Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
RAVEN
S taring at the ceiling of Griffin’s bedroom, I lie there unmoving. I woke up alone a while ago, unsure of where the guys went. Noah usually comes into my room to wake me up, but we’re in a different house. Maybe he can’t find me.
Sitting up, I scoot to the end of the bed to get up and find Noah. But I can’t seem to get myself to stand.
I can’t believe this is my life. Did I bring this all on myself? I was almost blown up, and then my son was almost thrown out of his window. Should I still try to shut down the hospital or is this task too much for me? Am I being selfish in wanting to shut it down?
Ugh.
Being left alone with my thoughts is never a good thing.
The bedroom door swings open, and Noah runs in, hopping on the bed. “Mom! We got yummies!”
Lifting him up in my arms, I sit him in my lap and rub our noses together. “Oh yeah? What kind of yummies?”
“The yummy yummies,” Noah answers.
Unable to hide my concern, my forehead scrunches. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep good?”
“So good, Mama. I want to sleep in Knox’s bed every night!”
I discreetly feel his forehead for his temperature. Noah seems fine, and he’s acting normal, but I’m still taking him to the doctor later.
“Coffee and chocolate croissants are here!” Knox slides into the room with a brown bag and a to-go coffee cup in his hands, raised in the air.
Noah throws his hands up, mimicking Knox. “For you, Mama!”
Kissing Noah’s cheek, I smother him in my embrace. “Aww, thank you, little king.”
“I rode the motorcycle with Griffin. He got me my very own helmet!” Noah’s smile is proud.
I smile back. “That’s so awesome! Did you thank him?”
Noah puts on his thinking face. “I don’t remember. I’ll go tell him now.” He jumps off my lap and bounds past Knox.
Knox walks over to me and kneels. He hands over the coffee and pastry, kissing my cheek. “Your breakfast.”
“Thank you.” I place a quick peck on his lips and grab the offered food.
Griffin joins us, sitting on the bed next to me. “Atlas called.”
I squint. “The motorcycle guy?”
Knox’s spine straightens. “What did he say?”
“His guy tested the pills. They’re made of fentanyl.”
“Shit,” Knox curses. “How has no one overdosed yet?
I wave my hand. “Someone want to fill me in?”
Griffin nods. “We gave some of the pills we got off the dealers to the Ferrymen, Atlas and Bas. Atlas said he has a guy who can figure out what’s in them.”
“Ferrymen?” I frown.
“They’re a motorcycle club. They’re our suppliers,” Knox clarifies.
My head cocks to the side. “Okay. So. The Ferrymen stepped in and helped out. And now we know Lewis Whitlock is selling fentanyl.”
“We need to figure out our next step.” Knox rubs his chin.
Griffin raises his index finger. “In time. First, I want to discuss something else.”
“What?” I squint.
“It was something in Alice’s rhyme.”
My stomach plummets as my body grows tense. I’m on the verge of shaking and have to set my food and coffee aside to prevent it from spilling everywhere.
“Good God, don’t remind me. That’s going to fuel my nightmares for the rest of my life.” Knox shivers.
Griffin stares at the wall, thinking over the puzzle before him. “She mentioned a madman. Just like Seth.”
I rub my eyes, warding off a headache. “She said that the madman is watching me sleep. And something about a man coming and going, making a child cry.”
“The child could be Noah,” Knox theorizes.
“That’s my thought as well,” Griffin affirms. “And the madman has to be Lewis.”
“I don’t know.” I purse my lips. “I mean, Lewis Whitlock is definitely mad. Only a madman could do the things he does to helpless people.”
“I agree with that,” Knox chimes.
“If he is the madman, then taking care of Lewis would be killing two birds with one stone,” Griffin reasons.
I sit up a little straighter. “I’d call that a win.”
“We could—” Knox starts, but Noah comes flying into the bedroom.
Literally. He has his arms spread out at his sides, tilting them back and forth, as he makes zooming noises with his mouth. Noah crashes into Griffin, creating the sound of an explosion.
Griffin laughs. “Hey, little man! What’s up?”
Noah pops up. “Will you and Knox play with me?”
Knox stands, taking Noah by the hand and leading him out of the room. “Of course, bud.”
“Griffin! Are you coming?” Noah shouts.
“Yes!” Griffin replies, smirking at me. He gets to his feet, and hands me my coffee and pastry. “Enjoy your breakfast, Sunshine. Come downstairs after you’ve eaten and relaxed a bit.”
He presses his lips to my forehead and follows after Noah and Knox.
A smile of affection curves my mouth as I bring the coffee to my lips, and giddiness spreads through me.
These men are going to spoil me rotten.