Page 63 of The Freedom in Captivity

I tip my head to my underboss. “I’ll ensure Rozelyn’s kept away from your sister, sir.”

“Thank you,” he replies. “You also had news?”

“It was something she said. She wants him dead. ‘There’s one person who’ll be dead at the end of this, and it won’t be anyone with the surname Corsetti’ were her final words.”

Della spins, focusing on her husband, her hands gesturing animatedly. “See? Give her some leeway after that.”

He ignores her completely. “Why?”

For the first time, I hesitate in telling my underboss the truth. While she never admitted it completely, I have a feeling it has to do with the abuse. Or maybe there’s more to it, but it’s somehow connected.

But that isn’t my story to share.

So lying to him, I reply, “Not sure. She refused to say.” That part’s the truth.

“Hm.” Nico shifts his gaze away to the far wall, his lips pinching. He grunts again and sits forward, reaching into one of his desk drawers. From it, he pulls out a file and tosses it onto the desk, indicating for me to approach as he flips open the top flap. “See if the name Haynes means anything to her. I have a theory.”

I scan the document he’s pointing to, catching a name more familiar to me.

“Maurice Dupont.”

Nico nods. “Yeah. Rafael found Maurice’s daughter. Turns out, neither she nor her father exist under real names. Maurice Dupont is an alias. The RCMP just dug up their real backgrounds.” He flips the next page. “They traced the entire Haynes family to British Columbia. That’s as far as we could get. Trail goes cold there. Whatever their backgrounds, they’re buried.”

“You think De Falco’s connected?”

He leans back to look at me again. “That’s my theory. But don’t tell her all that. See what mentioning the name Haynes dredges up.”

“Got it.”

“Let Aurora down there first before she drives me nuts all night. Then speak with Rozelyn. Let me know what you find out in the morning.”

As I turn away, Della’s holler follows me out the office doors. “And then put her in a damn bedroom!”

Nico’s heavy sigh is the final thing I hear before shutting the door. Still, I chuckle. I don’t know much about Della, but it’s apparent those two are so evenly matched, it’ll do my underboss good to have her by his side. When he’s made Boss, it’ll be Della running the organization with him, carrying it into the next generation.

As I head back toward the basement, I text Rosen to bring Aurora there, and by the time I reach the door, they’re already waiting. Rosen throws me a smirk as Aurora’s energy can’t keep her still.

Rosen throws me a tight smile. “She’s impatient.”

Clearly.

She throws a scathing look over her shoulder at him. “When someone you thought was a friend stabs you in the back, let me know how you feel.”

Rozelyn certainly is good at hurting those closest to her.

I unlock the basement, flick on the light, and they follow me down. I don’t have to check to know Rosen’s behind me with Aurora entering last. His protectiveness would demand he enter into what could be a dangerous situation before her.

Rozelyn’s seated in the sleeping bag in the centre of the basement, in the same spot I last left her in. I should chain her, to ensure Aurora’s absolute safety, but based on the way she struggles to sit up, her wary gaze flicking over the three of us, she’s no threat.

She looks like she’s given up. Like the girl I know, the fighter has gone. She looks…tired. Like everything’s pointing to the ending approaching.

Aurora and Rosen step deeper into the room, stopping a few feet away from Rozelyn. I move beside her, positioning myself at the ready to get between the women if I need to.

“Should have known,” Rozelyn mutters, her voice hoarser than it was even an hour ago. “Should’ve known you’d be down here eventually.” She’s looking past me and at Aurora, who takes a single step forward before Rosen’s tugging her back to his side, his own glare slicing daggers into my captive.

“She won’t hurt me,” Aurora murmurs, patting his hand in request to release her.

“She did once.”

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