Page 34 of Bound By Her

She pointed to Bryson’s right arm. “RYQ—means eldest. ‘XVY’ means, kill. It’s a simple cipher.”

Loretta paled slightly. “And the six hash marks beside it?”

Adria nodded once.

Loretta set the photo down. “And you’re comfortable with them living here?”

Adria met her gaze. “The families have rules. While contracted, they can’t harm me directly.”

“Indirectly?”

Adria shrugged. “I’d be an idiot to think Callen and Bryson don’t have their own game going.”

Loretta absorbed the answer in silence, sipping her tea.

After Adria’s father died, Loretta had been the one to help her remove Jonathan, her father’s Right Hand, from her life. Thanks to her, Adria now only saw him duringthe mandatory council summits every two years—a blessing she’d never stop being grateful for.

Loretta slid another photo forward. “You have this one, too, right?”

She pointed to the nine-pointed star on Bryson’s back.

“Heirs only,” Adria said. “I got mine when I was ten.”

“Tattooing children. How charming,” Loretta said, lips pursed.

Adria paused on a photo of Bryson leaning against her kitchen counter. His gray sweatpants slung low on his hips, tattoos climbing up his lean torso. There was a softness to him, almost delicate, yet the ink transformed that softness into something dangerous. The juxtaposition was unsettling.

Loretta shook her head, smiling.

“What?” Adria asked.

Loretta sipped her tea. “Nothing. Forget it.”

“No—tell me.”

Loretta laughed. “In some ways, you’re still that child I taught all those years ago.”

“You enjoyed tutoring me,” Adria teased. “Admit it.”

Loretta smiled. “I did.”

Loretta had started in Adria’s life as a ballet instructor. Later, they shared late-night coffee over homework. Secrets over wine. Whatever the setting, Loretta had always been her safe place.

She had also been the one to invite Adria into the world of BDSM. Adria never asked what she saw in her that prompted the offer to Club Shale—but once she’d entered, Adria never looked back.

Loretta had a soft smile. “I understand your hands were proverbially tied—but why suggest him?”

“I told you. I never thought he’d agree.”

“Maybe there’s curiosity there.”

“Absolutely not,” Adria said too quickly.

Loretta’s smile grew. “No need to get defensive.”

Adria shifted in her seat, mumbling into her tea, “Who’s defensive?”

“Have you heard from X?” Loretta asked.

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