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When it was time for them to leave, Zach promised another visit soon. Noah vowed to Nathaniel that he’d make Zach keep his word. Zach shook his father’s hand. It was the best he could do for now. As Nathaniel turned to leave them, Zach asked, “Why did Gabriel…help me? My friend simply said he owed you a favor.” Zach tried to be careful with anything he said, knowing people were always listening.
“He did owe me a favor,” Nathaniel answered slowly. “In my world, Zach, people always repay their debts. I did something for him, so he kept you safe for me.”
“What about the other?” Zach asked, unwilling to leave it alone, even when he knew he probably should.
Nathaniel paused and Zach could tell he struggled with his answer. Finally, he said, “I would assume the favor he asked of me was very important to him. He felt obligated to move ahead and do something that needed to be done without waiting on me to issue the request.” His gaze flickered to Noah. “I believe we are all in agreement that we’re glad he was so appreciative of my favor…yes?”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.
“What was the favor?” Zach asked.
Nathaniel remained silent for several brutally long minutes, and Zach could see the battle waging inside him. When his gray eyes met Zach’s questioning stare, he answered, “I delivered a very important package to him years ago, Zachary.” Quietly, he added, “It has ended exactly where it all began.”
Without another word, Nathaniel walked away from Noah and Zach, never looking back.
A very important package.Zach darted his gazed over Noah.Fuck.
In that moment, Zach understood—the little blond boy the club had abducted, the one who’d caused Zach to turn his back on his own father… That child had been the package delivered to Gabriel. But why? Zach shook his head. There was more going on than Zach could decipher from his father’s cryptic words, and he vowed to figure it out at some point.
But for now, he took Noah’s hand in his, feeling a contentment course through him at the simple touch. A contentment he had never experienced before meeting this amazing man. When Noah smiled up at him as they left the visiting area, Zach knew…whatever information they learned, wherever the clues led, they’d handle them together.
The End