Chapter 26
26
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I grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white, the leather creaking beneath my tense hands. I’m fucking livid.
Easton’s sleek, vintage car growls beneath me as the tires rip across the winding mountain roads. The trees blur outside the windows, nothing but streaks of green and gray under the pale slice of sky. Every mile stretching between me and Harper twists at my nerves.
I should’ve been on that fucking helicopter. I should’ve been right beside her, keeping her safe. Instead, I let Micah fucking Rhodes get too close—close enough that I pulled my gun, felt my finger twitch against the trigger.
If Nick hadn’t stepped in … well, Micah would’ve disappeared.
My jaw clenches, teeth grinding against each other, anger throbbing like a heartbeat in my veins. I refuse to even glance at Nick, who’s sitting beside me, lounging casually in the passenger seat like this is some goddamn road trip.
Nick shifts slightly, deliberately stretching his legs and sighing loudly, breaking the tense silence that’s been building like a thunderstorm. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
I bite down harder, fighting the urge to throttle him right here. I imagine myself slamming the back of my fist into his face, knocking him out completely. “Don’t. Fucking. Start,” I growl.
“Oh, I think I’ve earned the right to start,” he says, smug amusement clear in every word. “Saved your ass back there. Didn’t even get a thank-you. Typical fucking Calloway.”
I breathe through my nose, keeping my eyes locked on the road. “You stopped me from finishing it.”
He snorts, unbothered by my anger. “You mean, I stopped you from landing yourself in jail, dumbass. You pull that trigger, you don’t see Harper again. Ever. And we don’t find Mia or the other missing women. Sorry, but we need Micah alive.”
I don’t respond—don’t need to. He’s right, and he knows it, which only makes the burn, combined with his cocky-as-fuck attitude, even worse. Anger is simpler than admitting he saved me from my recklessness. Easier than admitting just how deeply I lost control the second Micah stepped into that clearing.
Nick lets the silence hang just long enough to become uncomfortable before nudging me again. He’s relentless in his baiting—a total Banks trait. “So, tell me exactly how long you’ve been in love with Harper? Asking for research purposes.”
Heat spikes dangerously in my chest, crawling up my throat. I grip the wheel even harder, knuckles aching now. I cannot fuck this up—it’s something I repeat to myself. “None of your damn business.”
“That long, huh?” He chuckles, clearly amused by the rage crackling off me. “Damn.”
I force air through clenched teeth, refusing to let him see how far he’s crawling under my skin. But Nick Banks is nothing if not persistent. He shifts again, obnoxiously relaxed as he taps an absent rhythm on the door.
“Got to hand it to you, Brod. Didn’t think you had it in you,” he muses, eyes glittering with that irritating spark of mischief. “To risk it all like that. Guess she’s worth it.”
“She’s my purpose,” I snap before I catch myself, the truth slipping through the cracks in my armor.
The car fills with abrupt silence. Nick’s gaze narrows, his playful edge softening into something serious. He watches me carefully, measuring the weight of what I just admitted. For once, he doesn’t have some smart-ass comeback. Instead, he nods and then looks away, leaving my words floating between us.
I wish I could read his fucking mind as my heart hammers inside my chest, and the realization of my admission sinks deeper into my bones. Harper isn’t just someone I’m protecting anymore; she’s everything worth fighting for, worth risking it all. And today, for a split second, I almost crossed that line and ruined everything.
Nick clears his throat. “So, you and Harper … wow.”
“Careful.” My jaw tightens, and I finally spare him a brief, enraged glance.
He lifts his hands defensively, palms up, but he smirks, loving that he’s annoying me. “Relax. I only ever saw her like a sister. Zane’s my best friend—I wouldn’t do that to him.”
“Nah, you just fucked his fiancée.” I look him up and down pointedly, voice flat and cold.
He barks out a surprised laugh, shaking his head. “Ouch. Tell me how you really feel, Calloway.”
I shift my gaze forward again, but the tension eases just slightly, replaced by something closer to respect. “I just did.”
“Zane and I are working through it. As you know, love can make you do stupid-as-fuck things.” Nick leans back into his seat, staring thoughtfully into the darkness beyond the windshield. “Anyway, there are other ways to destroy Micah Rhodes—ways that don’t land you behind bars. Ways that make him face every goddamn consequence. One day, you’ll thank me. I’ll be waiting.”
My fingers twitch; curiosity replaces my anger. “What do you know?”
“Enough to bury him,” Nick replies firmly, the hard edge returning to his voice. “But that’s a conversation for tomorrow, when we’re with Asher. He’s better at playing the long game than I am.”
I nod, accepting that much. My heart rate eases into a controlled thump.
For now, at least, Nick’s right. Ending Micah without killing him and making him suffer the way he’s made others suffer is what Harper deserves. What every woman he’s hurt deserves too.
“Do you know where he took Mia?”
Nick shakes his head. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I will. I just need more time.”
Silence stretches between us, and I have nothing else to say.
Eventually, he settles deeper into his seat, yawning dramatically. “Wake me up if you decide to crash. Preferably not into anything.”
I don’t bother responding, jaw tight as I stare into the endless road ahead of us. Harper’s smile visits my thoughts, and then I remember the fear in her eyes as the helicopter lifted her away. She was panicked, screaming at the top of her lungs. My heart constricts as I relive that.
I press hard on the gas, increasing my speed. I’ll drive eleven hours straight to find my way back to her tonight if I have to.
Stars sprinkle across the sky as clouds move overhead. A heavy mist clings to the highway, and we drive a few hours in a downpour. Fatigue pulls at the edges of my consciousness, but adrenaline mixed with anger keep me alert.
Beside me, Nick shifts restlessly, stretching his legs out as far as the cramped car allows. He sits up and glances at me. “Are we ever gonna stop, or is your plan just to torture me into submission?”
“I’d prefer unconsciousness,” I say flatly, eyes never leaving the road.
He chuckles dryly. “Careful, Calloway. I might start to think you don’t like me.”
“You’d be correct.”
Nick snorts, amused rather than offended. “Damn, someone needs a nap.”
“Then take one,” I reply.
Nick stops talking, but the silence never lasts long with him.
He clears his throat. “I’m gonna need to take a piss soon.”
“Be my guest,” I say, smirking.
He taps his fingers rhythmically against the dashboard. Nick lets out a deep laugh. “You know, I forgot how much fun you are. But, hey, if you want to kill Rhodes so badly, we could lock you two in a room together, and you could bore him to death with your brooding.”
I refuse to let Nick get to me, even though every fiber of my being wants to throat punch him. Nick watches me closely, clearly sensing just how close I am to the edge.
Eventually, he sighs deeply. “You ever think maybe Harper wouldn’t want you risking everything just to prove a point?” he asks, carefully treading the line between serious and casual. “You know, if roles were reversed.”
His words sink into the chaos in my mind, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of admitting he’s right. Instead, I offer him a stony glare.
“Just saying. Harper deserves justice, sure. But she also deserves you.”
The quiet sincerity lurking beneath his sarcasm unsettles me. I swallow back the tightness in my throat, focusing on the endless stretch of road again.
Finally, grudgingly, I admit, “I know.”
“Glad we can finally agree.” Nick smirks lightly, glancing at the stars above. “I really would appreciate a pit stop. This car is nice as hell, but it wasn’t built for road trips or anyone over six feet.”
I check the fuel gauge, knowing we’ll need to stop for gas soon anyway. A few miles ahead, I see the faint glow of a neon sign for a twenty-four-hour gas station. I pull off, and the car rolls to a stop by the pump.
Nick gives me an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank God. Now I won’t have to tell Easton I pissed inside his car. However, I’d have loved to see the look on his face.”
“I’m not stopping because of you.” I put the car into neutral. “You’re driving the next shift. If you can drive a stick.”
Nick shakes his head. “You forget I didn’t grow up with a fucking silver spoon in my mouth, Calloway. Sometimes, all of you could use a hefty dose of fucking reality to humble you.”
Ignoring him, I step out; the late night air washes over me, easing the edge of exhaustion just slightly. When I reach instinctively for my phone, my heart sinks when I realize I left it in the duffel bag Harper took with her onto the helicopter.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
Nick raises an eyebrow, catching the frustration in my tone. “What’s wrong now?”
“My phone,” I admit. “It’s with Harper.”
Nick shrugs, unsurprised. “Left mine in the city after texting Asher my plans. Didn’t want anyone tracking me.”
I glance at him. “You’re telling me we have no way to communicate with anyone?”
Nick offers a carefree grin. “Raw-dogging life. Asher knows I was meeting you. He’ll be waiting for us.”
I grind my teeth, irritation deepening. “You’re reckless as hell, Banks.”
“Probably why we get along so well,” he quips, smirking as he rounds the car, heading toward the gas station’s front door. “Want anything?”
“Some duct tape,” I holler.
He flips me off and steps inside.
As I fill the car with fuel, all I can think about is Harper. Nick’s casual confidence isn’t misplaced because I know Billie and Asher were waiting for her to arrive and will keep her safe until I return to the city. But that doesn’t stop my current need to hold her, to know she’s unharmed, and to make sure she knows how fucking sorry I am for scaring her.
Nick returns with a bag of snacks, and he’s holding two cups in his hands. “Coffee for Cranky,” he tells me as he jerks the keys from my hand and slides behind the wheel.
I finish pumping the fuel, and he starts the engine, revving it. I slide into the passenger side and glare at him.
“Careful. My ass is on the line if something happens to this car,” I explain. “Anything happens to it on your watch, and you’re paying Easton for it.” Frustration simmers deep beneath the surface.
A smirk touches his lips as he peels out of the parking lot, kicking up loose gravel. The bastard is driving it like he stole it.
Mile markers pass us, and I keep my eyes focused on the road, knowing Harper is waiting for me. It’s the only thing that keeps me calm in the chaos.
I replay everything that happened and saw actual fear on Micah’s face, and I think he knew I’d pull the trigger without flinching. He won’t escape unscathed next time. He’ll pay for everything he’s done, but I’m trying hard to trust Nick’s approach, knowing he’s right.
Harper deserves real justice, and if Nick, Asher, and I can serve it, we will.
“Fuck,” I whisper as Nick takes curbs at NASCAR speeds.
One thing that sucks about vintage cars is that oh-shit handles weren’t a thing back then.
“I need this car in my life,” Nick admits, finally cracking the quiet.
I see he’s going eighty-eight miles per hour.
“Any faster, and we’ll time-travel back to New York,” I say, referencing Back to the Future .
He glances at me. “If you’re that unhappy, you could always walk back to the city. But then that means denying you the pleasure of my incredible company, and we couldn’t have that, now could we?”
“You’re more annoying than Asher. Do you know that?” I clench my jaw.
“Yeah,” he says proudly as I take a drink of my coffee.
Nick eyes me, his voice softer, deliberately testing, as he says, “You know, Calloway, I’ve been thinking about how fucking jealous you get when it comes to Harper.”
My gaze pins him in place. “Excuse me?”
His expression turns smug, entirely unbothered. “You’re protective as hell. Borderline obsessed actually. I get it; she’s fucking stunning. Sweet. Sassy as hell too. Competitive. Jesus, don’t even get me started.”
Something hot and dangerous tightens in my chest.
He lifts a brow, clearly enjoying himself now. “Relax, Romeo. Even though your hate-filled glares are adorable, I’m immune. You know, I could’ve dated her several times.”
I scoff. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not her type.”
“Trust me, I’m everyone’s type.” Nick laughs, genuinely amused by how pissed he’s making me.
“You’re an asshole, Banks.”
“So I’ve been told a few thousand times.” He shrugs, entirely unapologetic.
“Wake me up when we need gas,” I tell him, closing my eyes. “Until then, maybe shut the fuck up.”
He laughs. “No can do, Brod. You’re stuck with me for another three hours. Lucky you.”
Even though he acts like a dickhead, he does keep his mouth shut, and I’m grateful.
Sleep pulls me under like quicksand, and Harper’s pretty face swims in and out of focus in my fragmented dreams. Her laughter, the sweet press of her lips, the warmth of her skin—each memory flickers, bright and perfect. Adrenaline jerks me awake, my heart hammering painfully in my chest. Blinking hard, I sit up. Streetlights blur past the window, casting shadows across Nick’s tired profile. His eyebrows lift.
“Is Sleeping Beauty awake?”
The nickname almost makes me smile, but I hold it back as I rub a hand roughly over my face. Exhaustion scrapes my eyes like sandpaper, but then again, it’s been a long fucking day. “How far out are we?”
“Ten minutes, tops,” Nick replies, his voice carrying a rare note of seriousness.
A wave of anxiety rolls through me. Harper’s so close, but she still feels so far away. My hands curl into fists against my thighs, tension rushing through every muscle in my body, and I try to relax. I’ve never needed to see someone as badly as I need to see her now. I need the simple reassurance that she’s safe, whole, untouched by the ugliness that unfolded on the mountain.
“She’s fine, Calloway,” Nick says, reading me easily. “Billie and Asher are with her, guaranteed.”
“Doesn’t stop me from fucking worrying,” I mutter, my voice strained.
He smirks, glancing sideways at me as the engine of the car roars and bounces off the buildings. “That’s part of your charm. Personally, I find it exhausting.” His expression softens. “Listen, I meant what I said. We’ll end this asshole. But we do it right. Justice, not revenge. Understand?”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words pressing into me. Reluctantly, I nod. “I get it.”
“Good. Didn’t want to keep repeating myself for your stubborn ass.” He seems satisfied enough.
My pulse accelerates the closer we get, an urgency simmering like firewater beneath my skin.
When we finally pull into the underground garage at Park Towers, I barely register Banks parking Easton’s precious car like he’s a stunt driver.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask.
His eyes narrow. “Some would say their worst nightmare.”
We get out of the car, and Nick drops the keys into my hand. I head straight for the elevator, leaving Nick behind. My pulse pounds in my temples, anxiety and anticipation crashing together with each ascending floor, until I finally stand before Harper’s penthouse door.
I knock, the sound echoing harshly in the silent hall. My breath feels like it’s trapped tight in my lungs.
The door swings open, and I nearly growl with irritation at the sight of Asher standing there, arms spread wide, lips puckered sarcastically.
“Welcome home, sunshine. Miss me?”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, shoving roughly past him.
And then my world stops.
Harper stands frozen in the kitchen, the golden glow of lights washing over her. My heart clenches violently at the sight of her—safe, unharmed, stunningly beautiful. For one suspended heartbeat, we simply stare at each other, the air stretching thin and fragile between us.
Her eyes fill rapidly, tears spilling silently down her cheeks as a sob escapes from her. Her fingers release the wineglass she’s holding, and it hits the floor, shattering into glittering fragments.
“Brody,” she whispers, her voice cracking with raw, desperate relief.
I close the distance in three rapid strides, catching her as she rushes toward me, her body colliding against mine. My arms wrap around her, pulling her flush against my chest; her warmth and scent capture me completely. My throat tightens, and my overwhelming emotions nearly bring me to my knees. She clings to me, trembling, small hands gripping my shirt, as if afraid I’ll vanish if she lets go.
“I thought—” she chokes out, shaking her head as if the words physically hurt. “Brody, I thought …”
“Shh,” I whisper, pressing my lips to hers, breathing her in deeply, soothing her with slow strokes along her back. “I’m here. I’m right here. I told you I’d come for you.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her tear-filled eyes searching mine. My chest aches at the fear still lingering behind her gaze, and I wish I could erase its shadows.
“You’re safe,” she whispers, fingertips grazing my jaw, as if to reassure herself I’m real. “You’re really here.”
“I’m here,” I repeat, cupping her face and brushing tears from her cheeks. “I’d have driven for days to see you.”
Her breath catches on a sob, relief and love brightening her gaze until it nearly blinds me. I press my forehead against hers, breathing in the quiet intimacy of this moment, understanding how fucking right she feels, back in my arms, where she’s always belonged.
I don’t hesitate. I don’t pause; I just simply close the tiny distance remaining between us, my mouth capturing hers in a kiss that obliterates every ounce of fear. The kiss deepens instantly, urgently, possessively, and it’s filled with desperation and love as overwhelming relief courses through both of us. Harper’s hands slide up, fingers tangling in my hair, holding me as I hold her, both of us refusing to let go. The room dissolves around us, fading into nothing but stolen breaths and trembling sighs. My pulse races, heart slamming roughly against my ribs, every nerve in my body sparking to life like an uncontrollable wildfire. This—her—burns me to ash.
We break apart, foreheads pressed together, completely oblivious to everything else.
I smile against her lips. “I’ve been waiting all day for that.”
Harper’s laughter fills my chest, soothing the sharp edges of fear that haunted me during the drive. I press another kiss against her lips, savoring the warmth of her body pressed against mine.
“Wow,” Billie whispers from somewhere behind Harper. “Fireworks like I’ve never witnessed.”
Harper pulls back slightly, her cheeks flushing pink as we both glance over to find Billie and Asher watching us with raised eyebrows. Asher chuckles beside her, arms crossed casually as he leans against the counter, clearly entertained.
“I forgot you were here.” Harper laughs as she grabs my hand.
“Don’t stop on our account,” Asher adds, eyes sparkling with amusement as he cleans up the broken wineglass. “This is better than cable.”
Before I can fire off a comeback, heavy footsteps echo in the hall, and Nick bursts through the open doorway, breathless and grinning widely as he takes in the scene. “Damn! Did I miss the big reunion?”
“Yes,” Billie announces firmly, quickly stepping forward with a laugh. She grabs Nick by the arm, steering him back to where he came from. “Time to go, Bankses. Both of you.”
Nick tries to protest, but it’s playful.
“See you tomorrow,” Asher says as Billie loops her free hand around his arm, too, determinedly guiding both of them out of the room. Asher barely resists, flashing me a teasing grin as Billie pushes him through the doorway.
The door clicks shut firmly behind them, leaving Harper and me alone. Silence settles around us, and Harper lifts her face to mine again, eyes sparkling with laughter and relief.
“I thought they’d never leave,” she whispers, warmth radiating from her gaze as her fingers brush my cheek.
“Me neither.” My voice is thick with gratitude as I lean into her touch. “Everything is finally right in the world.”
“Yes, it is.” Harper pulls me into another perfect kiss, chasing away the fears that followed me back to the city.
“Are you okay?” she whispers, searching my face and arms, making sure I’m unscathed.
“I love you,” I say, the words falling freely from the deepest corner of my soul. “I love you so goddamn much, Harper.”
Her voice trembles, broken and beautiful. “I love you too, Brody. I always have.”