Page 5 of Restitution

“They know about Bernadette having Base?”

“The underworld is a ruthless place. A war between the Scottish law enforcement and whoever else she has under her belt against the mafia would be a mess. A lot of lives would be lost. I offered to kill her and her husband.”

I go to speak, but he cuts me off. “We need to get you out of here before they tell me to start the next task. They’ll shoot me on the spot, and someone else will get you.”

He turns, swipes the key card on the sensor pad, and when the door beeps and opens, he leans his head out but pulls back in quickly. He mutters a “fuck” then fishes a mobile from his pocket and puts it to his ear.

Pacing the room, Tobias huffs as it rings and rings and rings, until I hear someone answer.

“When I call, you asshole, you fucking answer right away. I have her. Yes, she’s fine and unscathed. There are four guards outside. Can you see on the footage the safest way for me to get her out of here without risking her life?”

I nibble my bottom lip as Tobias turns and fixes his gaze onme, his eyes burning into me. He goes to the dresser and pulls out white material. It’s a dress. Short. Thin straps on the shoulders. Silky and actually really pretty, if I wasn’t in the middle of a sex ring’s hideout and trying to escape with my boyf— ex-boyfriend’s father who’s just broken out of prison.

“How did you escape?” I ask as I take the dress. “I’m mad at you for that, just so you know.”

He scoffs as he turns round, letting me drop the blanket and pull on the dress. “You didn’t come for visitation, and I got bored.”

“Bored…”

“I’m a little irrational and impulsive. Plus, I had a feeling something was wrong – call it a sixth sense.”

The dress sits mid-thigh, and I hate it. I hate everything about this day.

“Kade and Base were auctioned off too,” I say as I find a hair tie in the dresser and pull my hair into a bun on top of my head. “Are you going to help him?”

He turns around. “As soon as I know you’re safe, yes.”

I stand in the middle of the room, taking a deep breath. I still feel so overwhelmed. Only a matter of minutes ago, I thought I was going to be attacked and forced upon. I thought I’d end up dead, but no.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

He frowns, leaning against the dresser, crossing his arms and ankles while he waits for Barry to call back and tell him it’s clear to go. “Why are you thanking me?”

I throw my arms out. “I accepted that I was going to die. I thought I was—” I stop, nearly choking. “Just accept my gratitude. I know your children are your priority, but I appreciate that you’re here for me.”

“You are also my priority. I would have always hunted for you to the ends of the fucking earth, little one. I know you didn’t have the best relationship with your father, your brothers are useless pricks, and my son is shackled to a bitch on an insane power trip, but you have me.”

The force of my body catapulting into his knocks him back a step, but he catches me.

My dad never protected me. He loved me, but as soon as Nora came into the picture, I was a second thought to him. As much as I miss him, as much as I love him, Tobias treats me better. And I never thought I’d say this, and forgive me, Aria Miller, but to be safe and sound in Tobias Mitchell’s hold is a dream I never want to wake up from. I don’t want to let go.

What if I pull away and he vanishes? What happens if this is a dream and I’m drugged? What if I’m imagining this entire scenario and I’m shackled to the bed with an old, overweight and sweating man claiming me?

“Don’t hold it in,” Tobias whispers. “If you need to cry, then you fucking cry, little one. Get it all out right here and now.”

Thisisreality, and I have Kade’s father’s arms around me, reassuring me with slow strokes of my hair and tightening his hold as I tremble and let my emotional state loose.

Although I should be going crazy at him for breaking out of his institution and causing a worldwide fugitive hunt that’s taken over the news and radio, all I can do is hug him, inhaling his scent. Not an old sweaty man. No. Cinnamon. A spiced cologne Kade’s clothes always smelled like.

I used to stick his hoodie under my nose and inhale as I lay in bed, waiting for my stepbrother’s next blow. I’d always take longerto get home, because I knew what was to come.

I was alive when I was around Kade. And now I’m alive because of his father.

And all Tobias is doing is hugging me back, his grip on my nape keeping me firmly to his chest. “I’ve got you,” he assures me in his deep tone.

Those three words have my body shaking against his, tears of both joy and exhaustion making me sob uncontrollably until he’s taking all of my weight.

“Shhh. I’ve got you.”