Page 66 of Captive Mafia Wife

Her eyes widen. “From what the Kings know so far, they think Ross seeing me on the street today was random?”

“They think he was running away, right then, right there. And he was being followed. That it was fate that made our paths cross at that moment. He saw you and either trusted you or was desperate and, recognizing you, handed her off for hersafety.”

She shakes her head, whispering, “Kismet.”

“Seems to be.” I don’t believe in fate. Now is not the time to start another disagreement between us.

“Gah. What will people say now?” She glances at me, steeling her nerves. “You know what—I don’t care. I don’t freck—stinking care.”

We sit quietly for a moment. She rests her head on the back of the headrest, closing her eyes, privately diving into her thoughts, most likely mentally preparing herself to face everyone after all this time and trauma.

Fiona and Callum greet us at the door. After a quick round of greetings and reluctantly handing Pearl off to Fiona, Freya and I sit side by side on one end of the long table in the Great Hall, ready to work.

Only Callum joins us. I want to ask where the other members of the Kings are.

I don’t.

Either distracted by her need to protect Pearl first or too overwhelmed to notice the empty room, Freya’s first question is, “What’s everyone saying about what happened today?”

“The stories are so ridiculous, I’d laugh if I weren’t so angry about them.” Callum runs a hand over his beard.

“Tell me your favorite,” Freya demands dryly.

He winces. “You’ve been with the Hoax since the age of sixteen, acting as an informant for them, spilling the secrets of the Kings.”

“Och! No!” Freya says.

“It gets better,” Callum says. “The baby you’ve brought here?—”

I interject on Freya’s behalf. “We’ll call her Pearl for now.” Freya shoots me a grateful look as her brother continues.

Callum adopts the new name. “Pearl—Pearl Macdonald—a love child of Freya and Ross. Even though Freya’s figure could never be described as anything other than ‘willowy.’”

“People are ridiculous. I should know. I’m the queen of petty gossip.” She quickly looks at me, adding, “I mean, I used to be. In my younger days.”

Callum continues, “Hence, Pearl inherits Freya's pale skin. Freya has had to hide Pearl until now in her attempt to remain an undercover member of the Hoax.”

“Why would I expose Pearl now?” Freya asks.

“Ross was going to defect. That part is true. Knowing he was in trouble, you lovers planned this handoff,” Callum explains.

“Careful there. Choose another word,” I groan.

“There’s one you might like better, then, Fredrick. One that is a wee bit closer to Ross’s truth.”

“Lay it on us,” Freya says.

“Ross did want to leave the Hoax. He must have known about the few other members we’ve trusted enough to take into our fold. I think he wanted to talk to Freya to see if it was possible to bring him aboard. In return, he would help you by telling everyone the truth; you were targeted and knew nothing of Jack’s involvement in the Hoax.”

“I like that one best.” Freya nods. “Everyone else has decided what is true without sticking to facts. I’ll do the same. I choose that story to be the real one.”

“And what part do I play in all these legends?”

Callum offers me his grin. “You’re her henchman. You do her bidding. Blinded by Freya’s beauty and blissfully unaware of her traitorous nature.”

“Nice.” Freya turns to me. “Though I do like the idea of bossing you around.”

I shoot her a stern look. Turning the conversation, I ask, “Have they found the mother?”

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