I laughed at the thought of all the years that passed and Keiran still felt the need to threaten her.

“Mhmm… I love you,” she cooed.

Through the doorway, I could see Lake tugging open Keiran’s belt. The only sound that filled the house they had rented from a middle-aged couple was the sound of their heavy breathing and kissing. When it became painfully apparent that they wouldn’t make it to the bedroom after all, I cleared my throat. Keiran’s head snapped from biting Lake’s neck, and his dark orbs peered through the doorway getting angrier by the second.

“Dudes. Get out.” Keiran was nothing short of annoyed to see everyone posted in his living room.

“We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk. I want to fuck. Leave my fucking key on your way out.”

“Baby, don’t be rude.”

Lake’s scolding earned her a glare to which she rolled her eyes. She’d come a long way from the cowering girl who feared the very thought of him.

“Do you think you two can tone down the freakiness for a few minutes?” Keenan blew out exasperated. “We drove for hours in the middle of the night because this is important.”

The serious tone from the generally playful Keenan had them straightening and cooperating.

“What’s up?”

“We have a lead on who took Kennedy and killed John.”

“Who?”

“Esmerelda.”

“The entire organization was eradicated.”

“Apparently, a few fishes slipped through.”

“How do you know this?”

I found myself pushing the answer through clenched teeth before Keenan could have the chance to continue. “Because she is the reason Willow crashed their wedding. She kidnapped her at the bus stop and threatened her into agreeing to kill you.”

“Not again,” Lake whispered horrified. Keiran took her chin in his hand and whispered to her. It was too soft to hear, but whatever he said calmed her down.

“We need to deal with this as soon as possible. I knew she was still out there, but I underestimated her. I never thought she’d come for me. “

“Who exactly is Esmerelda to you?” Willow questioned.

“She’s Arthur’s wife. She ran the runaway home they used as a front to trap kids on the street and buy the ones that were sold. The babies were kept there until they were old enough to move to the compound.”

“Why does she want you dead?”

“She’s a fugitive and her husband is dead for starters.”

“What happens when Esmerelda is taken care of? How long before the next one comes along with another attempt to see Keiran dead?” Sheldon pointed out.

“One crazy psycho at a time. First, we need to find Esmerelda.”

“Willow,” Keiran addressed her with a hard look. “Where did they take you?”

“I don’t know. I was drugged and they kept a bag over my head when they let me go. What I did see looked like a warehouse.”

“Were you drugged when they released you?”

“No.”

“Can you remember how long the ride was?”

“I’m not sure… maybe thirty minutes? I had walked for about two hours before you found me.”

“We’ll need to figure out where she was left and search for any warehouses within a thirty-minute radius.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone before?” Lake questioned. There was an unmistakable bite in her tone. Willow tensed under everyone’s stare as we all waited for her answer. It was an issue that had played at the back of my mind since she first told us. It had been three days since the wedding and Willow had countless opportunities to say something before now.

Her chin lifted as she met Lake’s stare. “For the same reason you didn’t tell anyone when Keiran threatened your aunt’s life for shits and giggles.”

“Careful, Willow.”

She turned her icy gaze to Keiran. “When Esmerelda threatened my life, I simply left… or at least I tried.” She shot me a glare full of accusation. “The second time she took me, her men cut down Dash’s security effortlessly and then she threatened my family and everyone else I know. If you’re wondering if I thought about killing you, the answer is yes.”

“So what made you change your mind?”

“Sheldon told me what happened to Kennedy a few months ago, and it all sounded too familiar to not be connected. I realized there was more at stake than just my family.”