Page 4 of Frayed Owner

She bobbed her head and wiped her eyes and the blood off her face as best as she could before turning to Councilman Oliveria. “My brother, Alex Shaw, forced his way in here with my father’s guards and demanded I sign a mating contract. When I refused, he physically assaulted me and threatened to drain my power for himself if I didn’t behave.”

My leg moved without me even realizing it and I kicked Alex in the face, knocking him out.

“Oh darn, he fell on the way to the council’s estate,” one of the council guards joked… As he moved me back away from Alex.

“You do have a temper, poppet,” Councilman Oliveria chuckled.

I gave him a hard look. “I will show Mrs. Oliveria the proof and pictures of the abuse Alex made me endure and then she can decide if I was bad or a saint. Because honestly, I’m having a hard time not pushing him out the window.”

And that said a lot since we were twenty floors up.

He nodded and focused on Clare. “And these men?”

“They didn’t touch me, but they wouldn’t leave,” she whispered. “They were harassing me to be a good bitch and do what I’m told.” She tried to blink back tears. “Father is trying to force me to mate Gregg Haddock to clean up the mess.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” I muttered, glancing between her and Alex. “You heard that from him?”

“Father’s signature is on the mating contracts,” she answered. “There’s texts from him that Alex showed me saying he needed to have me sign the contract and get Jean under control if he really wants to be his heir and take over soon.”

I opened my mouth but then closed it, shaking my head. I pulled out my phone and called Tracey.

“Are you okay? Jasmine just filled me in and—”

“Physically, but I really need to be old enough to fucking drink,” I grumbled, glad when several people snorted like they agreed with me. “We’re getting Clare out. Can we spare people to pack up her condo and get it all somewhere safe?”

She was quiet a moment. “Yeah, I think Rita will know people who would want the extra work. Probably Winter and his friends—they’re always up for more jobs.”

“Perfect. I’ll have her grab the important stuff and—Father will freeze her accounts when he learns, so she has to act fast to transfer and handle what she can.” I gave Clare a sad look, but she nodded that she knew.

“I’ll have Jasmine come and help her. You have too much already going on,” Tracey said. “But don’t tell her anything yet, Bev. We don’t know we can trust her. She just asked for help to escape from your brother right now. That’s it.”

Yeah, but it wasn’t. Still, I would leave it alone for right now.

If for no other reason than because I understood when people gave me too many hard truths that I couldn’t handle all at once. It was cruel even if needed, and Clare had had too much cruelness in her life.

Any woman of the Shaw family had.

2

Clare

“Let’s get him and the others handled,” Councilman Oliveria said to the council guards with him before turning to Bevin. “I’m sorry to rush you, poppet, but I have other pressing matters.” He reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “And you’ve already had too rough of a day. Let others handle this and help your sister.”

“I don’t…” Bevin shot me a guilty look.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Thank you for coming.”

“I’ll stay with her and Jasmine if you go right back home and stay there,” the guy who came through the door first said as he put away his gun. He gave Bevin a hard look. “And heal your hand.”

She smiled at him. “You loved it.”

He snorted. “I’m jealous. Alex is a huge asshole and I’ve wanted to clock him for years.” He focused his intense gaze on me. “You’re fine with this?”

“Um, sure, but who are you?” I whispered, hating how fragile I sounded. Then the adrenaline that had been filling my body seemed to cut out and my legs felt weak. I had just enough awareness to catch myself on the arm of my chair and sit down there.

“Taylor Reid,” he introduced. “I have a security contract with your sister.”

I blinked at Bevin. What the fuck was going on that she had the eldest son of the head of the council working for her? Seriously, there was so much that I was missing. I think I mumbled that I was fine with it and then stared off into space as too much happened. I felt cold and hot at the same time while the council guards used magic to tote Alex away.

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