Page 160 of Savage Reign

I didn’t pick up.

I didn’t have to. I knew who it was. A fucking creep who had taken to calling over the past few days, and anytime I answered, I heard nothing but breathing from the other line.

I should have told my men the first day this happened, but I didn’t. And now it had been three days, and it was still ongoing. I was going to tell them tonight.

My phone stopped ringing, and I let out a small sigh of relief, which was short-lived when it started right back up again.

I let out a frustrated groan and picked up. “What?”

There was no answer for a long pause, and I could feel my anger rising. I was about to say something when another voice came through, a voice I recognized and took away all of my irritation.

“Mila. Are you alone?”

My breath caught. “Mom?”

“Mila, are you alone?”

I looked around. I was in my bathroom, trying to get ready for my day. Rachel was downstairs, but my men were off doingthings I probably didn’t want to know about. I was as alone as I could be.

“Yes, but what does that have to do?—”

“Sweetheart, why are you with the man who killed your father and his men?”

I worked hard not to make any sound. “How did you…?”

“Did you think I wasn’t going to find out? I mean, come on, Mila. Of all the men in the world?—”

“Wait.”

She saidman.So she didn’t know I was with all three brothers.

“Who do you think I’m with?” I asked.

“Silas Tiernan.”

“And why do you think that?”

Why did she think I was with Silas and not Maverick or Killian?

She didn’t answer me right away.

“Who have you been talking to?” I asked. Perhaps it was far-fetched, but she wouldn’t have known what was happening in Chicago, or hell, New Orleans, where I had met the brothers the first time, unless she was talking to someone who was there.

“Sebastian?” I guessed.

I knew I had guessed right when she didn’t answer me. Sebastian’s men saw me in New Orleans with Silas. And Sebastian saw me at the club’s opening with Silas. They didn’t know my relationship had progressed more with Maverick and Killian.

“Mom, why are you talking with Sebastian?”

She scoffed. “He’s your father’s stepbrother. Why wouldn’t I talk to him?”

“He also wants to force me to marry him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Mila. There’s no forcing. You and Sebastian make a good match.”

I shouldn’t be surprised by her words… or hurt. But I was both.

“What if I don’t want to marry him?” Didn’t it matter to her at all what I wanted and didn’t want?

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