Page 78 of Shattered Souls
Grayson’s in the kitchen, but he’s not far from us. He keeps glancing over, his eyes filled with love and contentment. Occasionally, he joins in the fun, tossing out comments or laughing at Royce’s ridiculous story.
He finishes whatever he’s doing in the kitchen and walks over, carrying a plate of freshly baked cookies. “Who wants a treat?” he calls, and Aurora’s eyes light up, any notion of sleep forgotten as she scrambles off the sofa and rushes to Grayson.
“Me! Me!” she chants, bouncing on her feet as she reaches up with eager hands.
Grayson hands her a cookie, and she takes a big bite, her face lighting up with pure joy. “Ah-ah,” he chastises with a smile when she goes to snag a second one. “I think we should see if Mommy wants one first.”
Aurora nods, whirling on the spot to search for me. Spotting me in the doorway, she gives me a gap-toothed grin. “Mommy! Daddy made cookies!”
Grayson is already crossing the room toward me. He holds out the plate, offering me a cookie. I take it, our fingers brushing, and I feel a spark of something more profound.Something that grounds me in this moment and has me praying it never ends.
Aurora grabs my hand, dragging me to the sofa, and Logan and Royce make room for me between them. Royce clasps my hand, and Logan kisses my cheek as the three of them settle around me, their presence a protective barrier against any harm. Grayson moves to sit on the floor at my feet while Aurora dances on the rug before us, the very picture of happiness and innocence.
Tears sting my eyes as I savor this impossible moment of peace and happiness, knowing that when I wake, this is what I’ll fight for.
My daughter.
My family.
Our happiness.
This is my sanctuary, my hope, and I’ll do anything to make it our reality.
22
ROYCE
Itake off as soon as Riley is safely home and in Logan’s care. I can’t sit around and wait. Can’t stare into her face, torn with anguish. I need to move. To do something—anything that helps. Which is how I end up in Dax’s office at Rogue, hovering over him and driving him insane.
“Dude,” he growls. “Back the fuck off before I hit you.”
“How do you not have anything yet?” I snap. “You’ve been looking into Bertram for days now.”
“It’s not like that’s all I do. In case you forgot, I’m also dealing with the auction aftermath, and I have my own fucking businesses to run. My own life to lead. I’m doing the best I can. Now that we know Bertram has her, I’ve devoted all the resources I can spare. These things take time, Royce. I promise you. We will get him. Just back the fuck off.”
Huffing out a frustrated breath, I reluctantly step away.
“Blue is the only man we have on this,” Dax continues. “But he’s the best. I assure you, he will find what we need. He will findher.” His phone pings, and I’m back across the room in the blink of an eye, once again hovering over him.
He gives me a death glare that would have most grown men’s hearts giving out. But I don’t give a fuck. Sighing, he shakes his head at me and focuses on his phone.
“Blue has an ID on your driver.” He tilts the screen so I can see the details. One glance at the photo, and I snort. “You recognize him?”
“Yeah. He goes by Knuckles, although his real name is Vincent. I’ve seen him around here sometimes. He likes to get in on the fights but has no real skill or talent.”
“Why don’t you go talk to him and let Blue do his job of finding Aurora?”
Gritting my teeth, I hesitate, reluctant to leave. But no, I need to burn off this frustration and hopelessness, this anger that’s eating away at me.
“Fine,” I hiss. Seething but knowing this is the best thing to do. It’sallI can do for right now. Dax just better pray that by the time I’m finished with this guy, he’s got some real fucking answers for me. ’Cause I’m done sitting back. I’m done letting Bertram call the shots. Knowing that he has Aurora, that he has Riley’s little girl. That he’s had her this. Entire. Fucking. Time pisses me the hell off. How could we not have known? It makes me feel like even more of a failure. Like letting Aurora slip through my fingers that night wasn’t enough. Fucking karma had to laugh in my face with the knowledge that the buyer was Grayson’s fucking dad.
Turning on my heel, I storm toward the door, but Dax calls after me. “Don’t go alone. You’ll probably fucking kill the guy. Take one of your buddies with you—Grayson. I’m sure he could do with the outlet if he’s recovered from his last fight. Fuck knows, with the amount of work you lot are adding to my plate, I don’t have the time to get back in the ring with that Suit Slicker.”
I dismiss him without a word, marching out of Rogue and onto the Springview sidewalk. As I head for my truck parkedjust down the road, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Checking it, I find Dax has sent me the details on this fucking idiot who thought he could mess with our girl. I take one look at his douchey fucking face before scrolling through the rest of the info Blue sent through on him. He’s got a criminal record—mostly petty crimes, assault—a few stints in the county jail but nothing significant enough to keep him locked up for long.
Shaking my head, I navigate to his home address, unsurprised that it’s a trailer park in Boxum. Memorizing it, I dial Grayson.
Dax is probably right. Grayson will be as in need of this outlet as I am. Logan, too, but he’s far better than either of us at setting his anger aside to meet Riley’s needs. He’s the best one of us to stay and comfort her, and Grayson and I are the best men forthis.
