Page 25 of Redemption

Noel meets my gaze, and his jaw is set with determination. “You got my gun. So what?”

I chuckle. “So, I’m keeping it. Finders keepers and all that shit.” A smirk plants itself on my face. “Next time you take a jab at me, remember I’ve got this, and I’ll be using it to put a bullet in your brain if you so much asthinkabout coming after me or mine. You got me?”

“Didn’t have to be this way, man.”

“You’re right. It didn’t. So, when we get to Ireland, lieutenant or not, I’m not talking to you. Him”—I gesture to Lorcan—“or her.” I nod at Kim. “Not you.” I slip the gun against the small of my back. “Next time you whip out your dick, make sure it’s bigger than mine.”

Up front, Lorcan lets out a bark of laughter before he smothers it. When I stare out the window, I swallow my answering grin. Been a while since my brother and I were on the same side. Having to put up with the prick beside me just might be worth it to reestablish the camaraderie we lost so long ago.

Chapter Twelve

Carys

Lucasisrestless.WhenI put him down at his regular bedtime, I hoped he’d sleep through the night. Rocking him isn’t going to work. He’s wide-awake, and my nervous energy probably makes him think it’s the middle of the day. Evander should have been here an hour ago. Hitching Lucas onto my hip, I head to the living room.

Jay is sprawled on the couch, and he glances over the back when I come out of the hallway. “Little guy can’t sleep?”

I laugh. “Can any of us?”

“Apparently my wife and kids aren’t having any trouble.” He yawns and checks his phone.

“Anything?” Hope rises in my chest for the millionth time since the jailbreak started. Evander said we wouldn’t get any updates until they walked through the door. If the plan went sideways at all, he’d be putting out fires. The news broke the story of Finn’s escape an hour ago—when Finn should have arrived. He’s out. We don’t know why he isn’t here. “Are you getting worried yet?”

Jay’s my barometer for how much I should be panicking. So far, he’s been relaxed on the couch. No pacing; no frantic internet searches.

“Nope.” He sits up and rests his forearms on his knees. “Evander had a contingency plan for everything. Has something gone wrong? Yeah, I think so. But no news is good news. Whatever has happened, he’s fixing it or tracking it or rerouting.”

“Right.” I take out a bottle, heat the water, then mix the formula. Lucas makes happy noises while he waits for me to stop shaking. “Bubba?” I meet his gaze, and he makes a fist over and over, the sign for milk.

Sometimes when I look at him, I see Eric. For most people, genetics are a marvel, and something to be celebrated. His dark hair and eyes mimic his biological father, and the reminder is a tender spot in my heart. Such an awful man gave me such a precious gift. As my son gets older, I hope his personality outshines any remembrance of Eric. He’ll be Lucas, and the shadow of Eric won’t loom so large.

I take a seat on the other end of the couch, with my baby cradled in my arms while he drinks his bottle. Talking is pointless, but I want to spew out useless words as though they’ll ease my twisted gut. What is there to say when nothing is known? Speculation will drive me insane. He’s out of the prison, and he’s on his way here. He has to be.

Jay’s phone beeps, and he checks the screen. “Dominic says there’s a car coming down the lane.”

My heart leaps into action as though it’s been whipped. The sudden gallop makes me press the heel of my hand to my chest. “He’s almost here.”

He smirks and rises. “See? Nothing to worry about. A delay. Nothing catastrophic.” He tips his head toward the door. “Want me to take Lucas? You can meet them at the entrance.”

I nod and pass him off. The heat of anticipation rises to my cheeks. This is it—the happy ending I wasn’t sure we’d get, and we’re grasping it with both hands. Jay juggles my son while he texts Dominic to let Finn and Evander in straight away.

When the door opens, I bounce on my heels, ready to fly into Finn’s arms. God, it’s been so long. Evander enters first, his expression grim, but I ignore him and peek over his shoulder. Where’s Finn? “Is he still in the car? Was he hurt?” My racing heart stutters. “Oh, God. Has he been hurt?” There’s agony in my voice. “Do we need to go to a hospital?”

I clutch onto Evander’s arm, trying to see past him into the dark-tinted windows. He’d take Finn to the hospital before coming here if it was serious, wouldn’t he? Or have a doctor on standby? Had that been one of the contingency plans?

“You’re gonna want to sit down.” His tone is gentle despite the frustration in his gaze.

“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to sit. I want to be told where Finn is.”

The door to Lena’s room opens, and she comes down the hall in a rush. “Is he here?”

“No,” I cry, the sound of my voice almost a wail. At the noise, Lucas’s face puckers, and he reaches for me. Jay holds him tight, and Lena intercepts.

“I’ll take him to your bedroom, Carys. I’ll see if I can get him asleep.” Her expression is pinched when she removes Lucas from Jay’s outstretched arms.

Jay’s hand slides along the small of my back. “Come on, Carys. I’m sure Evander’s got things he needs to tell us. We gotta keep calm to find the best path forward. There’s always a path forward.”

That’s been our mantra for years. Impossible isn’t a word we use. When we want something enough, there’s always a route to take or a path to explore. The question is whether the consequences of taking those paths are ones a person can live with. Right now, I’ll go down any road that leads to Finn. He’s not here. He should be here. I swallow my sob and nod, heading to the couch. There, I perch on the edge as though I’m going to fly out and rescue him myself. Whereishe?

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