Kit swallowed. That was bitter. “Yeah. My childhood home. Then there’s his cabin on the lake, out in East County. Plus that warehouse Darius found, though I think that’s less likely. Between James’s people and Darius’s Rat King network, we could hit all three places at once.” Kit hesitated, suddenly self-conscious. This was a lot of work to ask other people to do. “If you guys think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s a perfect idea,” Holden said loyally.
“It’s not bad,” Bishop said, which was higher praise comparatively.
James asked the crucial question, his gaze burning into Kit. “What if they’re not in those three places?”
Kit met Bishop’s eyes. Then Darius’s. They understood.
“We move to plan B,” Kit said. “Using me as bait.”
James’s fists clenched so tightly, Kit worried he would snap a tendon. “Absolutely not.”
Kit lifted his chin. The tiny, scared part of his brain agreed with James. Absolutely not. Let Kit hide safe behind his men, never venturing forth, never risking Dad’s gaze, much less anything else. But his conviction burned stronger. Kit refused to let other people suffer in his place.
Not again.
“Then find them before it comes to that,” Kit said, facing James’s certainty with his own.
James broke first. With a growl, he closed the distance. A harsh kiss and gentle hands around Kit’s face, holding him in place. Kit closed his eyes as James poured all his frustration and love into the kiss. All this beautiful pain, just for Kit. No replacements possible.
“I will,” James murmured against Kit’s lips. Then he stormed upstairs.
Touching his lips, Kit faced the others.
“It’s 3 p.m. now,” Darius said. “We could handle this tonight, depending on how far out the cabin is. Are you okay?”
Kit hugged himself. “I don’t know the address, but I’ll send what I remember. I’ll be okay when this is over. Don’t waste time.”
“Yes, sir,” Darius said, with a reassuring grin. No more questions, stupid or reasonable, before he followed James upstairs.
Tonight. Plans were in motion. Maybe after tonight, Kit would be free.
Kit stumbled back to the couch and slumped down.
Bishop followed, voice soft. “Do you want your phone back?”
“No,” Kit said reflexively. “But yes. This is my business.”
“It’s both of ours,” Bishop said, setting the phone on the couch.
“Right. Archie. I shouldn’t be selfish.”
Bishop ruffled Kit’s hair. The touch was painfully tender. “You’re anything but that.”
Holden sank onto the couch next to Kit. No clinging or overeffusive praise this time. Just a solid presence heating up Kit’s space, so Kit wasn’t alone when Bishop went upstairs too.
Holden had been quiet for a while.
Kit texted the cabin details to the group chat before turning to Holden. “What is it?”
“I think I found the new kid,” Holden said, handing over his own phone.
“Fuck all of this,” Kit whispered, and accepted the offering with numb hands.
Shiloh Laudrie didn’t have a news article or press release yet. Holden had dug up a social media post from Shiloh’s aunt, asking for friends and family to share. Anyone who had seen Shiloh in the past three days should contact her.
The police weren’t worried and weren’t helping. Shiloh had gone missing before. He was probably at a friend’s house, but his aunt was worried. Please contact her.
