Endurance

“Call Thane, Sin, Taggart. In that order. And give me my phone from my jacket pocket so I can call Ellison’s and Westlyn’s phones.”

  Logan is the one who helps me stand. “I still remember the panic like it was yesterday. Makes you feel helpless, doesn’t it?”

  To deny my love for her would be the blackest lie I ever told.

  “Never more scared or helpless in my life.” I dial Westlyn’s number first since I feel like The Order will see her as a more valuable pawn. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her.”

  My first call to Westlyn’s phone goes to voicemail. Same thing with Ellison’s so I text Ellison. I know The Order will have taken their phones from them.

  Let’s talk.

  The reply is nearly immediate.

  I’ll consider that after I’ve had my fun.

  Fuck no. That can’t happen.

  Don’t fucking touch them.

  They have my sister and the woman I love. This couldn’t be worse. I will kill all of them if they harm Ellison or Westlyn. Massacre every last one.

  Fuck. If I’m honest with myself, I know what’s going to happen to them. I know The Order. I know what they do to Fellowship women. They’ve never taken our women and returned them unbroken. Not once.

  A little late for that. Don’t come for them or they die.

  We’ll contact you when we’re ready to talk.

  Leith holds out his phone. “It’s Thane.”

  I’ve never been this close with someone taken by The Order. I’m clueless about what needs to happen to ensure their safe return. I’ve never felt more powerless in my life. “Thane, tell me what has to be done to get them back.”

  “I’m sending out a peril call to the entire brotherhood. Every brother will be at my house within the next half hour.”

  It’s not fast enough. “Thirty minutes is too long. Do you know what could happen to them in that amount of time?”

  “Of course I do. I wish I could snap my fingers and everyone would magically appear in my living room but it doesn’t happen like that. We’ll have to gather and decide on a course of action.”

  “You’ve done this before. What are the chances of getting them back alive?”

  “We’re dealing with a new leader. I don’t know their methods yet so it’s impossible to say. With Torrence, we knew what to expect. Perhaps this new leader will operate differently.”

  “I can’t lose them, Thane.”

  “We’ll get them back, James.”

  “I got a text from Ellison’s phone. It said if we come for them, they die.”

  “Of course they’re going to say that, but they’ll die if we don’t. I’ve seen it too many times before.” A large part of the women we get back end up committing suicide. That can’t happen.

  Westlyn is twenty-three years old. My headstrong little sister, whose life has just begun has so many wonderful things ahead of her. Marriage—to a man she says will not be Fellowship. Babies. A long and happy life. No. She has to live.

  And Ellison. My sweet, adorable Mac. I never expected to meet a woman like her—one who could bring me to my knees and then join me there. I need her. I crave her. I love her.

  And I don’t want to live without her.

  “We’ll be at your house in fifteen minutes.”

  I end my call with Thane and grab Leith’s shoulder. “I need you to drive. Rover’s parked around back.”

  Leith takes the keys from my hand. “Sure.”

  I clench my fist and punch the panel in front of the passenger seat once, twice, three times.

  “Punching your Rover until your knuckles are busted and bleeding isn’t going to accomplish anything.”

  I think about the women I’ve treated or sent to the hospital after they’ve been dumped on Thane and Isobel’s doorstep. “Fuck. There’s no telling what they’re going through right now, and I don’t know where they are. I don’t know how to find them. I don’t know anything.”

  “You aren’t supposed to know. Thane and Sin are our leaders. They have all the inside information and know how to handle these situations. They will tell us what we need to know and what to do. Put your faith in them.”

  “Sin and Bleu are going to be furious with me.” Her sister and best friend are with The Order. Bleu must be going crazy.

  “I think I recall something very similar to this happening with those two and it worked out just fine. This will too.” Sin saved Bleu but not before she endured hell and almost lost their babies.

  “Even if it works out, Ellison’s going to change her mind about becoming one of us. She’ll never marry me now. She’ll be on the first plane back to the U.S. regardless of what she knows or doesn’t know about The Fellowship.”

  “Well, it’s very possible.”

  It’s inevitable. I’m going to lose her no matter what. And so will Bleu. She will lose her sister either way tonight. Ellison won’t return to us as the woman we know and love. Fuck.

  Taggart is at Thane’s and waiting for me when we arrive. I’m pleased when he confirms the exit wound. An uncomplicated injury with little damage. With a little time and antibiotics, I should heal well.

  Just as Thane predicted, within thirty minutes of receiving the peril call, the house is filled with brothers capable of delivering justice.

  Thane takes his usual place on the platform but this time there’s no pretty decorations for a party Isobel has organized. “The peril call was sent out because two of ours have been taken. Westlyn Breckenridge and Ellison MacAllister.”

  My mum pushes her way through the crowd of gathered brothers. “Only one of them is ours. All efforts need to be focused on getting Westlyn back.”

  I can see that Thane is annoyed by my mum’s attempt to give him orders. Mum has always had a knack for overstepping her boundaries. Just like Dad did. And look where that got him.

  “Ellison is Bleu’s sister. That makes her my son’s sister-in-law. She’s scheduled to become one of us in a couple of weeks. Leaving her behind is not up for discussion.”

  Thane turns his attention back to the brothers, dismissing my mother. “This is what we know. They were taken outside of Duncan’s, hooded, and then forced into a northbound black limo. We’ve traced both phones to a residence in the north of Edinburgh. We believe this is where they have taken Westlyn and Ellison.”

  “It feels off that they wouldn’t dump their phones. They have to know we’d trace them.”

  “They instructed us via text to not come for Westlyn and Ellison or they’d die. I think they expect us to heed their warning so they’re not worried about us tracing their location.”

  “I just lost my husband. I can’t lose my daughter too.” Torrie Breckenridge isn’t a sensitive or tender woman. She doesn’t show emotion but now is an exception. This is the first time I’ve ever seen her in distress over something other than herself.

  I put my arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, Mum. We’re going to get them back.”

  My mother pulls away from me. “This is your fault. You were supposed to protect your sister.”

  Mum lashing out—no surprise there. “I know and I’m sorry. But I tried, Mum.”

  “Your father was right. You’re worthless. You’ll always be useless to your sisters and me.”

  What the hell? Does she not care that I was shot? That I could have been killed?

  I’ve never had a close relationship with my mother, and it wasn’t because I didn’t want one or because I didn’t try. She made it impossible so I gave up after years of unrequited affection.

  All I see is a streak of red in motion across the floor when Isobel goes after my mum, striking her across the face with an open hand. “You bitch! Your son took a bullet tonight trying to save those women. He could have been killed.”

  My mother straightens her shoulders as if to regain her dignity. “A shot with a clean exit wound. Nothing vital was hit. He’ll be fine. I heard Taggart say so after he examined him.”

  “Let me tell
you something, Torrie. You’re the useless one. You take and take and take and never offer anything in return. The only worthwhile thing you ever did was carry and give birth to Jamie and those girls. And you bitched the whole time about doing that.”

  “I married a leader and gave him a son—just like he wanted. I fulfilled my duty as Abram’s wife. James was supposed to lead so he could bring honor to his father and me. Not serve.”

  “The best leaders are servants but that’s something you and Abram never understood. You were too busy worrying about hierarchy. The path Jamie has chosen is respectable. Being a doctor is an asset to our brotherhood. Plus, he still holds his seat on the council.” Isobel displays a pair of fingers. “He’s performing not one but two very important roles.”

  “You’d feel the same as me if Sinclair had chosen this path.”

  Isobel and my mum’s showdown is interrupted when Ellison’s ringtone plays in my pocket. “They’re calling.”

  I’m filled with a mixture of emotions—relief because they’re making contact, but on edge because I’m terrified of what we’ll hear.

  Thane comes forward to take the call. “This is Thane Breckenridge.”

  He paces the platform back and forth as he listens to what the caller has to say. I can barely breathe.

  “We’re aware The Order has a new leader.”

  “Have you harmed them?”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “When and where?”

  “How many should we expect?”

  “My council and I will be waiting.”

  Thane ends the call and moves to the center of the platform. “The Order’s new leaders have requested a meeting with us. They want to discuss the feud between The Fellowship and The Order.” Discuss the feud?

  I don’t care about the feud. “Are they returning Westlyn and Ellison?” That’s all I can care about right now.

  “No.”

  “It’s a setup, Dad,” Mitch calls out. “Has to be. The Order has never reached out to us with anything but malice.”

  “I don’t think it is. These are new leaders—the husband and son of Arabella Grieves Hendry. Their interests differ from Torrence’s.” I have no idea who these new leaders are but they’ve joined The Order—the source of so much pain for my people. And now me.

  “How do we know we won’t be walking into a trap?” Sin asks.

  “Because as a sign of good faith, they are coming here for the meeting. They know we won’t harm them. If we do, it will mean certain death for Westlyn and Ellison. They’ll be here soon so I need everyone with exception of Isobel, the council, and the guards to clear the property.”

  “Westlyn is my daughter. I’m not leaving.”

  “You’re skating very thin ice with me, Torrie.” Thane’s patience is approaching an end with my mother.

  “I have the right to sit in Abram’s place to negotiate for her return.”

  Mum has always been one to force you into putting her in her place. And now is no exception. “No. You don’t have the right. I hold Dad’s seat now. It’s mine. I will be the one to sit beside Thane and Sin to assist in negotiating Westlyn’s return. Your job is to shut your mouth and go home to wait with Evanna.”

  My mum opens her mouth to reply but I cut her off. “And in case you aren’t thoroughly pissed off, I love Ellison MacAllister. I’m going to make her my wife when this is over . . . if she’ll have me after all of this.”

  “Love her? The American outsider? You’re a fool. You’re a doctor. You don’t fight. You bring no honor to the family. And now you want to enter into an unadvantageous marriage.” My mum shakes her head. “If you marry her, you will no longer be my son.”

  My decision is an easy one with that kind of ultimatum. “You were always too concerned with being the wife of a leader to be any kind of mother to me. Ellison has loved me more in the short amount of time we’ve been together than you have my entire life.”

  “You’re choosing her over our family?” Ellison will be my family.

  “I’m choosing her over you.”

  “Done. You’re dead to me. I renounce you as my son.” She turns away and walks toward the front door. “Thane, I’ll be at home waiting to hear from you about my daughter’s return.”

  My mother just disowned me and oddly I’m not sad about it. I’m certain her absence in my life will not feel like a loss at all. It’s a relief. No more criticism. No more disapproval. No more judgment.

  It’s freeing.

  As is my announcement about loving Ellison.

  I hear the murmurs about Ellison and me and I don’t care. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make her mine forever.

  Isobel comes to me and puts her hands on my face. “I’ll gladly be your mum if she doesn’t want to be. I’m very proud of all you’ve accomplished. You are not a disappointment to The Fellowship or me at all. Not even a little.” Those are the words a mother should say to her child.

  “You’ll never know what that means to me. Thank you, Isobel.”

  “All brothers should be in one place. I want you to go to the warehouse and await orders. This may not end peacefully. We could be forced to proceed with the takeover. Possibly tonight if this meeting doesn’t well.”

  I hope it doesn’t come to that. Thane’s not fully recovered from his case of acute kidney failure. It took a toll on him. I see it in his skin color and the dark circles beneath his eyes.

  Once the brothers are gone we go into the dining room to await the arrival of The Order’s new leaders. “They aren’t coming here for nothing. What do you think they want?” Sin says.

  “They’re aware of our strong relationship with Dublin. I’m sure they’ve heard about The Guild’s new connection for arms and explosives. You know how The Order loves their weapons. They’re probably frothing at the mouth to make nice with The Guild. Maybe they believe they can do that through us.”

  Thane throws out a few more theories but my gut isn’t feeling it. This meeting feels like more.

  “What do you know about the brotherhood they’re from?”

  “They’re called The Syndicate. Their brotherhood is referred to as the sleeping giant because they’re peaceful—with more allies than enemies—until you fuck with them. And then they’re nasty. Horace Grieves wanted their brotherhood as an ally rather than an enemy so he arranged a treaty to marry his daughter Arabella to Lennox Hendry, the leader’s second son.”

  One of the guards calls out from the front of the house. “They just arrived, boss.”

  “Show our guests in.”

  I’ve never been part of a meeting with another brotherhood. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m desperate to come to some kind of agreement that involves Westlyn and Ellison coming home safely tonight.

  Out of respect, we stand when the five Order members come into the dining room. “Welcome. I’m Thane Breckenridge. These are my sons Sinclair and Mitch. And my nephew Jamie Breckenridge—Abram’s son.”

  I see a flash of recognition in the eyes of Lennox, and I wonder if my father ever committed any crimes against their brotherhood. It’s a definite possibility.

  “I’m Lennox Hendry. These are my sons Kieran, Maddock, Calder, and Carson.”

  Thane nods. “Come. Sit. Let’s have a drink.”

  Isobel comes into the dining room with a serving tray of glasses and a large bottle of dark amber. “Every great meeting has always begun with a fine whisky. Don’t you agree?”

  Lennox nods. “Aye. Indeed.”

  Isobel begins with our Order guests and works her way around the table until everyone has a glass of whisky. Lennox’s eyes never leave Isobel. Not once. “Anything else, Thane?”

  “That’ll be all. Thank you.”

  Thane holds up his glass. “Here’s to a productive meeting where we’re able to come to a mutual agreement.”

  “What’s this meeting about, Lennox?”

  “You’re aware of my backstory with Arabella? How she came to be my wif
e as part of a treaty?”

  “Aye.”

  “At The Syndicate, our belief is to operate with as few rivals as possible. And The Order has far too many powerful adversaries to ever function at its full capacity. We’d like to change the way it operates to mimic The Syndicate. That means making you our allies rather than our enemies.”

  “The Order has been a cruel group of people. What makes you sure that as a whole, they’re going to support this?”

  I share Thane’s opinion. Those people behave as animals. I’ve seen up close and personal the work of their cruelty. And that’s the way they like it.

  “The people of The Order enjoy brutality because Torrence did. It’s what they were taught. It’s all they know. They need to be retrained to enjoy something else. I can do that.”

  “How do you propose to do that?”

  “Only one way—rule over them with an iron fist they fear. Sure, it’ll take making examples out of some brothers but I’m prepared to do it. A few public executions always put people in their place.”

  “Our people will be resistant to this.” I’m resistant to it now.

  “I understand there’s been a lot of spilled blood between you, but the benefits of partnering with us outweighs any grudge you hold. It will do nothing but benefit you and your people once we get things on track.”

  “If we do this, I would have to insist on some type of insurance.” Why the fuck is Thane even considering this?

  “We’re prepared to give you that, and we want our own insurance. We’d like to propose a double treaty. We take Westlyn or Evanna Breckenridge or Ellison MacAllister as a wife for Kieran and as a sign of good faith I’ll give you my daughter, Shaw, to be married to Mitch or Jamie.”

  No fucking way. That’s not happening. “We’ll never give a one of them to you.”

  “You didn’t give us Westlyn and Ellison but we have both of them,” Kieran says.

  “You’re not keeping Ellison or my sister.”

  “Jamie, you sit on the council but this isn’t your choice. Dad and I will make the decision based upon what’s in the best interest of our people as a whole.” How I hate Sin’s dominant tone.