Page 178 of Retribution
Oliver follows Alesso as he tears at his hair, and I sigh.
“Well, that’s a sure fire way to know if Avery is alive,” I decide.
“Always a silver lining,” Quinn says, finally leaning into Duncan. “I’m not diminishing anyone else’s experiences with Ophelia, but Wren was taken to the auctions by her handler due to being too old for him.”
Shuddering, I focus on Leila’s body as her chest rises and falls. “Too old” has many meanings, and none of them says consent. Usually the pedophiles will tap out at sixteen or seventeen.
“Do you think she’d be up for a feminine rage ‘let’s be friends’ date?” I ask, glancing up at Quinn.
The smiles that explode across Adira and Quinn’s faces make it worth having to people.
I guess killing Ophelia is about to become a bonding activity.
The holding cell is in a warehouse in Minneapolis, where Cian and Corbin are waiting for us later that morning. I swear I’ve ingested more coffee than I should, so I’m worse than a hyped up toddler on candy.
My toes wiggle in my boots as I struggle to keep myself contained. I have a reputation to keep, after all. These men are used to the cool, no fucks given, professional Isolde.
All I have right now is the sleep deprived version that’s been kept awake for too many days.
Adira and Quinn stand next to me along with our packs, which means there are a lot of fucking people here. I never thought about the entourage an omega travels with once she finds her mates. It’s almost funny in a manic, ‘I’ve had too much sugar, so everything is hysterical’ kind of way.
Cian looks over my face, frowning as he gazes at the black eye I’m now sporting. It took its sweet time developing from a blow I took to the face, but it’s an ugly shade of black now.
“I’m not going to ask you if you’re okay,” he says gruffly. “I have a feeling it wouldn’t go over well, and you wouldn’t tell me either way. All I can say is thank you for helping us get Ophelia shut down. She’s been a goddamned menace for too long.”
I glance at Jed who shakes his head slightly. I suppose Ophelia’s spawn from Satan is going to stay under wraps for now.
“She’s hurt a lot of people, from what I understand,” I say instead.
I’m dressed for death with a pair of leather pants that had Lucas frowning as I pulled them on, and a black long sleeved shirt. I have a bag of my favorite items to interrogate with that I asked Kane to help me put together, and my hair is in a long braid down my back.
Kane has access to the best toys, even the ones that aren’t mainstream. As long as I don’t blow up the building, it should be fine.
“She has,” Corbin grunts. “We haven’t been able to pull her out of her hole. We’re very grateful to you all for getting rid of such a large trafficking problem.”
“Someone new always pops up, thinking it’s easy money,” I sigh.
The door opens behind us, and I turn to watch as a girl with long brown hair enters surrounded by Shaw and their pack. Her hazel eyes are wide and worried as she walks, and I frown as a memory tugs at my subconscious.
The girl refuses to look at anyone as they join us, and I wait to be introduced.
“Hey, everyone. I’m sorry we’re running a little late. I didn’t know if we’d make it. Ophelia is part of a very dark part of Wren’s past,” Shaw explains, his hand on her back as he watches her worriedly.
“You don’t have to be here if it’s going to pull up bad memories,” I say gently.
I’m not really sure what to do with someone who looks so fragile. The only person I have the ability to be soft with is Leila. Linus and Christian are hanging out with her today, even though Christian appeared mildly terrified with the idea of being alone with her.
Linus told me it would be good practice for him, and Grant said there’s nothing like a baby having a blow out to make you more comfortable being a dad. I don’t think that helped the situation, but it was pretty funny.
Wren glances up and flinches as she gazes at me.
“Do I know you?” she asks, confused.
I stare back, remembering the girl that Ophelia dragged out of the office the day I was finally sold.
“You were at the auction house,” I murmur. “I saw you there, right?”
“You looked like you couldn’t give a flying fuck what happened, and I wished I could have some of your attitude,” Wren says ruefully.
