Page 12 of Tangled Hearts

He kissed each of his kids and also told them he loved them and that daddy was very proud of them. His wife’s heartbeat grew faster.

“We can run,” his wife whispered.

He didn’t say anything, but I assumed he shook his head at her.

My gut twisted as I came to terms with maybe having to kill this asshole.

He walked out of his home leading us to a few chairs around a pit.

“Look, I?—”

“No, you don’t speak, you listen and you will answer me when I want you to. Got it?” I all but snarled at him.

He nodded.

“How long have you been feeding Laima information?”

“I don’t—” his voice trailed off when he looked up at me. “Six months.”

“Did she specifically ask about us or did she just need information?”

“It was specifically you at first, but she wanted to know who was looking for Oria when it started to grow scarce on the market,” he said, looking really nervous. “I had no choice, Soren. She would have killed them or she would have sent Taylin.”

I didn’t correct him, letting him think it was Soren who was questioning him. Now he definitely wouldn’t doubt me.

“Did she know who we were, like our names?”

“No, she told me to feed you bad information to Laima’s magic shop, in hope the trolls would kill you,” he said, looking at his hands. “She’s been trying to kill every dealer that way, but I don’t know why.”

What he was saying didn’t make any sense.

“Is she targeting magic shops?”

“No, just people like you and Ryder, but she also wanted Ryder's contact information. I was really hoping you wouldn’t go to the shop. I thought maybe she would hire you before you went to the shop,” he said chewing on his bottom lip. “She’s terrifying and so is her lackey. She’s trying to do something with Oria or keep it all for herself.”

“What have you heard?”

“Laima is working for someone powerful like a god,” he said, fear evident in his voice.

“Another god war?” I clenched my jaw hoping it was all bullshit.

“I think so, all the signs are pointing to her working for the father,” he shuddered.

“Shit,” I growled.

If this included the gods, the guys and I were no match for them.

“It’s not just her working for the big guy, it’s her and her sisters,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know all their plans, but I know she’s moving things around like a chess game.”

“She’s going to call for you,” I said, watching his reaction.

He clenched his jaw. “I know, she said I needed to be available for her and if I wasn’t, my family would pay.”

“Then get out,” I said. “Leave town, go to Canada. I know you have an escape plan and right now she’s so busy she won’t waste resources to look for you.”

He looked up at me.

“Why are you being nice?” He eyed me warily.

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