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His words pierce me straight to the core.
I lift my face, brushing my lips along his jaw, whispering with absolute certainty, “You’re mine too.”
In that simple, powerful exchange, I let go completely, sinking into sleep, secure in the comfort of Brody’s arms, knowing without a doubt that we have finally found the place we both belong—with each other.
28
BRODY
Afirm knock echoes from the front door. It’s too loud, too impatient, and it cuts through the early morning solitude. I glance at the clock next to Harper’s bed and see it’s barely past six. It’s too damn early to deal with the Banks brothers.
“Ugh,” Harper whispers.
“It’s Asher and Nick. I’ll be back.”
She nods and rolls over, but her breathing is steady. I lean over, kissing her bare shoulder, drinking her in as the sun rises. The memory of last night’s confessions is still fresh, and herI love youstill hums under my skin. Reluctantly, I slip quietly out of bed, going to her dresser and opening every drawer until I find my joggers. I pull them on with a smirk as the knocking comes again, sharper this time.
I take the stairs down to the front door as they continue to pound.
“Fuck,” I mutter, walking barefoot across the living room.
I yank open the door with more force than necessary, glaring at the two men standing casually in the hallway, both wearing that cocky-as-fuck Banks grin.
“I really can’t stand either of you,” I admit.
Asher smirks, holding a laptop under his arm as he leans against the doorframe. “Morning, sunshine. Did we interrupt something?”
Nick grins beside him, holding two steaming cups of coffee. “Aw, he still looks cranky, Ash. Maybe we should’ve let him finish getting his beauty sleep because we’re dealing with the beast.”
“Why are you here so early?” I snap, stepping aside to let them in.
“Some of us have to work today,” Nick says in his full voice as he moves past me.
“Keep it down. Harper’s still asleep.”
Asher strolls past me. “I’m sorry my brother is a dickhead.”
“I’m the entire dick,” Nick tells him. “Give me some credit.”
“Ugh,” I reply dryly, following them into the kitchen.
Nick sets down the coffee cups, sliding one toward me as a peace offering. He takes an exaggerated sip of his, watching me over the rim.
“Let’s skip your usual brooding and get straight to business,” Nick says, making himself comfortable on a stool.
Asher raises a brow at me, settling himself next to his brother. “Brooding is his best quality. Don’t take that away from him. It took years of being an ass to pull it off.”
“Fuck off, both of you,” I mutter, taking a grateful sip of the coffee despite my irritation. The caffeine does little to ease the tension. “Did you find anything new?”
Asher’s expression sobers instantly, his eyes sharpening. “More than we expected. Turns out, Micah has been busy—very fucking busy. Nick, show him.”
Nick grabs the laptop and types in a few things, then scrolls rapidly before turning the screen toward me. My blood goes cold as I see surveillance images—grainy but unmistakable—of Micah Rhodes.
“His car was spotted an hour and a half north of here after he took Mia. I just haven’t figured out exactly where, but I know who will know.”
My jaw tightens painfully, anger flaring white hot beneath my ribs. Another victim. Another life Micah will try to ruin because he can.
“Has the public been made aware that Mia is missing yet?” My voice is clipped, barely controlled.