Page 256 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

Vengeance at hand.

But something prompted me toward disorder. Awareness washing like the rise of a slow, tumultuous tide.

“What do you mean, he’s here?” I gritted.

“Word is he is here to take care of some unfinished business before he steps out as Iron Owls’ president next week. He made a claim that he was gonna prove that he was always meant to be their president. Figured that had a direct relation to you, your brothers, and the rest of the guys in Redemption Hills. Probably my crew, too. Anyone who used to wear an Owls patch and no longer pledges their allegiance.”

Fury toiled in my stomach, and I started jogging across the lot, apprehension seeping into my bloodstream.

Wouldn’t let that fucker get near anyone I cared about. Never again.

“I’m the one who’s been hunting him. If he’s got unfinished business, then I’m pretty sure he’s got it with me,” I growled as I darted into the thicket of trees that separated the main lot from the two cabins on the other side, taking the shortcut to get me there quicker.

“Either way, I have my men on high alert. Everyone is watching their backs in case this scum thinks he’s going to roll in here and try to make an example out of all of us.”

“Good. This motherfucker is capable of anything.”

Rage and hate twined with the grief.

“It’s finally your time, brother,” Silas said. “If you need backup, just say. You know we consider you family.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it and the intel. I’ll keep you updated.”

“I’ll do the same.”

The line went dead, and I darted through the trees, tapping out a message as I went.

Me

Hey, baby. Need you to stay at the bar with the rest of the girls until me or one of the guys gets there. Stick close together.

Didn’t want to freak her out, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Not when I was sure Toga wanted to hurt me every bit as badly as I wanted to hurt him.

I broke out on the other side of the trees, and I ran for Unit B, just needing to get Finn into my arms.

I gave a quick knock at the door, though I didn’t wait for Nelly to open it. I tapped my keycard against the reader and pushed inside.

Nelly’s head popped up from where she was in the kitchen. Surprised air rushed from her lungs. “Criminy, you just about scared the pants off of me, and that is a sight I promise that you don’t want to see.”

Her smile was easy before it drained when she noticed the rage on my face. “What’s going on?”

“MyFeo!” Finn popped up from where he was on his belly on the floor scribbling in a coloring book. His little legs carried him in my direction.

I glanced between him and the worry that was etched on Nelly. I snatched him up, breathing in his calming scent, close to the cherries like his mom, though it was mixed with a dose of innocence.

I hugged him tight, allowing the frenzy roiling inside me to abate with him in my arms.

Wrath ran through my blood, but it’d taken a new shape. The truth that the only thing I really wanted to do was protect the ones I loved.

It struck me the second I thought it.

What this was.

The full truth of it.

My arms quivered with the perfect weight of Finn in them, and he babbled and bobbed, “MyFeoget back? We get food and amoovie?”

I smoothed my hand down the back of his head and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I might have to go back to work for a little bit, but I’ll be back soon. I promise.”