Page 165 of The Silent Note

“Seriously?” I rub my thumb over Grey’s shoulder. “Why is he reminding us? We’re aware of the appointment.”

Dutch turns to Finn. “He’s not reminding us about the appointment.”

“Then what.”

“He said he only wanted to see… his sons.” My brother grinds his jaw.

“Dammit, what else did he say? Because that definitely can’t be all,” Sol barks, shaking his head.

Finn looks down.

The silence is so full and heavy, it’s about to gorge on itself.

Dutch looks shaken. Cadence seems to understand something behind his expression because she walks over to him and slips an arm around his waist. The two stare at each other, exchanging a silent message that reminds me of just how freaking connected they are.

“His sons.” Dutch lets out a shuddering breath and then curses before adding, “Only…hissons.”

“Oh.” Sol drops his boots from the table and looks at Finn.

I do too.

Dammit, dad.

I thought it was enough when dad threw Dutch in jail and sent Cadence to Europe.

Thought it was enough when he married Grey’s mom, leaving my heart a mangled mess.

I didn’t think he could touch Finn.

My rock-solid brother.

The one we all silently turn to and depend on. The one who grounds us all.

Because dammit, Finn Crossismy brother.

I don’t care what he looks like on the outside, where he came from, who he was in that foreign land before he knew us. He’s my freakingblood.

No one moves at all.

More from shock than anything.

But Finn is the first to become unfrozen.

He stiffly walks over to Grey and sets the flash drive in front of her. “Don’t lose this. I didn’t save the footage anywhere else.”

“Finn…” Grey whispers. Her fingers curl around the flash drive, but her eyes never leave my brother’s.

“Wait, Finn.” I reach for him.

But Finn turns away from me and stalks out the door. The loud slam echoes in the room long after he’s gone.

Chapter Forty-Two

GREY

There are some wounds that are ripped open, like a rotten tree being torn by the root. Others are more insidiously spread, oozing into the bloodstream and killing someone in the night. Screams echoing through the house as loved ones find a body, cold and blue, breath snatched from its lungs.

And still there are other types of wounds.