Page 16 of Echoes and Oaths

Brando groaned. “No way, man. You can’t.”

“Can’t what?” Raven asked.

“That was my persona when I was down here.” His voice dropped like gravel. “I go back in as the enforcer I was.”

Raven gaped at him. “Just walk back in after what … years of being gone? You don’t think that’ll look suspicious?”

“I can handle suspicion.” It would be easy. He’d claim to have been overseas working as a mercenary.

“Wait, we need permission to bring him back to life,” Brando said. “I’m making a call.”

Raven crossed her arms. “Does she think you’re dead?” She tossed her head in the direction of the clinic.

He shook his head. “I don’t know what she thinks. I just disappeared.”

“Okay, well, that sucks, but what about Eira, then? If you return as an enforcer, you’ll beseen. And if her family is as big as you say, it won’t be long before they’ll tell her you’re alive. Where does that leave her?”

A screen door slammed in the distance, followed by the unmistakable cry of a baby.

Both Jinx and Raven froze.

The sound clutched at something primal in Jinx’s chest.

He lifted his binoculars just as Raven did the same. They watched as Eira’s mother walked the fussing child over to her.

“Oh shit,” Raven breathed out slowly. “Dude … you got a kid.”

Brando’s voice cut in immediately. “Wait.What? What did you say?”

“Standby,” Jinx said, silencing Brando.

Eira stood and gently took the baby from the older woman who’d stepped out with him. Then she returned to the swing and began to rock with the calm of a practiced mother, pulling a shawl over the baby. She started singing a lullaby.

But Jinx had already seen the child.

His body went still. Then he exhaled. The breath was long, shaky, and…stunned.Dear God, could it be?

Raven nudged him again. “You’ve got akid, man.”

He lowered the binoculars and rubbed his face with both hands as if trying to wipe away the thought. Trying to force his brain to catch up with what his heart already knew.

“That can’t be,” he said hoarsely.

Raven huffed. “Do the math, Einstein. Unless this woman was cheating on you.”

The glare he leveled at her could’ve shaved splitters off diamonds.

She raised her hands. “What? If she were cheating, sure, it could be someone else’s kid. But if she loved you, and you were the only one for her, then it’syourkid. You need to make that determination.” She tilted her head, softer now. “Personally? I think it’s yours.”

Jinx stared at her, blinked once, then stood.

Raven’s eyes tracked his movement. “Where are you going?”

He didn’t answer.

“Jinx …” she started.

He turned just slightly, his voice ironclad. “Raven, I’m giving you two words of advice.”