Then they’re gone.
I take the extinguisher and put out the fire.
I’m shaking. Katya. And Sawyer.
It takes a minute to let it fully sink in. If Ivan is telling the truth, that means Koda and Katya are Sawyer’s siblings. I already know what this means for them. I don’t know what to do or where to go. I can’t show up there alone.
I know Ivan will kill all of us.
You don’t steal from him. His children are his property, and Sawyer’s mother stole him. In Ivan’s mind she stole a solider. Not his son.
I don’t know what to do.
Then it clicks.
Sunday dinner.
I run upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. I don’t know what I’m doing, but for the first time I know I need help. I don’t know if theycanhelp me, but it’s a chance. I need help. I can’t do this alone.
My hands shake the entire drive over.
I need his friends to help me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
AIDEN
I’m notsure I even breathe as I drive over to Jamie’s mother’s. I don’t know her. I barely know any of them. Still, as I reach the Victorian-style home the address tells me is hers, I don’t give a shit about anything other than getting Sawyer and Katya out of this mess.
I’ve done a lot of dumbass shit. A lot of illegal dumbass shit.
But this has to be at the top.
They’re going to fucking kill me. I don’t even care. They can kill me after. Sawyer can have the pleasure himself. All I care about is getting him back safely.
I knock again, more frantic each time my hand hits the door. Finally it swings open and Jamie glares at me. “What’s going on?” He looks beyond me. “Where’s Sawyer?”
I take a deep breath. “It’s an emergency. I need help.”
“What’s going on?” Hunter opens the door wider. “Where’s Sawyer?”
“I fucked up,” I breathe.
Murder lights up Hunter’s eyes. “Where’s Sawyer?”
“Come in.” Jamie steps between us, letting me in. I’m pacing. I feel erratic. I’m going to pass out.
“Dinner will be done—oh, hello.” A White woman with dark hair pulled into a bun wipes her hands on her apron. “Who’s this?”
“Mom this is Aiden. He’s Sawyer’s . . . boyfriend?”
I’m not his anything, but I don’t have time to explain. “Yea.” My eyes slide to Hunter, then I take her hand as she offers me a warm smile.
“Where’s Sawyer?” she asks, and my stomach churns.
My eyes slide to his friends then back to her. “He’s not feeling well. I um, I wanted to come. I hope that’s okay?”
“Oh, of course, sweetie. I can send leftovers for him for when he feels better.” She smiles at me. It’s warmth I don’t deserve right now. “Food’s almost done.”
