Perhaps it was a start.
Denver finished hooking up the computer in the home office, more than a little impressed with the Internet connection. The four bedroom ranch was off the beaten path and surrounded by beautiful and snow-covered trees. It had been remodeled recently with comfortable furnishings and high-end appliances. “This place is great,” he said to Ryker, who was standing in the doorway.
Ryker nodded. “Agreed. Even the alarm system is top-notch.” He rocked back on his heels and brushed snow off his hair. “I had to use our actual Lost Bastards accounts to qualify for the lease, so those are all burned once we’re done. Just a heads up.”
“Got it.” Denver connected the two laptops.
“Noni seems a little out of sorts. Is she okay?” Ryker asked, his eyes sober.
Denver looked up. “Yeah. This is just . . . a lot.”
“Isn’t it?” his brother asked quietly. “That baby is going to need a father, Den.”
Denver’s breath caught, and he sat back in the leather chair. The words punched him in the gut. He’d do anything for the innocent little one. Include walking away. “I don’t know about babies. She’ll need somebody who can express, you know, emotions.”
Ryker rolled his eyes. “She needs somebody who protects her, defends her, and loves her. Maybe one who teaches her computer skills.” He shook his head. “Everything Madison said to you the other night, let go of it now. She’s a master at getting in our heads. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know,” Denver said. He wasn’t like Madison, no matter what she said. But the future wasn’t something he could worry about right now. Nothing Ryker said could change the fact that they were going to run right into hell as soon as he had a location. There was a slim chance they’d all make it out alive, and he had to cover his brothers’ backs.
“Stop blaming yourself,” Ryker exploded, fury darkening his high cheekbones.
Denver jerked. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you fucking are.” Ryker crossed his muscled arms. “You always have, and I’m done with it. We lived in hell, and we got out. Heath and I killed Ned Cobb.”
“You came down to the basement to save me,” Denver burst out, his body jerking. “Remember?”
“Yes.” Ryker sighed. “The same as you would’ve had it been one of us. Ned killed that kid. He was going to kill you or one of us.”
It was the truth, and Denver knew it. “How can you make promises to Zara with what we’re about to do?” Ryker had gotten engaged. Ring and all. “We might not make it.”
Ryker studied him. “I know. If I die, I want my ring on her finger when I go and I want her to know I loved her with everything I ever had.” He wiped a hand across his jaw. “My hope is that she’ll move on and find a good life for herself. Find somebody to love, because that woman is full of love. But if I’m leaving her, she’s going to know the truth. That she meant everything to me.”
A lump settled in Denver’s throat. “Does she know that?”
“Yeah. And before we go in, I’m gonna remind her.” Ryker shook his head. “Let the past go, man. We have right now and we have the future.”
“That’s exactly what Madison hinted at,” Denver said slowly, his temples starting to thrum.
Ryker barked out a laugh. “Yeah, we also have one another. We’re brothers.” He held up his hand, revealing the scar line across his palm.
Heath poked his head into the room. “What’s going on?”
“Just telling Denver to let go of the past and live for the now,” Ryker said easily.
“Ah.” Heath settled in the doorway next to Ryker. “Is he still blaming himself for our being on the run since we were kids?”
Denver frowned. Had his brothers been discussing this?
“I’m not sure,” Ryker said. “Denver? Reach any conclusions?”
He studied his brothers, his chest filling. Together they were secure and strong, no matter what the world threw at them. They weren’t alone. From day one, Ryker and Heath had included him as family. Then they’d all formed lives together. Even if he left this world soon, he had been loved. He’d had family, and that meant everything. “I don’t blame myself any longer.” If nothing else, he’d give his brothers that. His voice choked. How had he been so lucky to have found them? “Everything we’ve gone through has been worth it to become brothers.”
Ryker’s eyes darkened. “Damn straight.”
“Amen to that,” Heath added. “Family is all that matters.”
Ryker nodded. “And that’s why we’re going to beat Madison. She doesn’t understand that—she never has. It must drive her crazy, not truly understanding what motivates us. What she’s missing in life.”
