Page 6 of Adored By Them
* * *
Troy
Edmund and I ditch Caleb to go to Rendsell.Caleb goes off to meet with Warren.Edmund and I are in search of Pope, who was due to work at Rendsell after the wedding.
Darkness has fallen by the time we get there.We find Pope at the front gate.Arky dances around, barking gleefully at the sight of Edmund and me driving up.
“Hey, guys.Go on in.”Pope jabs a thumb toward the house.
Like usual, Pope’s dark blond hair is buzzed short.Same hairstyle he’s worn since I met him ten, fifteen years ago.He strikes me as the kind of man who hates dealing with details.It’s one reason he’s been a low-level guard all these years.Follows directions, doesn’t think outside the box.I always thought Pope was a decent guy.A little on the stupid side, but loyal enough to be a guard.
Unless someone else got to him.Convinced him to switch loyalties.He’s dumb enough to be swayed by someone else’s argument.
“Actually, it’s you we’d like to speak with.”Edmund opens his door and comes around the front of the car.He absently pats Arky, but his full attention is fixed on Pope.Anger shines in his eyes.“Tell us about this morning.”
Pope’s eyebrows pull together.He scratches his big nose.“Well, I didn’t see anything, if that’s what you mean.I saw folks moving around.Seemed like they all belonged there.”
“Did Match or Torkin talk to you at any point?”I ask.“Even to check in?”
“Not a word.”Pope’s face crumples.“I liked Match and Torkin.”
I grimace, hoping he doesn’t cry.Not that I care if men cry, but guys in the Layton family are weird about it.We don’t have time for weird.
“They were good guys.”He clears his throat, takes a moment to collect himself.“Anyway.We were all pretty quiet on the comms.Nothing suspicious.Warren and Morraine were giving each other some shit, then Morraine turned off his comm for the ceremony.After that, well…”
He trails off and sends a cautious glance to Edmund.
Edmund clenches his fists.“Did you have anything to do with Danica’s kidnapping?”
“No!No way.”Pope leans back.
Edmund follows him, stepping forward with his shoulders squared.“Because if you did, you will die.Painfully.”
Pope’s face pales.“I swear I didn’t touch her and I don’t know who did!”
I clamp a hand on Edmund’s shoulder and steer him back to my truck.He doesn’t speak.He just stares hard at Pope.
Arky leaps around the truck as we try to climb in.Pope whistles for Arky and holds him by the collar, scratching him behind the ears as we drive away.
“Try to go easier,” I tell Edmund.“Pope nearly pissed himself.”
“He won’t have a dick to piss with if he had a hand in Danica’s kidnapping.”
3
Edmund
If Troy weren’t here, I would be tearing the city apart, doing more damage than good.
I haven’t slept.By the time dawn breaks, my eyes are dry and itchy, my muscles tense.Danica is out there, somewhere.Alive, I hope.And if she’s alive, she’s probably very, very scared.
She’s been through so much.She can handle a lot—she’s the strongest woman I know.
But she shouldn’t have to handle it.She should be safe and happy, always.And if she’s unhappy, Troy and I should be nearby to comfort her.
This is…this is unbearable.
My phone rings.Seeing Caleb’s name has me rushing to answer.
