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Chapter nineteen

Novo

We were lucky. The warehouse was exactly that.

Low tech, thank fuck, because we had nothing with us.

Degrassi was either stupid or so convinced of his superiority he wasn’t worried about being caught.

But then, he assumed I could be paid off.

They had no idea about my own personal revenge. Which pulled me up short.

I'd been right when I'd said Mom would have loved Matty . She’d have smothered him with as much care and attention as he could stand, and neither of my parents would have judged me for the choices I made.

I’d spent years consumed with the need for revenge until Matty had snuck up on me and snuggled into my heart.

And now he was all I wanted, and I knew Mom and Dad would be the first to agree. I also knew that if Coombes walked away and left Matty with me, he could take every cent. I just wanted my baby boy back in my arms where he belonged.

Jono whistled low for the signal, and we watched Tik Tac drive up to the door.

The warehouse entrance was guarded by two men in dark suits—private security, not street muscle. I watched from our position behind stacked shipping containers as Tik Tac approached them. He swaggered, cocky and ready to cause trouble.

"Remember," Jono had told him, "you just need to get inside. Once they open the door, make some noise."

Tik Tac nodded to the guards, saying something we couldn't hear. One guard spoke into a radio while the other patted him down. Then Tik Tac became belligerent, and a third guard arrived.

“Now,” I ordered. We moved as one unit, silent and deadly, approaching the entrance from three different angles. The guards never saw us coming.

I took the first one down with a choke hold, dragging him into the shadows while Jono and Bolt neutralized the second and third. Tik Tac followed us. No shots fired—we couldn't risk alerting anyone inside.

"Clear," Jono whispered, retrieving the guard's radio and gun.

We moved forward into a dimly lit corridor. The warehouse had been partitioned into smaller spaces, making it impossible to see what lay ahead. We moved carefully, checking each doorway.

"Stairs," Tik Tac pointed to our right to stairs heading down. "I was only here once a year ago, but it looks the same."

Of course Degrassi would keep Matty underground. Somewhere isolated, soundproof.

We descended silently, weapons ready. At the bottom, a long hallway stretched before us, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Three doors on each side, one at the end. Which one held Matty?

A muffled shout from the far end answered my question.

"Go," I ordered, abandoning stealth for speed, but two guards came out of the end door and raised their guns.

Jono and I dropped them one two without drawing breath.

I caught a glance of Degrassi as he saw us and fumbled for his own gun, but Bolt didn't give him a chance.

I shot inside the room, stepping over the fucker's dead body and my eyes fell to the shivering, naked man on the floor.

I bent and, with exaggerated care, picked Matty up from the floor. “Little one,” I whispered.

He blinked and opened dazed eyes. “Daddy,” he whispered back.

It was the best word I’d ever heard in my entire life.

For the first time in fifteen years, I let someone else ride my bike.

Daisy drove the truck, and I held Matty carefully wrapped in a blanket and in my lap.

He had a scraped and bruised neck from the collar, and two welts where the fucker had hit him, but curled into me, he wasn’t putting any pressure on them.

Matty didn't say a word the entire ride back to the compound.

He just clung to me, face pressed against my chest, fingers twisted in my shirt like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.

I kept one arm wrapped securely around him, the other gently stroking his hair, murmuring reassurances that probably made no sense but seemed to soothe him anyway.

We’d left Gunner and Cruise in charge of making sure there was nothing to tie us to the place, forensically or otherwise, and they would put in an anonymous tip to the cops as soon as they’d finished.

When we arrived back at the compound, I carried him straight to our cabin, ignoring the concerned looks from club members who had gathered to welcome us back. Questions and explanations could wait. Right now, all that mattered was getting Matty somewhere safe and taking care of him.

"I've got the doc waiting," Daisy said softly as she held the cabin door open for us.

I nodded my thanks and carried Matty through to the bedroom. Dr. Mitchell was already there, his medical bag open on the dresser.

"Set him down gently," the doctor instructed. "Let me take a look at those welts."

I tried to lay Matty on the bed, but he whimpered and clutched me tighter. "No, Daddy, please," he whispered, his voice so small it broke my heart.

"It's okay, little one," I soothed. "Doc just needs to check you over. I'll be right here the whole time."

After some gentle coaxing, Matty finally allowed me to set him down on his stomach. I kept hold of his hand, sitting beside him on the bed while Dr. Mitchell carefully examined the angry red marks across his back.

"These should heal without scarring," the doctor said, applying a soothing ointment. "Any other injuries I should know about?"

I looked at Matty, who shook his head slightly. "Just those," I confirmed, relief washing through me. It could have been so much worse.

"I'd like to take some blood," the doctor continued. "Based on his pupils and slight disorientation, he's been drugged. I'd like to know what we're dealing with."

Matty tensed at the mention of needles, his grip on my hand tightening.

"It's okay," I murmured. "Just a quick pinch, then it's over."

He buried his face against my thigh but offered his arm to the doctor. I stroked his hair as Dr. Mitchell worked quickly and efficiently, drawing blood with practiced ease.

"All done," the doctor announced, placing a dinosaur Band-Aid over the small puncture. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged. "I have unicorn ones for Annabel. Says regular ones are boring."

A tiny smile flickered across Matty's face at that, the first I'd seen since finding him.

"I'll run these samples right away," Dr. Mitchell said, packing up his equipment.

"In the meantime, keep him hydrated and try to get some food into him.

Nothing too heavy—clear broth, crackers, maybe some applesauce.

If he shows any severe symptoms—difficulty breathing, seizures, hallucinations—call me immediately. "

I nodded, already planning what I'd make once Matty was settled. "Thanks, Doc."

"I'll check in tomorrow," he said, giving my shoulder a brief squeeze before leaving.

When we were alone, I carefully helped Matty into a sitting position, mindful of his injured back. "Do you want a bath, little one? Or just to sleep?"

He looked up at me with those big, vulnerable eyes. "Bath, Daddy," he whispered. "Feel dirty."

My heart clenched at the implication, but I kept my expression gentle. "Of course. Let me get it ready for you."

I ran a warm bath, adding some of the lavender and vanilla bubble bath Daisy had left for us. When I returned to the bedroom, Matty was sitting exactly where I'd left him, staring blankly at the wall.

"Ready?" I asked softly.

He nodded, allowing me to help him stand. His legs were unsteady, either from the drugs or from kneeling too long—probably both. I supported him as we walked to the bathroom, then gently lowered him into the tub.

Matty sighed as the warm water enveloped him, not even wincing when the water hit his back, some of the tension visibly leaving his body. I knelt beside the tub, rolling up my sleeves.

"Is it okay if I help wash you?" I asked, wanting to be absolutely clear about boundaries after what he'd been through.

"Please," he nodded, his voice still barely above a whisper.

I took my time washing his hair with gentle, rhythmic motions that made his eyes flutter closed. I cleaned every inch of him with careful tenderness, as if I could wash away not just the physical grime but the memory of Degrassi's touch as well.

When I reached his back, I moved with exaggerated care around the welts. "Tell me if it hurts too much," I murmured.

Matty shook his head. "S'okay. Not that bad. My knees hurt, but that's it."

It was the most he'd spoken since we found him, and relief flooded through me. As I continued washing him, he gradually relaxed further, leaning into my touch rather than flinching from it.

"There," I said when I was finished and his hair rinsed. "All clean."

I helped him out of the tub and wrapped him in the fluffiest towel we had, patting him dry with the same careful attention I'd used in the bath. When I reached for his dino pajamas, he made a small noise of distress.

"What is it, little one?"

"Can I...can I have the blue ones?" he asked hesitantly, as if afraid I might refuse.

"Of course you can," I said immediately, retrieving his plain blue ones from the drawer. I helped him into them, careful of his back, then settled him on the bed propped against pillows to keep pressure off his injuries.

"I'm going to get you something to eat," I said, brushing his hair back from his forehead. "Will you be okay for a minute?"

Matty's fingers tightened around mine. "Don't go," he whispered, panic flashing in his eyes.

"Just to the kitchen," I assured him. "You'll be able to see me the whole time if I leave the door open."

He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

I left the bedroom door wide open so he could watch me move around the kitchen.

I worked quickly, heating chicken broth and arranging crackers on a plate, adding a small cup of applesauce with a dinosaur shaped spoon.

Throughout, I kept up a steady stream of reassuring chatter, letting him hear my voice constantly.

When I returned with the tray, Matty had Patches clutched to his chest, his eyes never leaving the doorway.

"Here we go," I said, setting the tray on the nightstand. "Think you can eat something?"

He nodded.

I sat beside him on the bed, balancing the bowl of broth carefully. "Let me help you."

I fed him slowly, one spoonful at a time, praising him softly with each bite he managed. He ate about half the broth and a few crackers before turning his head away.

"That's good, little one," I encouraged. "You did so well."

He looked up at me, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. "I was so scared," he whispered, voice breaking. "I thought...I thought maybe you wouldn't come."

"Oh, baby," I set the bowl aside and gathered him gently against my chest, mindful of his injuries. "I will always come for you. Always."

"He said you'd take the money," Matty continued, tears flowing freely now. "That you'd let him have me because...because I'm not worth it."

Rage flashed through me at Degrassi's psychological torture, but I kept my voice gentle. "Nothing in this world could make me give you up. Not money, not threats, nothing."

Matty sobbed against my shirt, his whole body shaking. I held him, rocking slightly, letting him purge the fear and pain he'd been holding inside. I murmured reassurances against his hair, promising safety, promising protection, promising I would never leave.

Eventually, his sobs quieted to hiccups, then to the occasional sniffle. His body grew heavier against mine as exhaustion took over.

"Sleepy," he mumbled against my chest.

"Then sleep, little one," I said. I gently repositioned us, easing him down onto the pillows while keeping him close. "I've got you. You're safe now."

His eyelids fluttered, fighting sleep even as exhaustion claimed him. "Don't leave," he whispered, fingers still twisted in my shirt.

"Never," I promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Close your eyes, baby boy. I'll be right here when you wake up."

He finally surrendered to sleep, his breathing evening out as his body went limp against mine.

I stayed perfectly still, afraid to disturb him, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Each breath he took felt like a miracle after the hours of terror when I'd thought I might never see him again.

A soft knock at the door broke the silence. I looked up to see Jono standing in the doorway, his expression somber.

"How is he?" he asked quietly.

"Sleeping," I replied, my voice barely audible. "Doc says he'll be okay physically."

Jono nodded, understanding the unspoken concern about Matty's mental state. "We need to talk about Coombes."

"Not now," I said firmly, my arm tightening protectively around Matty's sleeping form.

"Bear," Jono sighed, stepping into the room. "Degrassi is dead, and the guys are handling the clean-up. But Coombes is still out there, and he’ll know we have Matty back."

I closed my eyes briefly, wishing I could shut out the world for just a few hours. "What about Tik Tac?"

“We let him go as agreed. His story checks out—his mother's medical records, the blackmail, all of it. He's cooperating, gave us everything he knows about Coombes's operation. I thought he was gonna puke when he saw what they'd done to Matty."

I nodded, unsurprised. Tik Tac had been caught between impossible choices. I couldn't forgive his betrayal, but I understood it.

"We've doubled security around the compound," Jono continued. "No one gets in or out without verification. But we need to decide our next move."

I looked down at Matty's peaceful face, the dried tear tracks still visible on his cheeks. "Tomorrow," I said firmly. "We'll deal with it tomorrow. Tonight, I'm staying right here." I’d promised, and this was one I’d never break.

Jono studied me for a moment, then nodded. "First thing in the morning. Get some rest."

After he left, I carefully shifted into a more comfortable position, keeping Matty cradled against me. Despite my exhaustion, I knew sleep would be elusive. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Matty kneeling on that cold floor, naked and trembling. If we'd been just an hour later...

I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the warm weight of him in my arms. He was safe. He was here. Nothing else mattered.