Page 36 of Forbidden Bonds
Glaring from my brother to Ethan, I take the nearest chair.
Kade must decide there’s too much risk, despite the gun, and with a nod to both of us, stands in the gap between the chair and the couch where Ethan is. He’s the laid-back one out of the two, but he’s built like a brick wall. Also, Jordan and me have a history—I mean, he tried to strangle me once… Not sure how much help Jordan will be if Ethan decides to hand me my ass.
“Start talking,” Lucian says to Ethan as Jordan takes up position where he can intervene if he feels like it. “And to be clear, I couldn’t give a fuck what she did to piss you off. She’s mated to my brother now. If you or the government want her, you’ll have to come through me. And if you think Rhett won’t leave you and every mofo involved destitute and languishing in an obscure off-world prison, you don’t know my brother.”
Well, alright then…
Also, I really do have shit on everyone.
“Fine,” Ethan grits out. “But don’t fucking shoot the messenger.”
“We’re listening,” Lucian says. He unbuttons the jacket on his suit and sits down on the couch facing Ethan. He even puts the gun down, close at hand.
“Hammond Cohen is on Chimera,” Ethan says.
I’ve heard that name. Some bigshot Uncorrupted general. “What the fuck is he doing on Chimera?”
“Looking for his little dynamic pet,” Ethan says, drolly.
It takes a beat before the significance of his statement connects in my mind. I launch myself at him.
Jordan and Kade are on me, shoving me back into the seat. Lucian is pointing the gun at me now. I can’t believe this. “What the fuck?!”
“Calm your ass down,” Lucian says. “I have a feeling this conversation is going to get uncomfortable. Deal with it, or I will kick your ass out and you’ll have to watch the re-run.”
I shake out of Jordan and Kade’s hold. “Spill everything, right fucking now.”
“Cohen is arguably the most powerful general within the Uncorrupted ranks. His last ten years of success, his entire reputation, and their viral program are down to Larissa. His career won’t survive her loss. So, yes, he’s here. Yes, he’ll take fucking risks to get her back. They used her in interrogations of our people and meetings with their allies. She’s the secret weapon he used to get the edge over us. He just lost her. He wants her back. It’s about to get dirty.”
Chapter Fourteen
Rhett
“The government knows I brought Larissa Olsen back. They know I hid her somewhere. I’ve sent them on a merry chase down at the space docks… with a little help from Ryker, who is currently kicking off shit in a certain dive bar we are all very familiar with,” Ethan continues dryly.
Jordan growls.
He’s thinking about the last time he was there trying to intercept a black-market drug about to fall into the Uncorrupted’s hands. A brawl had ensued. They nearly got their asses handed to them… and arrested. I’d been overseeing the operation from my den. When the shit hit the fan, of course, I was blamed… I mean I do fuck with Jordan and Kade on a regular basis, but never during an important operation.
I’m not a complete dick.
I hold up both hands. “It really wasn’t my fucking fault.” I turn to Ethan. “What’s the plan here? You came to hand her over to the government? They want to use her to get him?”
Nope, not liking where this is going.
“Yes,” Ethan says bluntly. “This is bigger than us. Bigger than my feelings and yours. This is about the future of the Empire and the children we have or might one day have.”
He looks away at the last part in a way that makes warning bells go off. Something happened between them. Lucian’s earlier comment, what Larissa said… something really fucking bad. Instinct tells me I won’t like it. But that is going to have to wait. “You’re not using my mate as bait. And the government can go fuck themselves if they think I will let that happen.”
The elevator doors spring open, and the object of our discussion steps into the room, still wearing only my gecko T-shirt—which shows way too much flesh for my liking—head held high.
“I want to help,” Larissa says. “Whatever it takes. I’m done running. I want Cohen gone.”
Larissa
Ethan growls, low and aggressive.
Lucian levels a gun at him, and two hulking men in formal black outfits shift to cover him, braced for a threat or signal.
