know she’s really okay? Jesus, my poor baby…”
“Sir, if you don’t mind,” Josh reached across the desk and hit a button that made a brief buzzing sound, “I’ll brief T-Bone and our guests on the situation while you take a shower and maybe sleep for a few hours, okay?”
Three women in simple, matching dark-blue uniforms politely slid past us to attend the governor. House staff, by the looks of it.
“If you could please wash him up, see that he eats soup or something, and make sure he sleeps for a bit.” Josh pinched his brow, just above his glasses, as the women surrounded Vance and gently eased him out of his chair. “Give him a sleeping pill if you have to. Thanks, ladies.”
We all stepped aside to allow them down the stairs, when Vance twisted in their grip to look back at us.
“Save my daughter, Steel Demons,” he begged, weakly fighting against the women practically dragging him down the steps. “Save her and Four Corners is yours. A home, a place of refuge. An army…”
With that final word, his body slumped against his caretakers who buckled under his weight. The governor’s lips continued to move as they dragged him across the first floor, mumbling what appeared to be his daughter’s name, at my best guess.
“I am terribly sorry about all that,” Josh huffed. “She’s his only child and her mother passed away, so he’s been all out of sorts since she was taken.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. His reaction is understandable.” T-Bone swallowed, his jaw tight, and I watched his expression with curiosity. He’d never mentioned having children, but appeared to be the one in the room who empathized most with the governor.
“You are welcome to sit down. Um, I apologize for not having enough seats.” Josh looked around the room awkwardly, with only a loveseat and a couple of armchairs in the office area.
“That’s all right. We ought to head out and find somewhere to crash for the night.” Reaper started to turn, gently guiding me in the same direction with a hand on my back, but I resisted.
“Wait. I want to hear this.”
“Sugar.” He narrowed his eyes, but didn’t seem angry, just tired. “Why?”
“We might be able to help. I can, at least, if she has any medical needs.”
Josh cleared his throat, which became a cough at the glare from Reaper. “I would suggest you stay for this, just to listen. The governor did ask you specifically.”
“And I’m politely refusing to be part of this,” my husband growled. “The governor’s all bent out of shape, anyway.”
“Reaper,” I chastised.
“I have my own people to take care of. I ain’t gonna ride all over fuckin’ kingdom come just for some girl.”
“A few minutes,” I pleaded. “I just want to listen.”
He blew out a long breath. “Fine.” He wasn’t even in the mood to say, but you owe me, in that teasing smirk, so I knew his patience would only hold out for so long.
When I turned back around, the Sons of Odin were already squished up into the loveseat adjacent to the desk. Dyno was practically sprawled across T-Bone and Grudge’s laps.
“You know where she is, you said?” T-Bone began.
“We know who she’s with, not necessarily the location,” Josh corrected. “There’s a newer territory north of here, Blakeworth, and their governor’s family has been trying to kiss Vance’s ass ever since they established power, about three years ago. They’ve attended nearly every diplomatic event here, bringing lavish gifts for Vance, Kyrie, and staff. ”
Careful to avoid colliding with antlers or taxidermy heads, I leaned against the wall to listen.
“For the past year or so, the governor’s been not-so-subtly trying to arrange a marriage between his son and Vance’s daughter, Kyrie.”
A scoff puffed out behind me. “What is this, the Middle Ages?” Gunner muttered.
“How old is Kyrie?” I asked.
“Nineteen this year,” Josh replied. “Governor Blake’s son, Malcolm, is twenty-four.” Josh’s eyes nervously darted around the room. “Just between us, I think Kyrie might have gone willingly.”
“Hardly a fuckin’ kidnapping then, is it?” Reaper spat. “She’s a fucking adult.”
“Reaper,” I growled. Jesus, he really did not have anything resembling a filter today.
“We have reason to believe she was manipulated into leaving,” Josh continued. “She’s an adult, yes, but young and impressionable. She’s also had a rebellious streak, as young women with protective single fathers tend to have.”
“What makes you think these people have nefarious plans with her?” Dyno asked. “What if they’re just two rebellious youngsters who genuinely want to be together?”
Josh’s