Page 113 of Queen of Spades

“That’s not exactly how you build loyal relationships, now, is it?” Ranger growls, frowning.

“Stop,” Annika snaps. “It’s different for women. Especially when men use sexual violence to force information and exert control.”

Ranger’s face twists into a mask of disgust as he takes a step back. “You’d think humans could be a little more civilized. I treat all my victims the same. I’ve found stapling the eyelids open and forcing someone to watch televangelist shows on repeat to be quite effective, no matter age or gender.”

“Jesus Christ,” Cas mutters.

“Okay, thanks for that.” Annika scoffs. “Why did you hit on Grady, if you knew he was mine? That bothers me more than anything else.”

Lyra rolls her eyes. “I didn’t want to fuck him. I was trying to give him a heads up that Kane was nosing around.”

“Well, you went about it the wrong way,” Grady deadpans. “I would have slit your throat myself if you caused problems between me and my omega.”

Annika’s face breaks into a bright smile that makes me very sure she’s got a dangerous side. “Okay, that was sweet, but how did all this end up with your sister going missing?”

“After those guys interrogated me, I realized I had to get out of the city. I left you a note telling you I had a family emergency and to call me.” Lyra swipes a hand over her face. “I was going to warn you, but only once I was far enough away to be safe. I don’t know if they followed me, or found the note, or what, but they broke into my sister’s apartment. I wasn’t there when it happened, but the neighbor had a video camera on their doorbell, and…” She sobs, bending in half. “You don’t get it, Annika. Laken isn’t like us. There’s no telling what’s happening to her right this very second.”

Maverick scoffs, and my eyes narrow.

“Yeah, and where were you when they took her?” he growls, glaring at the crying woman.

“It really doesn’t matter, does it?” Annika snaps, pushing out of Kane’s lap and moving to comfort her friend. “It’s done. It can’t be changed.”

“She was out, trying to score,” Maverick says.

“Well, someone is overly self-righteous,” Grady says, gesturing at Maverick. “It doesn’t matter. That woman…wait. How old is she?”

“Twenty-one.” Lyra sniffles, looking at Grady over Annika’s shoulder. “She’s an unbonded omega.”

“Fucking hell,” Kane mutters.

“Right, and she’s only involved because of us.” Grady crosses his arms over his chest, looking at Ranger. “I think our timetable just moved up significantly.”

Ranger nods. “I’ll gather Kate and see if we can offer a trade for that woman.”

“There will be no trading anyone.” Annika shoves to her feet, meeting her brother’s eyes. “It’s time the Andrettis went extinct.”

“I agree.” Ranger nods. “But setting up a meeting under the guise of trading Kate for Laken would give us an excuse to move quickly.”

Annika sighs, shaking her head. “I think you’re asking too much of that woman. She ran for a reason.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Kane asks, surprising the hell out of all of us.

Annika nods. “I just might.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Annika

It’s shocking how similar Ranger’s houseguest Kate and I look. Honestly, it’s a little disturbing, especially after learning that Lucien Andretti kept her as his unwilling prisoner for close to two years.

Perhaps all three brothers were more focused on me than I ever realized. Or maybe Lucien wanted someone who looked like me that he could beat the hell out of to make himself feel better when my family canceled our betrothal.

Who fucking knows what that psycho was thinking.

It doesn’t matter.

Either way, he’s being handled tonight.

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