Page 25 of Adored By Them
“This part is important.”Danica is pale, with dark circles under her eyes.But her voice is clear and strong.“The Vorsongs are bringing in a shipment of heroin this Friday.It’s coming into Mirarosa.”
“Mirarosa?”A detective with short, blond hair raises her eyebrows.“That’s unusual.”
Dani lifts a single shoulder.“I told you everything I know.”
“Our family has docks in Mirarosa.”Edmund steps forward.“It’s likely the Vorsongs will bring things through there.”
“Any reason why they would choose your docks?”the blond detective asks.
I raise my eyebrows.He and I both know Caleb Morraine was probably giving the Vorsongs an in.Edmund better tread carefully.Morraine’s body will disappear, but it would be best if nobody knows he’s missing for a while.
“They might think they can get away with it, without us knowing.”Edmund gives the detective a bland smile.“They’re aware of my family’s business and operations.”
“If you want to stop them, you need people there on Friday.”Dani returns the conversation to where we want it—away from Morraine and the Laytons, and back to the Vorsongs.“This is what Kellen told me, and it was important that you know.”
Her voice catches on Kellen’s name.He meant something to her—the two probably bonded while in that room.She’s taking his death hard.
I catch Edmund’s eye and tilt my head toward my truck.
He understands right away.Clasping his hands together, he says, “If you have everything you need, we should be going.Danica is tired and needs to rest.Here’s my number if you need to ask follow-up questions.”
I half-expect Dani to protest the way he’s strong-arming her out of the interview, but she leans into him for support.
Edmund kisses her forehead.“Let’s go, princess.”
* * *
Edmund
She’s finally in my arms again.We ride the elevator up to our apartment, Troy and I on either side of her.I can’t stop touching her.
She stands straight and strong, her expression determined.An EMT blanket covers her top half, worn like a shawl.Below, her wedding gown.It’s filthy—covered in dirt and blood, the fabric ripped in places.
And still she holds herself like a queen.
Ourqueen.
We didn’t ask where she wanted to go, though.The past four days, her decisions and choices were limited, torn away while she was held captive.And here we are, whisking her along to our own place.
“Danica.”I wait until she turns her head to face me.“Do you want to be here, with us?Is there somewhere else you’d rather go?”
“Of course I want to be here.”
When I open the apartment door, Cackle races forward.Danica kneels to greet him.He bumps his head against her hands, purring.
“It’s just…” I pause, trying to come up with the correct words.“It’s just that you don’t have to be here anymore.Nobody’s making you, and while I want you here?—”
“Wewant you here,” Troy interjects.
“Whilewewant you here, more than fuckinganything, it needs to be your choice.”I force myself to say the next bit, even though I don’t want to.“The Vorsongs are as good as gone.The marriage doesn’t need to happen.”
“So I’m free to go.”She stands, lifting Cackle.The emergency blanket falls from her shoulders.Cackle paws at Danica’s ornate diamond necklace.
“Yeah.You’re free to go.”I choke out the words.Please don’t go.
She marches down the hall and into her room.Cackle struggles out of her arms so she lets him down.He follows her, chasing the dirty train of her wedding gown.
I follow her, too.“Are you leaving?”
