33. Kate
Kate
Iwasn’t able to talk to Finn before he was whisked away on a job. I knew better than to ask what it was, but as he passed me, his hand brushing mine for the briefest second, he leaned in just enough to whisper that he was sorry and that he would be home later to talk.
Home.
The word warmed my whole body, spreading out from my chest.
As for hearing I was his old lady, I still didn’t know when that had been decided or what it really meant.
Yes, we’d been sharing a bed at the cabin, and there had been moments, late at night, tangled together, his voice rough in my ear, but I’d taught myself not to hope for anything more. Not after what he’d said to Reaper.
We certainly hadn’t talked about being more. So, hearing it announced like fact, like something already decided, had shaken me more than I wanted to admit.
I spent a few hours at the clubhouse with Lucy and Maria, trying to push the thoughts aside, letting their warmth distract me until Noah began to get fussy.
Lucy shifted him in her arms, bouncing him gently as his cries grew sharper.
“I better get him home and into bed,” I said, packing up his nappy bag before holding out my arms to take him from Lucy. She hesitated for just a second before passing him over.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I said, forcing a small smile. “We have the prospect outside, and Finn won’t be long, I hope.”
Lucy studied my face like she didn’t quite believe me, then nodded. “Okay, see you both tomorrow.”
She smiled and planted a kiss on Noah’s head before stepping back.
The ride home felt quieter than usual.
The prospect walked me to the door, muttering something about staying outside for a smoke before lingering by the front door.
I nodded, barely paying attention as I stepped inside.
“Come on, baby,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to Noah’s head as I moved through the house.
It felt safe in a way that still surprised me. Home, that’s what Finn had said.
I laid Noah down carefully and turned to grab his bag when a dull thud sounded outside. My heart jumped.
“Hello?” I called, but there was no answer.
Unease crept in, slow and cold as I wrapped my arms around myself.
I moved towards the door and pulled it open just enough to look out. The prospect was on the ground, lying still, but I thought I could see his chest rise and fall.
“Shit,” I breathed, rushing out and crouching beside him, shaking his shoulder. “Hey . . . hey!” I yelled at him.
Nothing.
Panic surged through me as I fumbled for my phone, hands trembling as I called Finn, but before it could connect, a cry cut through the air behind me. Noah. Cold dread slammed into me. I dropped the phone and ran.
The second I crossed the threshold, I knew something was wrong because there was a hint of aftershave in the air that wasn’t Finn’s.
My heart started to race as I took the stairs two at a time, slamming open the door to the spare room.
“No . . . no, no, no.” Noah’s crib was empty.
Voices drifted up from outside the window. My head snapped towards it, and I rushed over, hands shaking as I looked out.
My mother, stepfather, and a man in an expensive-looking suit were carrying Noah to a car.
I turned and ran, my feet barely touching the stairs as I flew down and out the back door, screaming his name. “Noah!”
I was too late. The car door slammed and the engine roared to life, and they were gone.
I ran after them anyway, my lungs burning, leg muscles screaming as I chased a car I could never catch.
“Noah!”
The car disappeared from sight.
I stumbled back to the edge of the walkway and dropped to my knees, my whole body shaking.
The last thing I saw was my mother’s face, cold and smiling, watching me as they drove away.