Page 138 of Forgive Me Father

“I’m sure nothing feels better than blowing their whole operation,” I say.

“And now you too can be a part of it,” Echo beams. “Faulkner,” He snaps, turning to Aiden and Zoey. “What are the ground rules?”

Aiden and Zoey sit on the couch, rolling their eyes.

“We stay here and do nothing to help,” Aiden reiterates.

“Perfect, glad we’re all on the same page.”

Tapping my foot anxiously, Eden’s sobs echo in my mind.

I’m getting her back tonight.

I’m not leaving that damn church without her.

“And what is your role tonight, Roman?” Echo asks, ready to question me for what feels like the millionth time.

“We wait for them to confess on audio, then your guys swarm in and take them,” I whisper.

“And what are we not going to do?” Echo presses.

My only response is silence.

“Exactly, we aren’t going to just roll in and kill them,” Echo says, his smile condescending as he slaps my back sympathetically.

Sometimes, his misplaced optimism drives me mad.

“I can’t promise anything if I see Eden is hurt,” I hiss.

“And I’m not asking you to,” Echo warns. “But my protections for you start to wane if you kill these assholes before I have the proof I need. So do the opposite of what you would normally do, and everything will be fine.”

This asshole.

He’s lucky I have somuch respect for him.

“My mom is still not answering the phone,” Aiden says quietly, glancing at his phone. “Her phone has been at the house all night. She never goes anywhere without it.”

“Maybe your father has made the night a no-technology event for the women in his family,” Echo suggests with a sigh.

It’s easy to question how David could raise children like Eden and Aiden.

It’s a miracle they aren’t psychopathic little brats.

“You ready?” Echo asks, surveying me.

I nod, unable to offer more than a simple affirmative.

Crossing my fingers won’t suffice.

The last thing I can promise Echo is that I won’t end the night in bloodshed.

Echo gathers his gear, leaving a pistol on the coffee table.

“Both of you, lock the doors once we leave. We’ll update you once everything is said and done.”

Zoey and Aiden lean back, nodding.

“Bring my sister home, Roman,” Aiden says sternly.