Page 76 of A Forbidden Love (Fraser Crime Syndicate 3)

CHAPTER22

Ryan

Iwatch Aurelia from across the room. She’s deep in thought, her eyes locked on the floor to ceiling window. Even though Elena and Sariah are both talking, she doesn’t appear to be joining in their conversation.

“She’ll be okay,” Luke says from my side, making my head turn in his direction.

“I know.”

“Then stop watching her. Aurelia is used to our mother’s bullshit. We’ve had to deal with her crap from the moment we were born.”

I lean my elbows on the breakfast bar and give the youngest Fraser brother my full attention. “I would have put a bullet in her a long time ago.”

“It’s been considered more than once,” he admits.

“Why didn’t you do it before now?”

“Charlotte has… power. Sway. Men loyal to her.”

That worries me. Loyalty makes people do crazy shit. “I won’t let you put Aurelia in danger.”

Luke smiles, but there’s nothing friendly in the gesture. “Do you think we’d risk our sister’s life? We loved her long before you did, Malone.”

I can concede on that point. I have no doubt these men love her. They are risking everything for her.

“I want her safe.”

“And we’ll do that. You have to trust us.”

“How?”

He blows out a breath. “Charlotte thinks she has more support than she does. For weeks now we’ve been bringing men to our side.”

“You’re sure they’re loyal?” Charlotte is devious, and she always has the upper hand. I don’t want them to think they’re winning against her when she’s really just playing them. There’s too much at stake.

“No, of course not, but they’re loyal to money, and that’s what we’ve promised them.” His eyes find his sister from across the room. “It helps that Charlotte is such a detestable bitch. It makes it easier to convince her men to betray her. At the moment, Kane looks like the better option to lead the firm.”

“You’re playing with fire,” I warn. I don’t like this. It doesn’t seem like a solid plan.

“Yes, but we’re always playing with fire. The trick is not to leave your hand in the fire long enough to get burnt.”

Aurelia comes back into her conversation, smiling at something Sariah says. I’m worried about how quiet she’s been since that phone call to her mother. “And how do you do that?”

He smirks. “You’ll see.”

“I want in,” I say. I need to make sure, with my own eyes, that Charlotte is taken care of. I need to know Aurelia is safe.

“I know you do, but your place is here with my sister.”

“I’ve got skills. You can use me.”

“You do, and we can.”

“I need to know this is done.”

“It will be.” He clamps a hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got this.”

He may have, but I’m not prepared to let it slide. I want to be there. No, I need to be there.

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