“Fuck!”I yell, and my door flies open.
Three men in suits, armed to the hilt, storm into my bedroom.“Everything okay?”the middle one asks, while the one on the right rushes to stand in front of me, and the one on the left heads for the en suite.
“What the fuck?”Is this a joke?These better be strippers sent here to entertain me, but in my heart, I know they’re not.
“Not a joke, ma’am.Your brother has requested round-the-clock detail for your safety,” the middle one replies, still scanning the room.“Any present threats?”
“None detected.”The man from the bathroom emerges, swinging his gun around like it’s his first time showing his dick to a woman.
I’m so over this.There’s no privacy in this goddamn house anymore.I’ve constantly got three security guards following my ass.I can’t go anywhere or do anything without them trailing me.This will make it impossible for me to get the answers I need.I want to go back to Magick and investigate, not in disguise but as Amirah Ledger, someone people pay attention to.I want to follow Callan, see if I can find any evidence of his connection to these crimes.
I need to speak to my brother, and he’d better hear me out.I’m going crazy holed up in this prison.I storm out my door, through the corridor, and down our stairs.My security detail follows closely behind me, and the anger I feel increases with every step I take.
After opening the back door, I step out onto the back patio, the warm sun kissing my cheeks.I head straight for the training shed, where I know my brother will be.He’s been practically living there this past week.
Moving through the shed, I keep my head down, not wanting to speak to anyone but my brother.I take the stairs two at a time and rip open the office door, then slam it shut behind me.My security detail stays waiting outside.
“Yes, Amirah?”Gage asks, cocking his head to the side.Lucas stands from the chair opposite Gage’s desk, but I don’t even greet him.I’m so frustrated.
“So, what, now I can’t even go outside our front door without someone glued to my ass?”I snap, bracing my hands on the edge of his desk.
Gage leans back in his office chair.“It’s for your own protection,” he says, glancing at the paperwork scattered over his desk.
“I don’t want to be holed up in the house all day.I wanna help,” I practically whine.I’ve done as much research as I can in my bedroom, on the internet, and talking to Jewel.But it’s not enough.I need to be around The Brotherhood to fish for more intel.Everyone talks, and someone here knows something that’ll help me.
Gage moves around the desk, standing in front of me.“Absolutely not,” he growls.
I squeeze my eyes shut, breathing out a heavy exhale.I need to play this smart.My frustration isn’t going to work with Gage.I learned that when I first asked him if he could help me look into things with Jewel.
“Please let me do something.Anything.I’m going crazy,” I say, looking up at Gage with my best attempt at puppy-dog eyes.
“Fine.Get Freya and go train with the new recruits—brush up on your skills.You both need to be able to protect yourselves if, God forbid, we can’t,” he says, moving back around the desk.
My inner voice screamsfuck yes.“Thank you.”
I leave with a grin on my face.I came here wanting more power, but instead I got something even better.Training with men of The Brotherhood—it’s a win-win.I can learn how to defend myself, all while fishing for intel that I need to finish my presentation.
I have to save the girls at Magick.And the only way to get Gage to help me is to present evidence so compelling, even he can’t say no.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Zion
Her chest rises and falls with each breath on Bear’s black cotton sheets.My daughter is back with me.Safe.Protected.I’ll never let her out of my sight again.I’m sure she’s confused, wondering why she’s here, but she knows me.I’m not a stranger to her.That’s something, at least.Will she understand when I tell her I’m her father?When should I do that?Will she be happy here?
Fuck.There’s so much that she needs to know.I never wanted to put her through all of this.If I could take her pain and confusion away, I would.No matter what I do, I’m hurting her in some way.Damaging her.She stayed with her mother in Daringville to have a shot at a better life, and look what happened.Her mother is gone forever, leaving her with a monster.
Now that she’s back with me, I can repair the damage, filling her life with only good memories.Love and protection.It’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.
Her blue eyes blink open.She looks around the room, frowning, before her gaze meets mine.Her face relaxes, and she smiles.
“Zee,” she sighs out, and I can’t help but smile at my little angel.
“Where’s Mommy?”she asks, and my heart breaks for her.
I wrap my arm around her, and she snuggles into my chest.
“Mommy has gone, and as much as I want to bring her back for you, I can’t,” I say, fighting back the tears.She was my first love.What we had was everything, and I gave it all up so that our little girl could have the life Lauren dreamed of.
