked up the habit of swimming naked again, but everyone in the house knows better than to come out here.
“She’s dressed,” I answer, glancing over. I’m surprised that she’s actually still in her clothes from her morning sessions.
Eden cocks her head, her curls falling to the side with the movement, so I step fully outside. Jude follows, his jaw set hard and muscles stiff. I’m almost certain that something is wrong.
“Larkin came by the training grounds today.” There’s definite anger in Jude’s voice, and it’s enough to have Eden abandoning her lunch to join us. “Someone got into a bit of trouble at the cages last night. Owed more than he could pay.”
I raise my brows. “You have information?”
He nods. “It was well worth clearing his debt, too. The shop owner? Rumor is he was a rebel sympathizer. He was smuggling them products, had a schedule with them.”
Well, now I’m glad we dragged the arsehole’s death out for a week. “So he set Lochlan up?”
The muscle in his jaw ticks. “No. He was going to the rebels. They weren’t coming into the city.” His eyes narrow. “But our informant did walk into the shop a few days before Lochlan was shot. He overheard the owner telling Conor that Lochlan would be there that morning.”
Conor. I struggle to process that. He’s intimidated by me, by all three of us, and even though he pushes, he wouldn’t dare cross us. Would he?
But Miles might. Miles gives that polite smile and acts as if he’s calm and patient, but I know that there’s more to him. And Conor always does his bidding. If he was gathering information, it was most likely for Miles.
“That doesn’t make sense.” My brows pinch together as I try to work through this. “Conor and Miles have more power than anyone else in the city. Why would he be giving them Lochlan’s location?”
“They have more power than anyone but you ,” Jude says. “The rebels have never been as organized as they have in the last year. Every attack has required insider information—guard rotations, supply chain schedules, your locations. Someone has been feeding that to them.”
We had long ago considered we had a leak, which was why information never left the compound. But I had never considered that Miles or Conor—who hold so much power in the city—would be disrupting their own lives.
Realization washes over me.
“I didn’t tell them about the raid when we went after Eden.” I had kept that information as limited as possible. Most of the guards didn’t even know where they were going when the convoy had been pulled together. They were told to follow Jude. “It’s the only time a plan has actually worked.”
Because they were leaking the information. And I was so stupid not to see it.
Now I’m fuming, my hand twitching as the need to rip those two apart consumes me. If they really have been passing over information—if they were the reason that Eden was taken—I will spend months bringing them to the brink of death over and over. They will fucking pay for this.
“I’m going over there,” I snarl, heading for the door.
“Not alone.” Eden sounds just as bloodthirsty as I feel, and I grin.
“Wait.” Jude steps in front of me, and while he looks pissed, he has a better leash on his temper right now. “If the two of you storm over there, he will know something is wrong. This was a tip from one source. We need to get Miles alone and confined before you lose it on him.”
I grind my teeth. “Fine. Eden and I will ask him a few questions.”
Jude snorts. “No. You and I will go over there and keep level heads while we talk to him. I’d send Lochlan, but in this instance, he might kill Miles before we get any information out of him.”
“Maybe I should bring him.”
“Rohan, too. We can make it a party.” Eden sounds far too excited, and it’s turning me on.
Jude groans. “We need answers, first. Once we have them, we can take turns ripping the prick apart.” His lips twitch at that, and I know that Jude is excited at the prospect.
But he quickly schools his features. “If you and I go over for a meeting, it won’t be suspicious.
I can get Conor away from Miles, let you talk to him.
Bring up that Lochlan has been shot. Hint that we know who did it.
The way he reacts should tell us enough that we’ll know if the information is true. ”
“And then we kill him?”
I glance over my shoulder at my wife, eyes bright. She looks like a kid who has been promised cake for dinner—eager and vibrating with excitement.
Jude huffs a laugh. “Yes, Eden. Then we will kill him. Can you be patient?”
She shrugs. “I can try.”
He looks at me then, and I raise a brow. “I make no promises.”
Rolling his eyes, he mutters, “That will have to be good enough.”
He turns, and I’m about to say goodbye to Eden when we both hear steady footsteps from around the corner. Till appears, his stride fast and an air of urgency around him.
What the fuck now?
“Jude.” He stops, nodding to me. “You need to come down to the city.”
“What for?”
“There was a possible sighting of Parker.”
My entire body reacts to his name. If I was a little bloodthirsty before, I am downright murderous now. “Let’s go.”
Jude steps in front of me again , and I growl in frustration. He glances back at me. “You are too worked up right now. I will go handle this. Wait until I’m back.”
“You don’t give me orders, Jude.”
“It’s my job to keep you alive, Kieran. This could be a trap or misinformation.” He shifts to face me, leaning in closer. “No one knows about the snipers besides us. If one of them saw Parker, this could be our chance to get him. We can’t jeopardize that with your temper.”
My jaw works, but I know he’s right. I didn’t even tell Rohan and Lochlan about them—mostly because I didn’t want them to worry about Lochlan’s shooter like I was. But keeping those posts a secret might have just come to our benefit.
“Fine,” I spit. “Don’t be long.”
Jude’s icy eyes rake over me, and I can see the suspicion in them. He knows me too damn well.
Finally, he takes a step back. “A level head, Kieran.” He taps his temple.
I jerk my head in a nod, looking away as he and Till leave. I wait until I can’t hear his footsteps before I turn around to face Eden.
“Are you feeling conversational?”
Her lips curl up. “Suddenly I am.”
I know Jude told me to wait. I know he has a point about keeping my temper in check and not letting Miles know that I have possible information on him. Which is why I’m not telling Lochlan or Rohan.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to wait. These bastards have been fucking with my family, with my life, and it’s time they pay for that mistake.
I lead this city, and while Jude might be better at planning, I am excellent at doling out punishments. He’ll understand when he gets back—once I have Miles spilling his secrets and pleading for my forgiveness.
Raking my eyes over Eden’s tight black clothes, I spot her knives in place. “Do you have all your blades?”
She nods, practically bouncing on her toes. Fuck talking. I’m tempted to let Eden turn this impromptu meeting into a bloodbath. The idea turns me on so much, I have to turn away.
I need answers. I can get them with the use of some violence, but Eden and I need to keep ourselves somewhat in check.
Threading her fingers through mine, she leans up to brush a kiss on my jaw. “I’ll behave.” Her teeth graze over the skin. “Until you’re ready to have a little fun.”
I groan, head tipping back as she giggles. “ Eden .”
“Come on. I don’t want to miss out on a little blood because of your horny ass.”
She tugs me down the hall, and it’s a good thing she does. Jude might get his way of having us wait because I’m too focused on fucking my wife.
“I need to get my guns.” My voice is strained as I try to find any remnants of my self-control. “I only have one on me.”