Page 9 of Timeless

“Amber. He fucked up. He realized that as soon as you were the one to cut him off.” Troy leaned forward. “He has basically been running a manhunt for you from prison.”

Fear filled me upon hearing that, my eyes going wide. “He doesn’t know that you found me, right?”Please. Please. Say no.

“We got a hit yesterday morning. We haven’t reported to him, in case it was just another dead lead.” Cole turned to look at me. “Why do you look so terrified?”

“Because he can’t find out about Jack!” I said like it was obvious, running a hand through my hair. “I told him. I told him clearly. That he was never going to see me again.”

“It’s Jax. He isn’t going to settle until he knows you are safe.” Troy glanced at Jack, who was falling asleep in his beanbag. “So, what are we going to tell Jax?”

“He is under the impression you are connected to Tae,” Cole added. “We were under the same impression.”

“I couldn’t have that shit around Jack,” I blew out, feeling nervous. “But Tae knows Jack. He is the only one from my old life I told that I was pregnant.”

“I knew he was holding back when we went to England!” Cole snapped.

“You went to England?” I wanted to laugh.

“It was a nightmare,” Tyler muttered with a look of horror on his face.

“With our records, we struggled to get on a plane. Ended up taking Dad’s jet,” Adam added.

I laughed. “You guys in England; that is funny.”

“Yeah, well, we wouldn’t stop until we found you.” Troy moved in the recliner, his eyes locked with mine. “We would have put you first, you know? We could have kept Jax out of the picture.”

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have asked that of you guys.”

“Well, we will now.” Cole wrapped an arm around me.

“Will what?” I frowned, not understanding.

“Keep him out of the picture,” Tyler answered.

“I don’t expect you guys to lie for me.”

“We have to tell him we found you,” Troy said, confirming my nightmare. “But we can lie about where. Not give him anything real. Just settle his mind that you are safe and have moved on.”

“And not mention Jack.” Cole pulled me in tighter to his side.

“I don’t expect that of you guys,” I repeated and leaned my head on Cole’s shoulder. He smelled of cigarettes, beer, and his signature scent. It was comfiting.

“I’m happy to lie to him.” Adam shrugged and locked his eyes with mine. “If that means we get you back.”

“And Jack,” Tyler added, glancing at his sleeping nephew. “I really wanna watch that documentary he loves.”

I smiled. “Don’t worry. As soon as he wakes back up, he will be dragging you back to watch it.”

“So, it’s settled we lie to Jax?” Troy said to my brothers and they all nodded.

“He will have to find out one day though.” Adam stared at me.

“We will leave that up to Amber. When she’s ready, he will find out,” Troy agreed. “You will tell him one day, right?”

“I don’t know anymore.” I was honest. I couldn’t see Jax having a supportive or a good role in Jack’s life. Jax lived in a different state. He couldn’t have Jack on the weekends. “It’s complicated. As much as Jack needs a dad, he also needs one who won’t hurt him.”

I knew more about Jax’s moods then anyone. When Jax felt like it, he would just break your heart, not caring what impact it would have on your life. Not caring if you couldn’t stop crying for months, or years.

“Jax is moody and unpredictable. Two things. I don’t want in Jack’s life.” I glanced at my sleeping son. “Jack needs routine and knowing that when you tell him you love him, that doesn’t mean he gets pushed away at the slightest sign of trouble.”

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