Page 211 of Severed Heart

“You sure it wasn’t them?” I snap in question.

“Yeah, brother,” he says, “positive, just some asshole causing shit, but Peter swore it was, so I raced to him.”

“Fuck!” I kick the gravel with my boots and the fact that I can’t be the eyes and ears I was months ago or stretch myself any further. I can’t be there for all of Delphine’s treatments and carry out her orders. I’m already breaking my promise to revolve the club around the two of us. A promise I made years ago that she and I would come first. Ironically, breaking that promise now at her insistence. Due to her unrelenting thirst for revenge, which conveniently matches my own, but has us losing precious time.

One thing at a time, Jennings.

But that’s the problem—as it is now, my multitasking days are getting more limited and seem over until we can start to anticipate Miami’s moves. As of now, we’re stuck on the offensive—something Delphine is working diligently to rectify.

Shifting my gaze to the kid who’s staring through the windshield in a daze, my chest tightens again at the sight of him. Brown hair and eyes, looking utterly lost, he briefly reminds me of a younger me.

“So ... he’s got no place to go?”

“All he had was his dad, and he’s not going back to him, Tyler. I’ll take him in. I’ll do what has to be done. Dom wanted him withus, brother. I’ll take responsibility. I’m not letting him—”

“This should have been brought to me. Period. What if his dad sets off an Amber Alert?”

“His dad hasn’t called his phoneoncesince he left. Hasn’t bothered looking for him, man. I know I made the wrong call tonight, but Peter was bugging out.”

“Son of a bitch,” I grit out, feeling helpless to the fact we don’t have enough birds to cover every business and guard our borders. Peter’s state is indicative that we’re already stretched thin.

“Just sit tight, I’ll be there in five.” Russell misconstrues my frustration. “I’ve got him. I should have brought him to Denny’s, but I had no fucking time,” he rushes out. “Tyler ... I’m telling you, that kid has been through enough.” Russell continues to sputter out more explanations as my mind races with solutions until a few of his words cut into my thoughts.

“... dad owns some gas station.”

“What?” I stop pacing and turn to stare at the kid who’s currently peering back at me through the passenger window of my truck. I now realize exactly why his eyes are familiar, even as I ask. “You say he’sthirteen? Where is his mother?”

“Yeah, man, just turned last week. He’s been through hell. Says his mother left him when he was like three or four, had some affair or something, and his dad’s been fucking punishinghimfor it since.”

All the blood drains from my face as I keep the kid’s gaze while a fear-filled tear slowly trickles down his cheek. “Russell ... this is important,” I utter hoarsely, “was his mother’s name Grace? His dad’s name, Tim?”

“Yeah, I think so. You know them?”

“Yeah,” I manage as the gravity of who I’m peering at through the passenger glass sinks into me. His eyes familiar because they belong to the toddler who squirmed in Grace’s arms nine years ago, his arms reaching out to me.For me.An image forever burned into my memory. “I’ve got him,” I hear myself speak, disbelieving of the words but feeling the decision in my gut. “I’ll get him safe ... I’ve got him.”

“What ... you sure? I’m good with him. We get along well. I—”

“Please trust me on this. I’ve got him. Just ... we’ll talk later but lock down that fucking garage. No one goes in or out until I say otherwise. And meet me at Denny’s tomorrow at noon. It’s time to get more aggressive.”

“I’ll be there,” he says, “but ... there’s a few things you need to know.” Russell’s tone has dread seizing me before he speaks. “Zach... can’t at all handle human touch, Tyler. At all, okay? Do not touch him.”

“His dad abused him that badly?”

“He left home because his dad beat him with an extension cord before he made him wrap it around his own neck... Jesus, man, I—”

“Tell me,” I order, chest seizing unbearably.

“Then he ordered Zach to sit tight while he went to scout the perfect spot for him to hang himself from.”

I drop my phone instantly, turning my back to Zach as the grief I’ve been holding at bay spills over my levee. A breath later, I make a beeline for the cover of the trees, giving myself a few seconds of collection. Fisting my hands at my sides, I absorb the latest blow and addition to the list of collateral damage left in the wake of Carter Jennings’smistakes.

* * *

Half an hour later, I bend to press a kiss to Delphine’s temple as I murmur in her ear. “Hey baby, can you wake up for me, please,” I whisper hoarsely. Delphine slowly rouses from sleep before opening her gorgeous silver-gray eyes. I see the happiness in her expression just before it dims, and I know it has nothing to do with any loss of enthusiasm in seeing me—but that she’s just realized within a blink that she’s living in an altered world. One that Dom no longer exists in. My own grief is evident, along with the fear of the alteration I’m bringing to her as she gauges my expression. In an instant, she’s lifting to sit, her eyes scouring me with concern.

“Soldier, what’s wrong?” She begins frantically searching me for any wounds as I grip her frantic, explorative hands.

“I’m fine, baby,” I assure her as her eyes dart to mine.