After, we lie sated in one another’s arms, not talking, just breathing and existing, and it’s everything I never dared to dream of. I’m glad I finally listened to my heart and surrendered to my feelings. I have zero regrets. Lying here, wrapped in his protective arms, feels so right, and I know I’ve made the correct decision.
Zayn
The next month passes by in a whirlwind of activity. I start therapy to help me to process all my feelings. I’m struggling with guilt and self-loathing and finding it hard to forgive myself even if everyone else has. Releasing my emotions on the therapist’s couch is weirdly freeing, and I’m hopeful Dr. Allen can help me move past this.
Ro completed rehab, and he’s back home but attending an outpatient program a couple of times a week for the foreseeable future until he’s dealt with all of his trauma. He starts at Rydeville High next week, and he’s in a good place. He hasn’t mentioned Jarvis or the text message he received from his ex explaining he’s gone overseas to start a new life. We forced him to send it before we put a bullet in his skull and buried him in the woods. Jarvis was scum and he didn’t deserve to live for the things he did to Roman.
Emery got accepted at Berklee College of Music—thanks to her enormous talent and Art’s contact—so we’re moving to Boston in ten days. I talked to Ro extensively before making that decision, and he encouraged me to live my life. The paperwork is being processed to switch his guardianship from me to Kaiden,but it’s only needed for another six months because Ro turns eighteen then.
“Are you sure it’ll be safe?” Emery asks, wrapping her arms around me from behind as I finish packing my bag for the trip to Italy.
I turn around and bundle her into my arms, holding her tight. Hugging and touching her will never get old. In the month since we reunited, we have only parted for work. Every spare second of downtime is spent together. Kai and his friends have loved teasing the fuck out of me, and I guess I deserve it for all the times I accused them of being pussy whipped.
Abby and Kai have been cool about letting her stay over most nights, and we’ve been fucking like crazy, but I can’t wait to have our own place and complete privacy. Luckily, Uma and Jude made an independent decision to move in together, and both girls are shortly moving out of Em’s aunt and uncle’s apartment. “Don’t worry. All my brothers will be there, plus Drew and Hunt, and we’ve got backup.”
“Telling me not to worry is pointless. I won’t sleep properly until you’re back home in my arms.”
“We’ll only be gone three days tops, but I know what you mean. I don’t want to be away from you either, but this needs to happen.”
We set the trap for Hamilton as planned, and he took the bait. Two days ago, he gave us an address in Italy where Atticus is hiding out, and in two hours, we’re jumping on a private plane to apprehend our errant father. Keven Kennedy is a close family friend and a business associate of Hunt and Xavier’s, and he’s going to be with us in his official capacity as an FBI agent to take Atticus down.
“I know. It’s just so dangerous, and I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.” She hugs me tight. “I know what it’s like to lose you, and I can’t lose you again.”
“Hey.” I tilt her head back and hold her beautiful face in my hands. Emery is so gorgeous, and she just glows with happiness and life and vitality and everything that is perfect in my world. “You’re not going to lose me. There is no way this mission can go wrong. We have the FBI with us, and the local authorities have been informed too. Honestly, I’m more worried about you.” Emery is moving into Charlie and Demi’s place for the few days we are gone, along with Abby and Xavier. Harley wanted Hannah to stay there too, but she insisted on going home to see her folks instead.
Shandra and Nessa are in New York, having moved back there full-time three weeks ago. Jackson has organized additional security as a precaution for himself and the girls, including Rick’s fiancée, Rebecca. Lauder can’t come with us because he’s got his first race this weekend and he’s in training. We’re hoping we don’t get delayed in Italy because we all plan to cheer him on.
“I’ll be fine. Charlie’s place is like Fort Knox.”
“Fact.” Charlie and Demi’s first baby is due shortly, and Charlie might have gone a little bit crazy with security at his place. Though knowing the elite as we do, I can’t say I blame him. It’s definitely the safest place to leave the girls while we’re gone, and I’ll sleep easier knowing Charlie is taking good care of them.
I press my lips to hers in a lingering kiss, mentally calculating if we have enough time for a quickie before we have to leave when Kai comes bursting into my bedroom.
“Dude,” I growl. “Ever heard of fucking knocking?”
“You’ve got to see this. Come.” He grabs my arm and tugs me toward the door, leaving me no option. I snag Em’s hand, pulling her with us as we leave my room and sprint to the living room where Drew, Rick, Xavier, Abby, Ro, and Hunt are all standingaround the TV. Joaquin and Harley aren’t here because we’re meeting them at the private airfield.
“What is it?” I ask, coming up on Abby’s left.
“What the hell is going on?” Drew asks, frowning as he concentrates on the CNN report rolling across the screen.
“Turn it up,” Rick says, and Kai snatches the remote control and raises the volume.
Silence descends as we listen to the reporter confirming the news.
“Notorious criminal William Hamilton was found hanging in his jail cell at six-thirty a.m. this morning by prison guards. Hamilton was a member of an elite secret organization that made headlines five years ago when a bomb went off in Wyoming killing several people. An FBI investigation at the time uncovered a web of criminal activities, which resulted in several high-profile arrests. Hamilton was arrested at a later date and incarcerated on multiple charges of fraud, drugs, and sex trafficking. His legal team was preparing an appeal that leads many to speculate about the timing of his apparent suicide.”
“Holy shit,” I exclaim. “Who did it?”
“Maybe Huss was behind it, but he’s been adamant all along that the higher-ups didn’t want Hamilton touched,” Drew says, still wearing a frown.
“Maybe they changed their minds.”
“It’s possible,” Kai says as a picture of Atticus Anderson flashes on the screen.
Tension bleeds into the air as everyone stays silent, reading the new headline with wide-eyed stares.
The reporter looks like she’s about to pee her pants in excitement when the screen returns to her. “In breaking news, Italian police have confirmed that Atticus Anderson, a wanted criminal with an international warrant out for his arrest, has been shot and killed in a small town on the outskirts of LakeGarda in Italy. Mr. Anderson had been living in the town under a pseudonym, and locals say he was a man of few words and always kept to himself. While official sources have not released further information, tourists who were in the town square when the incident happened have claimed Mr. Anderson was enjoying a coffee at a local café when a shot was fired from above by a mystery assailant. The bullet entered his skull, and he was dead before he hit the ground. While this has yet to be confirmed, several videos are circulating online that seem to confirm this version of events. We will keep you updated as more news unfolds on both of these shocking deaths. This is Bethany Chambers reporting live from Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ossining, New York.”
