“What? Why?”
“Hiding her with you will just keep you all in danger. If Jules stays away, you at least have a chance of keeping safe,” Dax explains to us both. It makes sense, but the idea of letting them go and being on my own… is this what I want? Does it matter what I want? When has it ever mattered before?
“No.” Carlo shakes his head. “She’s mine. I can protect her. I only just found out about her…you can’t take her away from me now!” Carlo grunts, waving the arm carrying the can around wildly.
“It won’t be forever, Cue-ball.” I force a pained smile to my lips and try to make it feel genuine. I can’t, but I try. Hearing him say that, hearing that he wants me, that he accepts me, makes everything click into place. He wants to protect me by keeping me in sight, and I instantly realise that the only way to protect them all—everyone that I love— is to keep them as far away from me as possible. Eric’s deal is void if they can’t find me; if the intel is bad.
“Go. Get those kids safe. Give the boys a real father. Casey…and I… were born with one, but those boys need you too.”
Carlo’s features twist again. His green-blue eyes glisten as he nods. “I should have seen it before now. He takes my hand and presses a set of keys into my palm. His eyes catch on my wristwatch again and he smiles brightly. “Fuck. It was right in front of my face this entire time. I gave your mum this watch when we were kids.” He taps the square face, the numbers disappearing under his fingers for a second. “She was always late for our dates, so I slipped this on her wrist and told her she had no more excuses. I always wondered why she gave it to you. I guess this was her way of making sure you had something of me with you always. I should have realised, but I only ever saw your mother’s beauty in you. It made you hard to be around. Turns out, you were always a little of me, too. You have my grit and determination. You’re strong. Make sure you stay safe andget back to us fast. Twenty years is a lot to catch up on.”
“You mean stubborn and moody, right?” I laugh, dropping the keys into my pocket. “I’ll stay safe. I promise.”
Aiden charges down the stairs, his arms laden with pillows and blankets for the children. “We need to move. Did you sign the paperwork?”
Carlo cusses and disappears back into the kitchen.
“Only call me when you are coming back to us,” Dax warns Aiden.
“Get back to the compound. You will be protected there. My men are already on alert, and I’ll be back as soon as I get these guys to the first safe house.”
Dax nods, happy that Aiden knows what he’s doing.
“You’re going with them?” I’m struck by two conflicting emotions: relief and fear. I’m scared for Aiden. Scared he’s not coming back to me.
Aiden’s hands are full, but he takes a step in my direction and leans his forehead onto mine. “I’ll keep your family safe. As soon as I can get them into hands I trust, I’ll be coming straight back to you both, okay?”
My voice is small and shaking. “Okay.”
“Stick close to Dax. Be safe.” He leans back, presses a soft kiss to my forehead and pulls away with a smile and a wink before running for the car and stuffing the blankets into the footwell at the base of the kids’ dangling legs. He removes my backpack from the back and leans it up against the chrome wheels of Dax’s car.
My fingertips trace my skin where he kissed me, as if expecting to find it changed somehow.
“Little gem?” Dax rumbles. I’m not sure if he’s asking if I’m okay or warning me to pull myself together.
“I…I didn’t know he would…”
“We’ll discuss exactly what just happened later. For now, focus.”
He’s right. I’m about to lose my family and I’m too busymoping over some kiss that was probably only an innocent goodbye. Friends kiss, right?
Carlo grunts and grumbles as he follows Aiden out of the house, this time carrying a folder of paperwork. “How the fuck do I go from grateful to wanting to kick his teeth down his throat?”
Dax mutters, “Tell me about it,” and follows them out. I watch my family bundle into the car, my mum squashing in beside AJ, whose booster seat has been shoved to the floor.
Dax and Carlo whisper by the passenger door, until Carlo eventually gives Dax the folder of paperwork. My world is leaving without me, and there is nothing I can do.
I hover just inside the entryway. I can’t bring myself to step outside. Aiden and Carlo make it to the car’s front doors before I call to them. Aiden stops when Carlo does. “Dad! Tell Mum and the kids I love them, okay?”
Carlo’s shock mirrors my own. I have no idea why I called him Dad. Perhaps because it might be my only chance?
“You’re not coming out?” he asks when he finds his voice.
“No. I…I can’t. It’ll be better if I don’t.” I nod my head toward the kids and, thankfully, Carlo understands. I can’t smile and wave them off as if they’re just going out for ice cream. I can’t look at them and not freak the hell out. Or freak them out by crying. I can’t say goodbye. Who knows how long before I see them again?
He nods and slides into the passenger seat.
Aiden looks right at me and frowns. I can feel his hesitation from where I stand. He pulls open the door and almost turns away before cursing loudly and storming over to me.
