He holds me against his chest and for the first time since I saw Max, I’m able to suck in a deep breath.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Ryan’s tone is rough, rougher than normal. “Does Viktor know?”
I find it odd that this is Ryan’s response, but I don’t question it in the moment. There’s enough going on.
“I have a body I have to get rid of,” Max groans. “Can you watch over Evie while I take care of it? I think she’s in shock.”
Shock is putting it lightly. I’m pretty sure my brain has full on checked out in favor of a more peaceful life off grid.
“We’re all going to jail,” I say, my voice shaking as I look back at Ryan. “How did you know I was here?”
“Lucy called me. She said she heard a shot on your phone. I was on my way back, anyway.” He pulls out his phone and I notice he’s texting Viktor.
“It’s probably for the best you text him, considering his brother just came back from the dead.”
“Who told you that?”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not sure anyone needed totellme anything. The second I saw Max again, I knew. I feel dumb for not seeing it sooner.”
Ryan relaxes his posture and kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I swear that’s all I know. I didn’t know he was alive. I didn’t know where he went. Viktor has kept everything under wraps.”
I’m not sure if I blame him yet or not. I’m too shaken up to decide what I feel.
In what seems like a minute later, Max steps out of our apartment with a rolling duffle bag the size of a human body. I don’t ask questions, though I have about a thousand… including who’s inside.
“I can’t go back in there,” I say to Ryan. “Can’t we stay in a hotel or something for the night?”
He nods, gripping his hand in mine as we make our way back down the stairs. “Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it. I’ll let Viktor know we’re getting a place by the shore for the night.”
Ryan has no more than sent the message when we round to the end of the stairs to see Viktor waiting. His stance is wide, his gaze soft as though he knows he’s too late to explain the basics.
I look toward him, then Ryan before turning my gaze toward Max. All three men stand in front of me, waiting for some kind of response that’s going to give them the solace they’re looking for. Except I can’t. There’s nothing to say. Max’s note was right all along. What I need to do, is run.
Chapter Nineteen
Max
When I see her, everything makes sense again. She’s perfection. It’s torn my heart out leaving her like I did. Hell, it would’ve anyone’s. Seeing her here now with Ryan wrapped around her shoulder and Viktor’s hands on her face confuses things, though. I knew she’d move on, but I expected it to be with the money I left for her, not with my brother and apparently the computer guy.
I step toward her, but she steps back. She’s scared, but it makes sense. I’ve just shot a man and thrown the body into the trunk of my car. I suck in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
She recoils between Viktor and Ryan.
Viktor glares toward me. “What are you doing here? The point of dying is to stay dead.”
“Good to see you too, brother,” I grin. He doesn’t mean anything bad by it. Under different circumstances, I know he’d be happy to see me. But here, now, when I’m supposed to be six feet under, that’s a different story.
“You’re putting everyone in jeopardy by being here, but you know that. You shot a gun in a residential neighborhood. This is the same sloppy shit that got you exiled in the first place.”
“I see you moved right into what was mine.” I glance toward Evie, her long blonde hair tangled between Ryan’s fingers.
Fuck I’ve missed that girl. I’d do just about anything right now to hold her for even a second. Though, I’m not sure she’s feeling the same way.
“Who are you now, anyway?” Viktor asks, helping Everleigh into the truck he drove over in. She’s shaking. She’s in shock.
“Greg Jackson.”
