Page 67 of Captive Mafia Wife

I feel Freya bristle beside me at the question.

“Not yet.” Folding his arms on the table, Callum shakes his head. “We’ve no idea who she is or her whereabouts, nor will we till we find Ross’s birthname.”

“She could be gone,” Freya offers.

“Or, scared of Ross and in hiding. Hopefully, we will find the mam and the wee one’s family. It’s best for all parties involved if the baby returns to the mother and the Kings close this chapter.”

For everyone but Freya, I can’t help but think. She’s grown too attached, too fast. Losing the little girl to an uncertain future will be difficult after the trauma bonding they’ve done today.

Freya eyes her brother, asking the question I know has been on her mind. “Where are we on the Jack Maclean case?”

“There has been a wee bit of good news in that department.”Too quickly, Callum adds, “And a hard truth as well.”

I glance over at Freya. She looks as if she’s frozen. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and warming her.

I say, “Good news first.”

“Part of the Ross theory you liked must be true because before he disappeared, word did get around from someone on their side that you were a target, that they knew your close connections were with the elder Mr. Maclean, and you didn’t know about Jack.”

“Thank God.” She collapses against me. “That is good news.”

My heart sinks as I guess what’s coming next. I tighten my hold around her. Callum forces himself to meet his sister’s gaze. “Freya…”

She straightens. “Callum. Come out with it.”

He strokes that beard like it’s his only comfort. “I don’t know how to say this?—”

She narrows her gaze, her courtroom voice coming out. “Just say it then. Please.”

He shakes his head. “The Kings have taken a vote. We cannae longer risk having you in the inner circle.”

Now I understand the empty room.

I’ve heard the whispers. I felt this vote coming. Still, I’m in disbelief that the family could turn her out of their inner workings.

My voice booms through the hall. “I didn’t get a vote.”

Callum locks eyes with me, sadness in his voice. “We dinnae need it, brother. The numbers were unanimous.” His Burnes green eyes return to Freya’s. “Save for mine.”

The deafening quiet of tension fills the vast space.

Finally, Freya breaks the silence. She passes her hand over the table, placing it over Callum’s. “I thank ye for that, brother.”

“You’ll still have the Kings’ support and protection, of course. We will never break our vow. In time, things will blow over. Your name will be cleared, Freya. Thanks to Ross, it’s already begun.” He flips his hand over, grabbing hers tight. “You know I’ll always trust ye, Freya. With my life.”

“Same.” She gives him a sad, brave smile. “Always.”

I know her heart is breaking, but she straightens her posture, steadies her tone, and says, “We’d best be on our way.” Pushing her chair back, she stands. I join her.

“We’ll just grab Pearl and be on our way—” She looks up at me, her eyes locking on mine. “On our way home.”

Her final word hangs in the air: home, a beautiful sound. She’s officially accepting Wee Inverness as her place of belonging and me as her person, leaving Norse Garden Estates behind. Gratitude washes over me—Freya and me, against the world. Or, better yet, nestled in our own little world that we’ve both come to love, offering one another the comfort and acceptance we so desperately need.

“Let’s go home.” I lean down, kissing her lips.

Callum breaks the moment. “That’d be best. Unfortunately,the Kings cannae offer protection to a child of a member of the Hoax.”

At the mention of Pearl, Freya goes warrior. “Even when her father was executed? A refugee, given no hope.”

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