“And she’s helping?” Mal asked.
“She wants Jessa and the baby to live.” Finn shook his head. “I don’t get it, but it’s true.”
“It’s about the survival of the species,” Hollis said. “She is proud of what she is.”
“Oscar’s mom—you worry that what happened to her will happen to Jessa?” Olivia asked.
Finn nodded.
“Ellen can change that?” Mal asked.
“She’s trying.” Hollis bright green gaze met his. “This is important to her in a way that I can’t understand. But I don’t know if her help will extend beyond Jessa and the baby.”
“If we can get some insight from Ellen, we might be able to stop running.” Finn’s smile was hard.
“I can try to call Chase.” Olivia’s voice wavered. “If it will help catch Cyrus.”
Mal shook his head. “As far as he’s concerned, you’re dead. He wouldn’t believe it was you without seeing you. All things considering, I’m not willing to put your life in his hands. Brother or not.”
“So, we ask Ellen?” Anders asked. “And go after Cyrus?”
“We’re going to trust what she says?” Dante’s gaze bounced to each of them.
“It’s a no-go without further information.” Finn smiled. “Too much to risk.”
Mal was tired of having his world turned upside down. He was tired of worrying about the safety of the pack—and now Olivia. He wanted a future with her and, when the time was right, a family. If there was a way to ambush Cyrus, to cut the head off the monster that was the Others, he’d do it. Even if it meant playing nice with a bitch he wasn’t sure he could trust.
...
Olivia paced, her wolf on high alert. The guys sat around a coffee table, excitedly talking about the potential takedown. But she couldn’t shake a sense of impending doom.
“Hey.” Mal’s voice was low when he came up to her, his hands resting on her shoulders. “Tell me.”
She looked up at him, her mind spinning and circling back. “If Ellen tells us what we need to know, it’s not just about catching Cyrus.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll know what Chase has done—is doing. I’ll know what he’s guilty of.” She bit her lip to stop its wobble. “I know he’s a bad guy but…” She faltered, and he nodded, encouraging her to continue. “I always wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.” She rested her head on his chest.
He held her close. “You don’t know what hold Cyrus might have over him, Olivia. He’s dangerous, you know that.”
“Don’t make excuses for him,” she murmured, loving him even more for trying.
Once Finn had left to get Ellen, Olivia knew there was no escaping the truth. Not that she wanted to. Her life now was here, with her pack and Mal. If someone was a threat, even someone that was her blood, she and her wolf wouldn’t hesitate to destroy it.
“Let’s wait and see what she has to say. If she says anything.” His heartbeat was slow and even beneath her ear.
She nodded, leaning into him. What she wouldn’t give to be back in bed with him, discovering new things that shattered her body into tiny pieces of joy—versus learning things that would shatter her heart.
She tried not to tense when Finn came through the door. Maybe Ellen had refused his offer. But Ellen followed, her dark eyes sweeping the room. She stood in front of the fire, her long arms crossed, posture irritated. She didn’t want to be there. Olivia knew exactly how that felt.
“We have questions,” Finn said.
Her nod was stiff.
“About Cyrus and his business dealings.” Finn glanced at Olivia.
“About the business dealing Cyrus has with her brother?” Ellen asked, her dark gaze meeting Olivia’s.