Chapter 146


    “I have to know he’s alive.”


    “You have my word,” he tells me.


    Oddly. I believe him.


    This wolf is many things…


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Cold. Cru el. A Kil ler.


    But he isn’t a li ar.


    I get the impression that he’d consider that beneath him. Or


    more aptly, he’s too arr ogant for that sort of machination.


    Five.


    Four.


    He smiles.


    I grab the pen.


    It’s a mistake, I know. But I’ll be able to fight it. Those papers


    will take weeks to file and we can revoke them beforehand.


    I scribble my name and then jump back from the table. “Bring him out. Now.” I level the gun at Ryker.


    “And so help me god, I’m going to do to you whatever you’ve done to him.”


    He smiles again, only this one actually looks genuine. “Such a


    waste,” he mumbles.


    Then he rises from the desk and walks to a different table.


    There is an old-fashioned phone with a coiled cord. He picks up the receiver and punches in the


    numbers. “Bring him up,” he tells someone, then gently sits the phone back in its cradle.


    1 nce behind me at the door I came through. No wolves crowd or block that route of escape. But


    despite that, I still


    fear we’ll have a hard time to break free of this ce. My mind is racing. We can petition the Council.


    What’s happened here…it isn’t legal. It won’t stand. There are attorneys in the human world andws


    that protect against exactly this type of extortion. We have evidence of the hostage situation and can


    pursue this in legal channels.


    It’ll be okay. First step is to get Liam to safety.


    Then we can figure out the rest.


    Ryker watches me, his eyes glittering. “I think I can see into `your mind. All the little thoughts spinning


    like a waterwheel.”


    My phone is in my back pocket and I’m still holding the gun. Ryker doesn’t look concerned at all. He


    crosses his arms and


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    leans against the antique Louis XIV table. Everything in this room feels old and big and decadent.


    “My husband is going to make you pay for this.”


    His face gives the tiniest flinch. It’se and gone in a second. “There is nothing that Aaron Rathborn


    can do to address this situation. It’s rooted in ha te generations in the


    making.”


    I don’t like the sound of this at all.


    Right now, I just wish Aaron was here.


    I heft the gun a little higher.


    “I see why he favors you,” Ryker says quietly.


    I don’t know what he means. Or even who he is talking about.


    There’s motion behind us and though I keep my sights trained on Ryker, I watch as Liam clears the


    warehouse entry door. He walks unrestrained straight toward me.


    I let my attention flicker for the briefest moment but it’s all I


    need.


    Liam is unharmed.


    His hair is styled back. His beard is trim. He’s wearing a suit


    and looking like he came fresh from the tailor’s.


    Where are the bruises and blood, the evidence of beatings


    and abuse?


    “Thank God you’re alright,” I whisper.


    He smiles at me. “Thanks to you, sweet sister.”


    Then he turns to Ryker. “Is it done?”


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    Ryker nods but his gaze stays on me. “She signed over everything.”


    “Well, then,” Liam says as he approaches me, “I don’t see any


    reason to drag this out. Do you?”


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