Page 38 of Paths

“Or else,” I confirm. “Because I knew too much. And given what he said and how he threatened me, I knew what or else meant. Their business is a cover for organized crime—or whatever the modern-day terminology is for the mob. I had no choice but to play along, act like I was considering taking Weston back while still keeping him at arm’s length until I figured out what to do. My only choice was to leave, but I still don’t know how they found me. I’ve been so careful. I used cash for everything, got rid of my phone the minute I left town, and sold my car once I hit Pennsylvania, buying another down the street with cash and never registered it. I don’t understand how they found me.”

He takes another big breath and simply responds, “I see.”

I grip his shirt at his shoulders where I’m hanging on and tell him what I’m really worried about. “I need to call my brother. I’ve been afraid to. Everyone there would know the way to find me would be through Joe, I have no idea what means they might have to track me. I wanted to call him with my prepaid cell, but I was too nervous to try. They know where I am now, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“If it makes you feel better, I have a phone you could use and you won’t have to worry, even though they know where you are.”

“You do?”

I see a shadow of a smile, but it’s so faint, it almost looks like a regret. “I do.”

I bite my lip when I feel the tears well in my eyes instantly. I’ve been riddled with regret and guilt over not contacting Joe. It’s impossible to blink my tears away and they spill over, running down the sides of my face when I whisper, “Thank you.”

His thumb comes up and swipes my temple. “No problem. Let me get it for you, you can talk as long as you want. I promise it’ll be safe.”

Relief and hope sweep through me, craving the chance to talk to my brother, let him know I’m safe, but most importantly, I need to know if he’s okay. I don’t know how I’m going to explain leaving like I did, but I’ll figure that out. I do know I can’t do anything to jeopardize him by telling the truth about the MacLachlans.

Grady leans down to kiss me. This kiss is soft like a few minutes ago, but this time I feel a bit of anxiety surrounding him. He’s holding himself back, not kissing me the way he wants to.

When we stand, he puts a hand in back of my head one more time, pulling me to him where he puts his lips to my temple. Pressing his lips there, he says, “Stay here. I’ll get you a phone and you can talk as long as you want.”

With that, he starts to leave. He’s about to turn the corner when I call for him. “Grady?”

He turns and looks at me.

“Thank you,” I say. “It feels good to get all that off my chest. I hate keeping secrets. It’s been a long and lonely few months.”

He says nothing, but gives me another ghost of a smile with a nod before turning to leave.

I wipe my tears away and try to get it together. I get to talk to Joe. I’m not sure there’s a sweeter gift than that right now, and getting it from Grady is even better.

*****

Grady –

Standing in the clearing of the forest between the house and the biggest of the barns, I don’t look away from the house when I say to Crew, “Could this be any more fucked up?”

“I don’t know what to say.” Crew is standing next to me, but facing the barn where Asa is in the doorway while the recruits battle it out on the mats. I haven’t paid any attention to them since we got back. Crew told me to take as much time as I needed and I have.

Before what happened on the job from hell, I never would’ve taken time off. Idle time and I don’t do well. For almost a decade, the most time I took off was to swing by and see my sisters for a couple days at most—then I was on the move again to my next job.

“You want her?”

When I glance over, Crew is turned to me.

I look back to the house, almost desperate not to take my eyes off it since she’s there. Not that anything could happen to her, Crew’s property is surrounded with surveillance and security. Still, it was hard for me to leave her to make her phone call in private. This must be a new low of obsession for me because even though I know she’s safe, leaving her didn’t feel right.

I shake my head and sigh. “It might not matter.”

“You never know. Give it a chance.”

Still not looking away from the house, I ask, “Addy ever balk?”

“She was surprised—probably more like shocked. Once I explained it to her, she was fine, especially when I explained my need to do it. It’s not like you’re a made man like her ex. Fuck, it’s different and you know it.”

“Just because I think it’s different, doesn’t mean she will. I can’t even think about her finding out what happened with my dad.”

“Hey,” Crew calls for me and I look over. His face is hard when he stresses his words. “You don’t want to be with anyone who’d hold that against you.”

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