Page 41

The black tint on the SUV windows shields my brothers and I from the dark night while we follow the gps leading us down a dirt trail in the wooded area. Mr. Carter ensures this is the location Marcus operates out of, and we are finally making our move.

My brothers are all so ready to get back to our old lives and regularity, only I’m not so sure I know what that is anymore.

I’ve barely healed. With only few good days in my belt since the tragedy that was my heart. Those days are few and bliss until something as small as a book reminds me that I hate myself.

“We’re here.”

Res says, pulling me out of my fucked thoughts. Now isn’t the time for Harlyn to haunt me. I’ll see him when I sleep later. I always do.

Shaide twists around from his seat at the wheel to take in the rest of us. “Check your weapons, make sure they are loaded and plenty. If we split up make sure you go in two’s.”

His lips press tightly as his eyes sweep over us. “None of us are dying here today. Let’s move”

Shaides practically running the show tonight where we are concerned. This is his area of expertise. The sneakiness, breaking and entering. It’s his typical day to day and Res seems inclined to let him take the lead.

The cool breeze brushes my face when I jump out of the car, checking placement of my guns as I do. We all meet at the front of the vehicle, and they do the same.

Beige doesn’t bat a lash and looks particularly giddy about slicing people open and I redirect my gaze. Res has been unusual lately. More antsy and jumpy. He constantly closes himself in his room as if he’s hiding himself away from us. It reminds me of when we were children. Rain sighs pulling my attention to him. He looks irritated as he and Kai regard one another but he squeezes his hand anyways earning a sad smile from Kai. Those two still aren’t the best friends they once were.

Then there’s me, locked, loaded, ready to get this over with so I can close my eyes and look into beautiful blue ones.

“Let’s go find Carter.”

Shaide says and we follow behind.

It doesn’t take long to spot Mr. Carter. He turns as we approach, a grim smile on his lips.

“Ressyn, wonderful to see you all again.”

Res only offers a nod, still stuck in his head.

Shaide steps in, “so what’s the game plan here?”

Tongue in his cheek, his eyes flick to me briefly before he sighs. “Honestly? My men are following him.”

Carter tips his head over his shoulder, and we all follow the movement.

“Holllly shiiiit.”

Kai breathes. Even Ressyns eyes blow wide, knocking him out of his trance.

I glance over Carters shoulder and a gasp spills between my parted lips as I lay eyes on the last person I ever thought I’d see here or ever again.

Standing just feet away, my entire heart and soul stands just as precious as the day I’d last seen and ruined him.

My heart speeds a tortured rhythm as nausea washes over me. A brutal hit of disbelief paralyzes me, and black dots instruct my vision.

“Harlyn,”

a tormented whisper escapes me.

Before I know it, I’m stepping around Carter to get to him. Nothing else matters anymore, as if the world around me disappears and all I see is him.

Something latches onto my upper arm yanking me backwards and I stumble. I glare at Carter when I realize it’s his hand that holds me in place.

“Let go of me.” I demand.

“You will leave that boy alone; you’ve done enough damage. You should know that every man here has orders to take you out if you so much as get within reaching distance of him.”

“What?!”

Ressyn exclaims incredulously.

Carter continues as we all stare at him in disbelief. “What you did to him was unforgivable. Hurting a kid who was already so shattered you couldn’t even see the cracks anymore.”

“I-I thought h-he was dead?”

“Oh, that he was. He flatlined multiple times in the hospital and stayed in a coma for some time. He’s had months of physical and mental therapy to become the strong man he is standing there today. I will not allow you to dismember that.”

He stares into my eyes and I see the conviction in them.

“Why didn’t you tell us that he was alive?”

Res butts in.

“It was of no concern to the Hues.”

Carter lifted his chin.

Meanwhile I don't know how to pick apart the emotions attacking me from all sides. Happiness and relief because he’s here. Harlyn in the flesh. Here. Sadness because he’s so far away yet so close. Anger because he let me believe he was dead all this time and shame for thinking that. Confusion because he’s here to fight against Marcus? He’s fighting with us? But those men said…

“Marcus’s men came to the club and said that he was with Harlyn and that he worked for him? Why is he here working with you?”

I ask, confusion lining my tone.

Carter looks as if I have zero brain cells, his confusion and disgust for me evident enough to piss me off, but I rein it in.

“That’s why you shot him?”

He’s angry now, his features twisting, lip curling. “My son was right we could have done this without the Hues, you can just go.”

Shaide interrupts before things can escalate any further. “Okay, wait a second. We understand, Harlyn is here and he’s with you, no issues will come from our side. We’ve been subjected to that crazy fucker for months, he’s completely dismantling the legacy my family has been building for generations in the span of a short time, I’ll be damned if I walk away without seeing Marcus dead.”

Mummers of agreement sound from everyone but me, mind too far away to speak.

Carter offers a clipped nod and stalks off and we watch him go.

“That’s Rex right?”

Kai asks and I follow his line of sight to where Rex stands with Harlyn. My jaw clenches at the sight, blood heating. The fucker has his hands all over the place caressing what isn’t his and MY Harlyn leans into it.

He isn’t mine. I shake the thought away as I watch them together. They’ve been together all this time and I wonder if they are together-together? I wonder if I had it all wrong. I wonder what would have happened if I stopped myself from reacting before Harlyn could spill his truth.

Either way, seeing another man’s hands on him alights me with intense anger, hate and jealousy. It’s a wonder how I’m still standing here instead of cutting them off.

You have no right to feel that way.

“I’ll go find out what’s happening,”

Kai says before he leaves us to go to him.

Rex has stepped away by the time I look back at Har, and Kai approaches. I can’t hear what he says from here, but Har doesn’t respond. His head tipped back, eyes closed.

Meanwhile mine follow the line of his marred throat as his Adams apple bobs and an intense sense of longing assaults me.

Kai glances at us and shrugs as Har continues to ignore him, seemingly talking to the sky. He looks so magical, I can feel it from here, his beauty. His hair has grown a bit, and he has it in two pig tail braids that look so adorable I could cry.

I want to cry. I want to cry, run, and scream at him, then demand he come with me so I can hear his side of things. Unfortunately, Carter was telling the truth it seems because all eyes are on me in this dark wooded area. There isn’t a muscle I could move before someone would take me out.

Fuck. If I thought I was destroyed before, I was wrong. Nothing is worse than this.