Page 210 of The Heart of Winter

"All you have to do is just ask him."

"He may get angry…"

The irritation rolling off him was intense. Classic Blue.

"Seriously? So you’re a coward after all?" He folded his arms across his chest and jutted his chin out a bit.

"Hey!" I snapped. "Could you maybe get off my case and be a little nicer? I deserve some slack—I literally survived a plane crash. A crash where you were the one who was technically supposed to die, by the way." I gave him a look.

Blue paused. Then said, "Detective Arnold thinks the motives behind planting that bomb might be… more complicated than everyone assumed."

My mouth fell open.

"Did you know that Winter’s youngest brother, Sun, was held prisoner by Anzo Ferro? For two months. From late June to early September. He was basically a sex slave."

I just stared at him, shocked.

"What the fuck?"

"It’s a bit of a stretch, I know," Blue went on, "but Detective Arnold thinks the bombing could’ve been a two-for-one. A hit on me, and indirectly, revenge on Sun, by killing his brother. The mafia often kills family members to instill more fear in their enemies."

"A bit far-fetched. But it’s seriously weird that Winter’s brother was Ferro’s prisoner! I had no idea. This world is too fucking small."

"Yeah. The Nolans kept it quiet, I think to protect Sun. I mean, he wasn’t the only one being held there. Also, Anzo Ferro’s husband escaped. He was treated awfully by Anzo… his name is Summer."

"Wait! Summer? As in, the guy who supposedly helped save us from the crash?"

"Yes. He lives at the Nolans’ residence."

"He did that ‘telekinetic magic’ thing on us with Winter’s other brother, Snow…"

"Exactly. It’s all connected. The bomb attempt on me, the one that happened at the matchmaking agency back in September, that’s what kicked off everything. A few days later, the FBI raided Ferro’s fortified headquarters—ironically namedThe Sun. That same day, five people escaped the property: one of Ferro’s employees, Sun, and Anzo’s husband, Summer. Two of Anzo’s adopted sons-slash-nephews got out too. Summer ended up living with Winter’s parents, they gave him a safe place to recover. That much I found out from talking to Winter’s dad, Lake Nolan, while we were waiting for clearance to launch the rescue op to the Kuril Islands."

Blue said it in a pretty light tone, like it was no big deal, but for me, it was quite the news, hard to believe. I was digesting the info for a while, piecing it together in my head.

"So it really seems like it’s all connected. The bombings… and Winter’s family?"

"Yes, it’s insane. A miracle, they even made it out of The Sun fortress. People who go in there rarely reemerge. Detective Arnold says Anzo Ferro’s first husband, Moon Larsen, went missing two years ago. No one knows what happened to him. Summer is actually his brother."

"Whoa. That’s twisted. Was it Summer who leaked the bomb plot? Someone must’ve given the police that recording detailing the bomb attack on you."

"No clue. Whoever it was, he’s the reason Anzo got caught."

"What about the bomb on the plane—no leaks in that case?"

"No, it was done really well. No traces. Arnold told me there’s a slight possibility it might not even be Ferro’s anymore, it could be NotFromHere terrorists. But the investigation is still ongoing."

Blue tilted his head slightly, eyeing me with sharp attention.

"And what’s with all the sudden curiosity about my mafia problems, huh? Nice move, changing the subject."

I pouted. "I’ve got a right to be curious. Sun is Winter’s brother. I had no idea he was a prisoner of the guy who… tried to kill you. That’s a hell of a coincidence."

"True. But… I still haven’t heard a damn word from you about the test. Do I need to send Gabriel to pick one up?"

"Fuck, no! I’ll take care of it myself," I muttered, sipping more water. "By the way, he would probably refuse to leave you even for a minute."

Something flickered across Blue’s face, but he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he repeated,

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