Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
SIRE
An eerie calm claims my blood.
I know I’m doing the right thing.
I’ll save my family. I’ll give my kidney to get my nephew. I’ll get Wren pregnant before I go. I’ll find out why my father gives a shit about someone more than himself. And I’ll do it by finding my answers here.
“Thought you said I had to leave.” Loch swings open the heavy metal door to Mom’s club.
“Thought you owed me this first, cockblocker.” I grin, holding Wren’s hand, and escorting her inside.
It’s early afternoon, the club is closed, and its house lights are on. Staff are busy cleaning as usual.
It no longer bothers me bringing Wren in here. In fact, it makes me happy when she runs, arms open, to hug Alan. Like she promised Nannie, she’s protecting him.
He’s been out of rehab for months. He’s wearing a smile and a healthy amount of weight. He’s a changed man, who’s far safer here on the coast than where we last found him in the mountains, trapped in Waylon’s deadly snare.
Mom gave Alan a job at the club. He’s happy, sober, and rumor has it, in love with Lucy, the bartender.
Lucy glances up from slicing limes, nodding at us. “She’s upstairs in a meeting.”
“Thanks.” I wave, leading the way. Wren and Loch follow as I call out, “Hey, Alan. Join us, please.”
“Uh…” He drops a mop into a yellow bucket. “Yes, sir.”
“Please, don’t call me ‘Sir.’” I enter the code for the door to the upper levels. “It’s Sire.”
“Yes, sir, Sire,” he rushes, but I’m too focused on my plan to correct him again.
Climbing the stairs, we stop outside my mom’s office door. Behind it, I hear a familiar, deep voice—Axel—but then there’s another man’s voice I don’t recognize.
Who are they meeting with?
I knock, and Mom asks, “Who is it?”
“Me.” I stare at her camera aimed at our group standing outside her door. “Us.”
What the fuck? I know she sees us. Is she stalling? She’s been so secretive lately.
Voices murmur, raising my suspicions. Finally, Mom huffs, “Oh, for Pete’s sake, just come in.”
Holding Wren’s hand, every cell in my body tells me something’s going on, and I’m about to add to it.
When we step inside her office, it takes a moment to register the sight.
Mom’s sitting behind her antique desk, wearing an ivory Chanel suit, and reigning over her empire. Axel’s in a dark suit, sitting on the sapphire velvet sofa.
That’s normal.
But sitting beside Axel? A breathtaking redhead. Ruby Jones.
Axel told me about her. I’ve met her and like her. When he tried to sneak her into Vale’s initiation, blindfolded, it fucking amused me. But since I’ve violated Axel’s trust already, I didn’t tell Wren about Axel and Ruby.
Now, she knows.
But kneeling beside my mother? Shirtless. Covered in ink. Swole like a beast, like us. Wearing black pants and a matching leather chest harness with a BDSM collar and chain.
Is one of the captives from our bunker?
What the fuck?
We caught this man sneaking over the wall at Delta’s. He’s part of the trafficking ring we’ve been hunting this year, and now he’s kneeling? As a sub for my mom?
I know she’s a revered dominatrix, but him?
She reads my furious face.
“Well, no sense in burning daylight. Everyone, take a seat.” Mom gestures to the empty emerald velvet sofa. “Wren, dear…” She always greets her with warmth. “Please meet Axel’s future wife, Ruby.”
Future wife? Good.
This shit? Not good.
Wren nestles in beside me, her smile excited, her instant connection to another queen, obvious. She chirps, “Nice to meet you, Ruby.”
Ruby beams, “Likewise, Wren.”
“What the fuck is He doing here?”
Like me, Loch seethes. He’s confused. Settling in beside Wren, Loch’s glare is aimed at Mom’s threatening sub kneeling beside her.
But she shifts her focus to Alan, unsure why her staff is also in here. Alan doesn’t know who we really are, so we have to be careful.
Then again.
Neither does Mom’s brutal BDSM boy-toy, so what the hell? And why is Axel in here with him? Why hasn’t he cut his throat open and killed him with salt?
“This is Roman.” Mom tugs her sub’s leash, and I swear the fucker stifles an aroused moan. I want his head, but she assures, “He’s trained and trusted. You may speak openly around him.”
Since when? Since when does my mom let anyone outside our family, the kings and queens, know who we are?
“Alan,” Mom addresses him. “Dear, I’m not sure why you’ve been brought into this meeting. My apologies for any awkwardness.”
“No, ma’am. It ain’t awkward.” Alan stands, ramrod straight. “I’m here because Sir Sire asked me to join y’all.”
Sir Sire? Yep, Wren heard it that time.
She snorts a laugh.
Irritably, I explain, “He’s here to discuss Waylon Banks and how we found Wren. How we know Sheremetev was involved.”
Axel doesn’t flinch at the name. He’s been intrigued by that intel from The Six, too. Ruby’s stealth and calm. We can trust her. My mom was also familiar with Sheremetev. We told her what The Six told us.
But her captive? Roman?
Recognition flicks across his eyes.
I clench my molars, and Mom catches it, redirecting our attention to Alan. “And how can Alan help us?”
“Maybe you knew him,” Wren speaks up, turning to him. “From when I was taken with the other girls. Did you ever hear that name?”
My Iron Angel has found her filter and an Oscar. No one has any idea the secret Wren hides for me. How she deftly protects me while getting intel and seeming so innocent about it. When really?
My Joan of Arc will start a war for me.
“Sorry, Wren,” Alan frets. “I don’t recognize the name. Truth is, I got big holes in my memory. I want to help ya, but—”
“It’s okay.” She gets up, reaching for Alan’s hand. “I’m just glad you’re healthy now, but if there’s anything you can remember. Like I remember an accent. A Russian accent. It’ll help us.”
“Would you remember a face if I showed you?” I ask, taking my phone from my pocket.
Cade Bryant said Valentin Sheremetev hid behind diplomatic immunity. I found a picture of him—a news story—online. It’s a few years old, but I show it to Alan.
The color drains from his face. “The Warden.”
“The what?” Wren asks.
“The Warden.” Alan’s spooked eyes lock on my phone screen. “Yeah, I’ve seen him. Never knew his name, but I knew his evil.”
“His evil?” Mom sounds worried.
“Yes, ma’am.” Alan nods. “My dad said The Warden kept girls locked up, and my dad’d sell him more. Sorry, ma’am, but I think it’s true.” He turns to Wren, his eyes blinking back tears. “I’m so sorry, Wren. I never meant—”
“It’s okay.” She wraps her arms around him. “We’re going after him. We’re getting those girls.”
Loch probes, “You got any idea where The Warden may be? Where these girls are?”
“No, sir.” Alan lets Wren go, answering, “I mean, I got the feeling they were close by, hiding in the mountains. My dad was never gone for long, though I ain’t sure. My memory and all…”
His words and chin drop.
“Alan, thank you, dear,” Mom eases. “You’ve been a big help.”
“I’ll go with you.” Alan looks up, offering to Loch, “If you need help findin’ him, holler, and I’ll go.”
Loch nods, thankful.
With another hug from Wren, Alan politely leaves us.
Sitting.
Silently.
Staring at each other.
A feeling I’ve never had before pounds through my veins. There’s another secret in this room, and it’s not mine.
Does it mean they know about me? Dear God, I hope they trust I’d never betray them. My hand on the Bible, I believe they’d never betray me.
But deep down, I know, we’re about to test our belief in each other.
Mom aims her laser focus on Loch. “Go home, today, and protect Alena. I don’t care how proud and stubborn she is. Don’t take your eyes off her.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Like us, Loch’s her son and soldier. We follow her orders.
“You two.” She points to Axel and Ruby. “I want this NFL thing wrapped up. Yes, I want my sons happy, but more? I need y’all safe and secure. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ruby replies with Axel.
They’re working on another operation with Nick and Zar. Sometimes, I think we’re fools to take on so much. Other times, I think we’re saints. We have no choice. It’s our calling.
“I want you initiated and protected. You need a second king,” Mom presses Ruby. “Ask Wren your questions. She’ll answer them and introduce you to the other queens. Right?”
Wren stands where Alan left her. Lifting her chin, she replies, “Yes, my queen.”
“And Wren?” Mom drills, “You want to tell me why my eldest son is looking as dark as the devil’s riding boats and acting so strange?”
Wren doesn’t even glance at me, assuring, “We’re trying to get pregnant, and he’s the pastor, always trying to save us. That’s his plan.”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
It is my plan, and it’s their only salvation.
Warmth softens my mom’s face. “You know I want that blessing for you two. For all of y’all, if it’s what you want, but what’s really going on, because that’s not news?”
Actually, it is.
We visited the doctor’s office before coming here. Wren had her IUD taken out, though everyone thinks we’ve been trying for months.
We haven’t.
But now?
I’ll try as if our lives depend on it.
This lie, trying to protect my family, has been my cross to bear for years. I can almost lay this burden down, once and for all.
Even if I won’t be here.
At least, they’ll be saved.
“It’s Sheremetev,” I reveal. “He’s our answer.”
“Answer how?” Axel wraps his arm around Ruby, and she nuzzles into him.
Peace fills me. When I’m not here, Ruby will love my little brother.
Deliberately, I prophesize, “I believe Sheremetev has something Ruslan wants. If we get Sheremetev, we’ll be safe. We won’t have to hide anymore.”
“What does Sheremetev have?” Axel suspects.
“Catch him and find out.”
No one replies.
Warily, they exchange looks before our Queen leans back in her chair. She never says Ruslan’s name. She won’t give him the respect. “That man won’t rest until he destroys us.”
The spirit moves through me.
It speaks and I listen.
This time, it’s God and the Devil.
No matter what happens to me, they need to believe this. They need to do it; it’s their only way out.
“Exactly. He wants to destroy us, so catch his enemy and destroy him first.”