Page 54 of The Fate of Black Hearts

Efrem cleared his throat from the entrance to the indoor patio. Evie didn’t jump away. Neither did Dom, nor did he let her go, which made her stomach warm. He wasn’t embarrassed or trying to hide what was between them.

“Pardon the interruption, but a phone call came in from Ian Lanzo. Willem’s brother.” His gaze darted to Dom and then quickly away as if worried he might spontaneously combust if he stared too long.

“What?” Everything inside her readied for something awful. Ian never phoned her. “How did Ian find me? Us?” No one was supposed to know she still existed. They’d faked her death a year ago.

Dom put an arm around her, which she appreciated even though she could stand on her own.

A pained expression passed across Efrem’s face. “I asked the same. He said he’s always kept tabs on you. Willem wants to meet you to discuss a way he has found to get all of them free of the curse. Just you. Alone.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not an obvious setup. Willem likes his cushy life where the boys do all the work.”

“He warned if you don’t show up at this exact address—which is about an hour from here—in four hours, one of the boys will die.”

She stalked to the phone just inside on the table and dialed the direct line to her sons’ small flat. They weren’t on mission now. It rang five times before one of them answered.

“Hello, Shane. Please put Roman on, love,” she ordered.

After some shuffling, Roman answered. “Why the hell are you calling? This isn’t a secure line.”

“Are all of you accounted for? Is anyone gone?”

“Flynn and Jonas are on recon right now.” Roman sounded as if he just woke up. “Is there a problem?”

“Ian phoned me. Willem wants to meet with me in a few hours. He said Willem has a way to break the curse but only with my help. If I don’t meet with them, one of you is in danger of dying.”

“We can sort ourselves. Don’t meet him.”

She didn’t reply.

“Swear to me,” Roman insisted. “You won’t meet with him. If he has info on a way out, he needs to tell us.”

“I’m going to find out what he’s up to.”

“I’m going with you then.”

“It’ll take you too long for you to get here. Maybe it’s time he and I face off.”

“He’s itching to get a female lycan. I’m not sure why, but I suspect he wants to give the Crown more little lycans for them to train.”

“I’m too old to have more children, right?” They both knew it was a lie. “I’ve got this. I want you threeto stay there. I’ll phone after we meet.”

“You can’t do this.” Roman released a rough hiss of a sigh. “Damn it, you’re going. Kill him. Don’t hesitate. The asshat wrecked our lives.”

“It might come to that. Locate Flynn and Jonas. They’re your priority.”

She hung up.

“You’re not going,” Efrem said.

“You know it’s a setup.” Dom moved slowly into the room. Wrinkles formed between his eyebrows.

“What option do we have if he has Flynn or Jonas?” she asked Dom.

“I will tie you up and lock you in the basement until next year,” Efrem growled. “Hewill not help you escape.” He pointed at Dom.

She locked gazes with Dom. “I need this.”

“Okay.” Dom’s gaze didn’t waver from hers. “They won’t know I’m there.”