Page 59

Maddox

“I am not staying in bed all day.” Mindy lifts up the blanket.

“You need to rest.”

“Then I’ll rest in the park or the bakery. I’m not lying in bed anymore. It’s been two days. Barb said I’ll be fine as long as I don’t exert myself. And before you say maybe we should have a talk, we’ve done nothing but talk for the last two days. I need fresh air and something frivolous.”

There isn’t anything more to talk about. I need to get a ring, and she needs to say yes.

Mindy leans forward and places a hand on my chest. “Unless you want to rethink that no sex before marriage thing again.”

I’ve rethought it a million times already. “Nope.”

She gives me a peck on the lips and pulls back. “I’m going for a walk. And you're not going to follow me.”

“Fine.” I might not, but Canyon definitely will be. “I’ll go make sure The Street hasn’t burned down in my absence.”

“We’ll meet back for dinner and a game.” Mindy stands up.

“Dinner and a game it is.” And will always be.

Hmmm. What kind of engagement ring does Mindy want? Maybe I’ll call one of her friends.

Right now, I need to find out if Rudy and Knuckles are waiting in my dungeon.

***

Jacko sits at my desk while half a dozen brothers just lounge around.

“Did you find them?”

Jacko jumps up. “No. We’ve alerted everyone and offered a reward to encourage some of the baser elements out there to turn them in. But there’s no word yet.”

Well, that is more than a little bit frustrating.

“Does this mean Mindy is feeling up to letting you come back to work?”

She insists on it. “Yeah. Barb cleared her.”

“Good. Because if I had to do any more paperwork, I might lose my mind.” Jacko grins.

He would have done it another month without a complaint. “Anything I should know about?”

“The kid and Sasha Kamenev have become friends.”

That’s a scary thought.

“There’s been complete radio silence from the Linckesters. Even Plant has been playing nice.”

We need way more intel on Plant. Ethan might be sure that Filmore isn’t involved, but I’m not. Vex is sure there was someone smart running a larger ring than what it seems like. Who is bigger and stronger than the Linckesters to operate under the radar trafficking women for years? “Good. I’ll handle them later.”

“There was one odd thing.”

Odd things mean trouble. “What?”

“Colton left the day we rescued Mindy. He just walked off The Street with nothing but the clothes on his back. He didn’t tell anyone and hasn’t reached out since.”

“He didn’t say anything?” That doesn’t sound like Colton.

“Nothing.”

“Did anyone check his apartment to see if he left a note or anything?”

Jacko shakes his head. “We kind of thought he might need some space after all the stress.”

“Let’s just give it a quick check.” Colton lives in an apartment on The Street. It isn’t long before I’m letting myself in.

Everything appears normal. Mostly clean for a single guy, even.

I scan the space, not quite sure what I’m looking—An envelope with my name on it. Something feels very off.

Maddox,

When I came here all those years ago, I knew I had found the right place for me. My life felt like it started when I became a brother. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I’d betray the men who trusted me with their lives, but I did just that. It was unknowingly done, but I can’t remain here, knowing I’ve lost all of your trust.

I’d like to believe it was the fact that my heart is so big that I trusted the wrong person, but I didn’t even know it happened until the day Mindy was kidnapped. Plant isn’t just Adonis’ cousin, he’s also mine. A year ago, I did one of those DNA test kits, hoping to find some family. It came up with one single match. A cousin who lived in Urbium. I can’t believe Plant pulled the wool over my eyes. But at the time, I couldn’t imagine a life without blood relatives. So I fell for every line Plant gave me. I was the one who helped Plant find Marlie. It wasn’t on purpose. He was a cop. I didn’t even think he was paying attention when I mentioned needing to take care of someone. But that was the day Marlie disappeared from the safe house.

I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to make it right with my brothers or with Marlie. But I’m going to find her if it takes the rest of my life to do it.

Colton

His cut sits draped across a chair in the breakfast nook. We would have understood. We would have forgiven him. But he’s right, there would have been a small amount of doubt in the back of my brain.

***

“You know, it’s not that hard to pick a ring.” Ethan points out as we step into the fourth jewelry store.

“It’s got to be just the right one.” Not that I know what the right one looks like, or I would have ordered a custom ring. Her friends weren’t any help. They each suggested something different.

“Boy, this has nothing to do with the ring and everything to do with fear. What are you afraid of?”

Ethan knows me too well. “I’m afraid that she’ll say no. Every time I try to talk about it, she changes the topic or finds something she needs to do.”

“You know her mother has her all messed up when it comes to relationships. Not everyone grew up with strong examples of marriage.”

I know that. And I’m trying to be patient. “It’s hard.”

“Marriage doesn’t make it any easier.” Ethan sets a hand on my shoulder. “Nor does fear. I had lost so many people that the idea of marrying Emilia terrified me.”

What?

“Don’t look at me like that, boy. I have fears, just like everyone else. And that woman terrified me. She still does. The thought of losing her…makes my stomach curdle. Just like when you’re in the thick of battle, you can’t let fear paralyze you. Now pick a ring.”

“Yes, sir.”