Page 118 of The Freedom in Captivity

“Della and Ariella suffered at the hands of your father. They lost a mother, their freedom, themselves, and each other. Ariella got the brunt. Their mother was killed. My sister was caught in your father’s plans.Yourmother. Your sister…and you. Rozelyn, if I held you to standards any differently than I do my wife, you may as well brand me a hypocrite. What you did was to protect yourself. You played the long game and fucking survived. That was war, and you did what any one of us would have done. Therefore,” he tips his head forward, “yes, you have my respect, Rozelyn, and for that, I will grant you entry into my home to be with Flynn."

Her shoulders slump lower. I hadn’t realized she was clinging to his approval so much, but for some reason, that makes me love her more. The fact she understands my place within the organization, and where Nico is situated in the chain.

This time, he looks at me. “It’s all on you, Flynn. If you’re sure about her, then I’ll keep silent on the matter.”

Gathering her hair, I use it to twist her head until she can see me, so I’m responding to her rather than Nico. “This woman’s owned my heart since the first moment I saw her in school. When she was a stuck-up princess hiding a lot of pain. I’m very sure about her, sir.”

Her slow smile is everything right in the world and she reaches back to touch me.

Amused, Nico coughs, pulling both our attention back to the reason we’re in his office. I release her hair.

“Touching,” he says. “Well, I’m sure we’ll all take it one day at a time, but for now, Rozelyn, my only warning to you is not to hurt him. Again.” The final word is a punch, but in Nico’s fucked-up manner, it’s him showing genuine care.

“I won’t,” Rozelyn vows in a clear voice, her thumb stroking right over my knuckles.

“Dismissed then.”

I back up, giving her space to stand from the chair as Nico lifts his phone and responds to the numerous notifications I see flash over his screen. Rozelyn stands, but she remains in front of his desk, hesitating until he feels her looking at him.

“Yes?” he asks, all without looking away from his phone.

“Can I ask for your help with something?”

“Presuming it has to do with your sister?” Finally, he lowers his phone again to give her his undivided attention.

I’m not surprised by her request, since Yasmine claims so much of her focus. Asking Nico so soon after he’s agreed to let her stay is less of a good idea. I’d rather we have gone back to my room, talked about it. I’ve never met Yasmine obviously, but she’smon soleil’s sister; therefore, I’ll do anything I can to find her if it’ll make Rozelyn content.

“You said you’d—”

“I said I’d leave her alone,” he cuts off. “I’ve never offered my support to find her.”

She crosses her arms, her spine straightening. “Then I’ll fly out there alone, as was the original plan.”

Not without me. A tenseness flashes through me. But I can’t leave Montreal without orders and abandon my post. Not to search in enemy territory—agreement or no agreement.

Nico glances at me, knowing the silent debate within her statement. “Flynn is to not go with you but I get the sense, he won’t let you go alone either.”

“You can’t tell me Della wouldn’t approve.”

Della’s heart is too large and when realizing the De Falco sisters’ nastiness toward her was a façade, she’ll fight him on it. Testy subject, but pride for Rozelyn’s tenacity runs through me.

“There’s approving and then there’s allowing. You seem to all thinksherules the organization,” he grumbles. “The agreement I made with the Seven will not allow me to go in there and take who they’ve now deemed one of their own. We have no idea what happened when she and your father arrived in B.C.”

Rozelyn falls forward onto the desk, leaning closer. I move toward her, to pull her away, but her tone stops me. She’s not argumentative, but rather, hopeful. “Nico,please. She’s my sister. The fact no one knows is exactly what’s worrying me. If you made a deal with the Seven, ask them about her. If she’s happy and alive, I’ll be okay knowing that. But if she isn’t…You compared me to Della. Della lied to you to protect her sister. I’m asking for the same chance you gave her.”

Nico stares at her through slitted eyes that get tinier with the mention of his wife. Possibly a terse subject, but the pressing of his lips tells me she’s won. His final huff following confirms it.

“I will not promise anything, Rozelyn. I understand you’re stressed, but if they are harming her, I will not start war so soon after getting into an agreement with them. Not for you. I’m sorry. So I will inquire about Yasmine…but not yet. Erico Rossi agreed to the union, so let me get Ariella settled into New York and ensure that agreement passes without concern. Give me a bit of time. A month or so, and then I’ll reach out to the Seven. That’s my final offer.”

Around the edge of the desk, her fingers curl. She’s balancing concern for Yasmine with acting rationally, and really, it could go south if she went poking around in B.C. alone, so Nico is her best chance. Even with the timeline.

After a minute, she releases the wood and straightens. “Fine. Thanks.”

The corner of his mouth hikes in a half-smirk. “Now, if you’re done here, I’ll be getting back to my job.” Without waiting for a response, he picks up the phone and continues what he was previously working on, so I grab her arm and begin pulling her from the room.

In the hallway, she falls against the wall with a heavy breath. I want to kiss her, to hold her, but she’s probably thinking about the deal she just agreed to, and the annoyance of having to wait for answers.

She reaches for me and tugs on my wrist. I go easily, caging her in with my body, and when I duck my head for a kiss, she does too, placing hers into my chest instead, her arms tight around my middle in a hug.

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