Page 105 of Finding His Redemption

“Tell me what happened,” he said.

She pulled back, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Some kid was saying things about you, about the murder. Oliver got upset and pushed him. When the teacher tried to talk to him, he just... ran.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “He’s been gone almost an hour now.”

Jax’s jaw tightened, but his hands remained gentle on her shoulders. “Where have they looked?”

“The school searched their grounds before they called me. Some people from town are in the woods now.”

“We need a search grid,” Boone said, and she started at his voice. She hadn’t realized the rest of the guys from Valor Ridge were standing right there.

Boone turned to face the men. “Ghost?—”

“Yeah, I’ll set up a command center,” Ghost said and hoisted the strap of his laptop bag higher up on his shoulder. He looked at the principal with those smoke-gray eyes of his. “Need tables and a place to set up maps, a computer.

“The gymnasium,” Principal Martinez said and started toward the school, her low heels clicking on the pavement. “There are plenty of outlets, and I’ll have the janitors pull out some tables and chairs. I’ll also open up the cafeteria for water and snacks.”

Ghost nodded and glanced at Nessie. “We’ll find him.” Then he followed the principal inside.

Everyone kept saying that, but it was starting to sound like a hollow promise, and hearing it over and over only ramped up her anxiety.

A big man with a long, full beard, a shaved head, and arms full of tattoos approached. He looked like an outlaw biker who benched pressed semi trucks for fun, and if he hadn’t arrivedwith Jax and the rest of them, he’d have scared the hell out of her. But when he spoke, his baritone voice was gentle.

“Nessie, ma’am.” He took off his battered brown cowboy hat and dipped his head, almost like he was bowing. “We’ve never officially met, but I’m Dane McKenna from the Ridge. Everyone calls me Bear.”

She could see why. He certainly looked the part. “It’s nice to meet you, Bear.”

“Wish it was under better circumstances.” He motioned to the truck behind him, where a fluffy black and tan dog the size of a small horse watched from the bed. “That hairy beast there is King. He’s trained in scent trailing, so if you have anything of Oliver’s, something that smells like him, King might be able to track him.”

Relief flooded through her so fast it made her dizzy. “Yes, I—his backpack. It’s probably still in his classroom.”

“I’ll get it,” Mariah said, already heading toward the building.

Brandt’s black SUV pulled into the parking lot, and Nessie’s stomach dropped. The driver’s door opened, and he stepped out, his dark suit impeccable despite the wind whipping through the lot.

No. What was he doing here? In front of all these people? Her mouth went dry. If he were here, risking her cover, there had to be only one reason.

“Is this Alek?” The words tumbled out before she could stop them. “Has he found us?”

Brandt’s expression remained neutral, but she caught the slight tightening around his eyes. “I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. As far as we can tell, he hasn’t left his penthouse apartment in LA.”

She wanted to believe him. God, she wanted to believe him. But the fear that had lived in her chest for four years, theconstant awareness that Alek could find them, could take Oliver, was clawing at her throat.

“Who the hell are you?” Jax stepped closer to her, his shoulders tense, like he wasn’t sure if he should fight or pull her behind him. His eyes locked on Brandt with the wariness of someone who’d been blindsided before and didn’t plan to be again.

Brandt’s gaze shifted to Jax, and she could practically see him cataloging details—the mud on Jax’s clothes, the way he stood protectively close to her, the evident familiarity between them.

“And who’s Alek?” Jax asked, this time more quietly, and turned to her. “Nessie, what’s going on? Please, just talk to me. Whatever it is, let me help.”

She looked between the two men. Jax with his hazel eyes full of concern and confusion, and Brandt with his professional composure that couldn’t quite hide his worry. The weight of too many secrets pressed down on her chest. She couldn’t breathe properly, couldn’t think past the image of Oliver wandering through the woods, calling for her. The explanations would have to wait.

“I can’t—” She pressed her hands to her temples, trying to hold herself together. “I need to find my son.”

Brandt stepped closer, his voice dropping to the soothing, professional tone she remembered from their early meetings. “We’ll find him, Nessie. I’ve got agents coming in from Missoula, and I’m coordinating with local law enforcement.”

The entire world wobbled around her.

“Hey.” Jax reached for her face, his palms rough and warm as they cradled her cheeks. “You’re shaking.”

She hadn’t realized she was until he touched her. Her breath hitched.

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