Page 121 of Freed By Fire
“Make sure you keep Katia in the loop.” I shift away from Carlisle and lean over the nearest railing. “This needs to be contained.”
Carlisle gives me another nod and slips into the shadows.
I stand there, looking out at the estate and listening for the sound of anything unusual. When I hear footsteps inchingcloser, my hand moves to the gun tucked into the waistband of my jeans. A nearby light flickers to life, and I catch a glimpse of familiar tattoos and shaved heads and flex my fingers. The security detail pauses and lowers their heads. Then they walk past me and disappear into the night.
I force myself to glance back.
The manor towers over everything else, and even from where I stand, it’s imposing and undeniable.
Every inch of it bleeds power and control.
I shove my hands back into my pockets, tracing the knife hidden there. On my walk back, no one stops me, and I almost sprint to the front door. Before I can step through the doorway, Mathew appears and blocks my path. His dark eyes flicker over me, and when he steps closer, I notice the blood spatter on his neck.
Ice creeps up my back.
“I’ve been looking for you.” Mathew turns his back on me. “You need to come with me.”
I hesitate in the doorway, but one look is all it takes for me to follow him.
Mathew has been noticeably absent the past few weeks. I’ve wondered about his involvement, but I know he wouldn’t dare go against our father’s wishes. My twin is many things, but brazen and reckless isn’t one of them. At least that’s what I tell myself as I follow him into the secluded part of the house.
Outside the basement, Mathew offers the guard a terse nod.
He unlocks the door, and we both duck inside, and I hold my breath as I creep down the stairs. At the bottom, Mathew stops and flips a switch on.
Ryder is nowhere to be seen. Oliver is tied to a chair in his place, with dried blood caked on his face and chin, and one eye already swollen shut.
Horror and disgust claw their way inside of me as I turn to my brother. “What the hell is this?”
“I’ve had your prisoner moved somewhere else.” Mathew pauses to roll up his sleeves. “I can’t have him overhearing anything.”
When Oliver sees me, he groans and begins to thrash. Mathew stalks forward and stuffs a piece of fabric into his mouth.
“We need to take care of this,” Mathew says.
I ignore the thundering in my chest. “What is this?”
“Our traitorous brother.” Mathew’s words drip with ice. “I’ve had my suspicions about him for a while, so I asked my security detail to inform me of any developments.”
What have you done, Oliver? Betraying me is bad enough, but what made you think going after Mathew was a good idea?
As far as my twin is concerned, blood isn’t a deterrent.
I’m surprised that Oliver is still breathing. I know what Mathew is capable of.
“And?”
Mathew’s eyes are on me now, but I don’t turn to look at him. “He’s been spying on me. Keeping tabs here and there when he thought I wouldn’t notice.”
“I don’t like people sticking their nose in my business,” Mathew continues. “I was going to take care of it until I realized the truth.”
I force myself to face my brother, and the gleam in his eyes sends another shiver of unease through me. “Skip the theatrics, brother. Why is Oliver tied up in the basement?”
Mathew smiles. “Because he’s the traitor. He’s been working with our enemies and feeding them information. I suspect he struck some kind of deal for them to remove you and allow him to lead our family instead.”
I force myself to hold still. “Do you have proof?”
“Isn’t my word enough?” Mathew’s smile slips. “Someday, you’ll learn to trust me, but I had a feeling you’d take some convincing.”
