There was silence on the other end of the line.
“Mickey?”
“I’m sorry. I’m happy for you. Clearly you and Rafe are safe.”
“We are, but Kane wasn’t with Viktor,” I said. I hesitated before forcing the words out. “The wrecked van. I need you to find out if Kane was inside.”
“I’ll do my best.” His voice broke, and I hated hearing him so messed up. I wished I could hug him, to reassure him that we could get through this, but I knew losing Monty and Grace was a huge blow for him—Monty especially. “They died protecting Creed,” I said softly. “Protectingfamily, Mick. I have to believe they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
There was a muffled cry on the other end before he said quickly, “I’ll get back to you,” and hung up.
Rafe came out of the bathroom with Henry then, his clothes soaked as the boy ran to the bed and started jumping on it, his towel wrapped around him snuggly. I finally let my laughter free, catching Henry before he fell off the bed.
“No jumping! Time for bed,” I reprimanded him and clicked on the TV. I found a kids channel and tucked him into the large, single bed. It didn’t take long for Henry to nod off, curling into the pillows.
I kicked off my boots and padded over to Rafe. He was in the small area next to the bathroom where a sink was, his shirt between his hands as he wrung it out. I traced a finger lightly over the giant letters of CREED across his shoulder blades, grinning at him in the mirror.So which of you got clean, exactly?I asked, his eyes following my fingers in the reflection.
Rafe blushed and gave up on his shirt, throwing it over the empty towel rack next to the sink and letting it air dry.Neither, he managed, wincing slightly, and I studied his hands. His knuckles were bleeding through the dirtied bandages.
Sit, I instructed, gesturing to the closed toilet cover and pulling out the room’s first aid kit from its place beneath the sink. I popped it open, grateful to find it relatively stocked, and settled on the edge of the tub. I gently unwrapped his hands, his breathing harsh as I did. He was in more pain than he was letting on, and I frowned. I grabbed the antiseptic and drizzled it over his knuckles, Rafe tensing. Patting the blood away, I peered up at him, finding him watching me intently.
Are you okay with Henry?I asked carefully, grabbing fresh gauze from the kit.
Rafe’s brow furrowed before he nodded.
I mean…if he were to stay with us for awhile, would that be okay?My eyes flew over his face, searching for any tremorin his expression that would tell me he was lying, but his face just relaxed, his hands folding around mine after I tied off the bandages. He nodded again and offered me a small smile.
As long as we have a safe environment for him, I want to protect him,I said sincerely before rubbing a hand over my heart.I feel a connection to him. I don’t know if it was the fact he had mine and Alex’s room or simply that those eyes of his could get him anything he wants, but I think I fell in love with him the second I saw him.
Rafe leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He reached up and brushed hair from my face before he signed,Phone?
My eyes widened, annoyed with myself that I hadn’t thought of that. I took the cellphone from my pocket and opened its notes app, handing it to Rafe. He typed quickly, the movement something he seemed to be able to withstand better than signing. Then he handed it back to me.
Anything you want is yours, beautiful.I read his message, my eyes stinging.I was ready to be the father of your child the first time, and that hasn’t changed. I’ll protect him with my life.
I met his gaze, those gold flecks I loved shining bright.Thank you, I signed.
He gently took the phone back, typing.You don’t have to thank me. I want this too. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember…a family.His smile slipped as he typed the word.
I asked Mickey to look into the van wreckage,I explained, and he nodded.I think he’s alive, Rafe. When Thorne died, I…felt it. Like a piece of myself had been ripped out of me. I don’t feel that with Kane.
Rafe touched my cheek lightly, tugging me into his lap. I wrapped myself around him as he pressed a kiss over the pulse point in my neck.You think he shot Monty and Grace then?he typed.
My body trembled.No. I’m not sure Kane will ever pick up a gun again after Hotel Viktoria.
Rafe’s face fractured with pain.Then someone could have him.
He’s strong, resilient. He’s giving them hell if so, I reassured him, but all I could see was the dead look in Kane’s eyes. Rafe saw my worry and rubbed small circles against my spine with his thumb.
We don’t worry until Mick confirms, he typed.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall to his shoulder.
I fell asleep, my body bleeding away into exhaustion. Rafe carried me to bed, lying me on one side of Henry while he took the other, his arm wrapping around both of us. I woke only when I felt a buzz against the mattress, peering through my lashes and watching Rafe hang up on whoever was calling and shooting off a text, likely to let them know it was him and they needed to communicate that way. I pried my eyes open further, Henry snuggled against my chest and my arm wrapped protectively around him. A text came in, Rafe’s expression nothing close to relief. He let the phone drop to his chest as he rolled on his back, covering his face with his hands.
I bit down on my tongue, tears swelling as I reached over and took the phone off his chest. My grip on Henry tightening, I read the text from the unknown number, knowing it was Mickey.
There were five bodies among the remains, but our connection in forensics confirmed none of them were Kane after we handed off a DNA sample we took when he first became a Raven.
