“Olivia’s right.” Anders’s anger rolled off him. “We can’t let this go. I have three sisters, Finn.”
“Where do they meet?” Finn asked Ellen.
“Each meeting is somewhere different,” she answered. “Three times a year, no more. No more than ten girls each time. After the last order, I don’t know if he’ll trust Chase again. If the fool is still alive.”
“Why is he necessary?” Dante asked. “Why not do it without the middle man?”
“Cyrus is untraceable. Chase gets the girls and Byron handles payment and delivery.” Ellen was watching them closely. “He needs Chase—and hates that he needs him.”
“How would he get them without Chase?” Finn asked.
“Eventually the fool’s partner will take over. The woman, his office manager.” She glanced at Olivia. “With the red hair?”
“Miss Rangell?” Olivia asked, nausea washing over. Chase had been infatuated with her—said she was hot. No matter how many times Olivia told him that wasn’t a requirement for the sort of work she’d be doing, Chase hired her anyway. “She sends fruit baskets at the holidays, picks up Chase’s dry cleaning, handles accounts payable.”
“She keeps Chase in line.” Ellen shrugged. “He knows what Cyrus is. It scares him. She calms him down.”
“Is she a wolf?” Finn asked.
“No, but Cyrus likes her.” Ellen shook her head. “Cyrus prefers humans. Easier to dispose of.”
A dull ache started at the base of Olivia’s neck. Miss Rangell was working for the Others? She kept Chase calm and in line. Had kept—past tense if he was dead. Chase. How could he do this? How was her brother capable of such things?
“So, we go after Miss Rangell?” Dante asked.
They all looked at Finn, waiting for his answer. His nod was slow. “We’re not doing this half-assed,” he promised. “It’ll take time and planning. I’m not losing anyone.”
“Chase is a better target, if he is alive.” Ellen looked at Finn. “Cyrus scares him. He is weak. If he feels threatened, he would betray Cyrus.”
Like he betrayed her. To save himself.
Ellen stared at her for a long time, and then beyond her to Mal. Finally, she left the room without another word.
Mal’s arms slid around her waist, pulling her back against him. “Let me hold you, please,” he whispered in her ear. She shuddered and turned, pressing her nose to his chest and breathing him deep. She needed the comfort only he could give her.
“We’re believing her?” Anders asked.
“There’s nothing to gain by lying about this.” Hollis stood. “We should be grateful she said as much as she did.”
Olivia pressed her eyes shut. It would be easier to dismiss Ellen’s story. But she couldn’t. The cage and the terror—how many girls had been kept there? What had happened to them? How many more would follow if they didn’t do something about it?
“Damn hard to feel grateful right about now.” Anders anger was tangible.
“She told us a hell of a lot more than we bargained for.” Dante sounded sad.
“A lot to think about,” Finn mumbled. “Not a word to Brown, understood?”
She couldn’t concentrate on what they said, couldn’t get beyond what she’d learned. It wasn’t just Chase that betrayed her. Her entire life was based on a lie. An evil, horrible lie. Mal hadn’t dragged her into this life—her father had, when she was a little girl.
Chapter Eighteen
Mal closed the bedroom door behind them and led her to the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the tub, dazed and pale, but didn’t say a word. He turned on the faucet, making the water nice and hot before kneeling in front of her. Damn, he hated to see her like this.
Fuck Ellen and her pearls of wisdom.
No, he should have pulled Olivia out of there before the shit hit the fan. It was his job to take care of her, not lead her in front of the firing squad. Not that he’d had the slightest idea what Ellen was going to say. How could he?
But now it was out there. Whatever memories Olivia had were forever tarnished. How could she think fondly of her past, of vacations or gifts, without it being tainted by what her father was capable of?