Chapter 8 Present Day 3
? Arden ?
We found a cheap motel room after a long trek in the woods, Rafe and I taking turns carrying Henry.
My heart fluttered as I watched them together, Rafe teaching Henry ASL and beaming when Henry got something right.
The kid was intelligent for five, picking up on the signs with ease, especially if it meant getting to tell us things like his favorite color or about the movie he got to watch at the orphanage.
He stumbled a lot though in the woods, tripping over himself at times, and I realized, after pointing out a bird to him, that Henry badly needed glasses.
I planned to fix that problem the second I got my hands on new identities.
Until then, Rafe and I took extra care with him.
We couldn’t risk him getting injured. A hospital visit would draw too much attention.
I swiped a cellphone from the motel’s receptionist, an elderly woman that I was sure didn’t recognize Rafe and I in the slightest. Once back in the room, I dialed Mickey, my stomach twisting.
I needed to know. As much as I almost preferred remaining in a state of suspended disbelief about Kane, his death would determine our next move.
“Arden?” Mickey picked up after the fifth ring. His voice was rough and strained on the other end.
“How are the Ravens?” I asked, smiling softly when I peeked my head into the bathroom and found Rafe covered in soap, trying to bathe Henry, who somehow didn’t have any soap on him, splashing Rafe repeatedly. I stifled a laugh before leaving them to it and bracing myself against the wall.
“I won’t lie to you. It’s not good. At least eight of our orphanages were breached before we got there, over a hundred kids taken. I’ve got every Raven on high-alert, searching and tracking, but this was a declaration of war by S.I.N.”
“I got the cops to Henry’s,” I told him. “He’s with us, by the way.”
Mickey released a long breath. “Good. I’ll let you know where to drop him off in a few days. Right now, we have the other orphanages evacuated, kids staying with Ravens at their personal homes until I can come up with a more permanent solution. If he can stay with you, that would be a big help.”
I swallowed. “He can more than stay with us, Mick. He’s welcome as long as he wants.”
There was silence on the other end of the line.
“Mickey?”
“I’m sorry. I’m happy for you. Clearly you and Rafe are safe.”
“We are, but Kane wasn’t with Viktor,” I said. I hesitated before forcing the words out. “The wrecked van. I need you to find out if Kane was inside.”
“I’ll do my best.” His voice broke, and I hated hearing him so messed up.
I wished I could hug him, to reassure him that we could get through this, but I knew losing Monty and Grace was a huge blow for him—Monty especially.
“They died protecting Creed,” I said softly.
“Protecting family, Mick. I have to believe they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. ”
There was a muffled cry on the other end before he said quickly, “I’ll get back to you,” and hung up.
Rafe came out of the bathroom with Henry then, his clothes soaked as the boy ran to the bed and started jumping on it, his towel wrapped around him snuggly. I finally let my laughter free, catching Henry before he fell off the bed.
“No jumping! Time for bed,” I reprimanded him and clicked on the TV. I found a kids channel and tucked him into the large, single bed. It didn’t take long for Henry to nod off, curling into the pillows.
I kicked off my boots and padded over to Rafe.
He was in the small area next to the bathroom where a sink was, his shirt between his hands as he wrung it out.
I traced a finger lightly over the giant letters of CREED across his shoulder blades, grinning at him in the mirror.
So which of you got clean, exactly? I asked, his eyes following my fingers in the reflection.
Rafe blushed and gave up on his shirt, throwing it over the empty towel rack next to the sink and letting it air dry. Neither, he managed, wincing slightly, and I studied his hands. His knuckles were bleeding through the dirtied bandages.
Sit, I instructed, gesturing to the closed toilet cover and pulling out the room’s first aid kit from its place beneath the sink.
I popped it open, grateful to find it relatively stocked, and settled on the edge of the tub.
I gently unwrapped his hands, his breathing harsh as I did.
He was in more pain than he was letting on, and I frowned.
I grabbed the antiseptic and drizzled it over his knuckles, Rafe tensing.
Patting the blood away, I peered up at him, finding him watching me intently.
Are you okay with Henry? I asked carefully, grabbing fresh gauze from the kit.
Rafe’s brow furrowed before he nodded.
I mean…if he were to stay with us for awhile, would that be okay?
My eyes flew over his face, searching for any tremor in his expression that would tell me he was lying, but his face just relaxed, his hands folding around mine after I tied off the bandages.
He nodded again and offered me a small smile.
As long as we have a safe environment for him, I want to protect him, I said sincerely before rubbing a hand over my heart.
I feel a connection to him. I don’t know if it was the fact he had mine and Alex’s room or simply that those eyes of his could get him anything he wants, but I think I fell in love with him the second I saw him.
Rafe leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He reached up and brushed hair from my face before he signed, Phone?
My eyes widened, annoyed with myself that I hadn’t thought of that. I took the cellphone from my pocket and opened its notes app, handing it to Rafe. He typed quickly, the movement something he seemed to be able to withstand better than signing. Then he handed it back to me.
Anything you want is yours, beautiful. I read his message, my eyes stinging. I was ready to be the father of your child the first time, and that hasn’t changed. I’ll protect him with my life.
I met his gaze, those gold flecks I loved shining bright. Thank you, I signed.
He gently took the phone back, typing. You don’t have to thank me. I want this too. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember…a family. His smile slipped as he typed the word.
I asked Mickey to look into the van wreckage, I explained, and he nodded. I think he’s alive, Rafe. When Thorne died, I…felt it. Like a piece of myself had been ripped out of me. I don’t feel that with Kane.
Rafe touched my cheek lightly, tugging me into his lap. I wrapped myself around him as he pressed a kiss over the pulse point in my neck. You think he shot Monty and Grace then? he typed.
My body trembled. No. I’m not sure Kane will ever pick up a gun again after Hotel Viktoria.
Rafe’s face fractured with pain. Then someone could have him.
He’s strong, resilient. He’s giving them hell if so, I reassured him, but all I could see was the dead look in Kane’s eyes. Rafe saw my worry and rubbed small circles against my spine with his thumb.
We don’t worry until Mick confirms, he typed.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall to his shoulder.
I fell asleep, my body bleeding away into exhaustion.
Rafe carried me to bed, lying me on one side of Henry while he took the other, his arm wrapping around both of us.
I woke only when I felt a buzz against the mattress, peering through my lashes and watching Rafe hang up on whoever was calling and shooting off a text, likely to let them know it was him and they needed to communicate that way.
I pried my eyes open further, Henry snuggled against my chest and my arm wrapped protectively around him.
A text came in, Rafe’s expression nothing close to relief.
He let the phone drop to his chest as he rolled on his back, covering his face with his hands.
I bit down on my tongue, tears swelling as I reached over and took the phone off his chest. My grip on Henry tightening, I read the text from the unknown number, knowing it was Mickey.
There were five bodies among the remains, but our connection in forensics confirmed none of them were Kane after we handed off a DNA sample we took when he first became a Raven.
My heart hammered. Alive. Kane was alive. Relief flooded me. Then…terror. Because if he was alive, then where the hell was he? A second text came in.
It could be a coincidence, but Monty’s phone is missing. She would’ve had it on her, and there’s a chance that maybe he took it. I’ve tried the number a few times. It’s going straight to voicemail, likely dead. We couldn’t trace it.
Mickey sent Monty's number through.
If you want to keep trying, you can, but for now, we don’t have any leads and my hands are full over here.
I dialed Mickey’s number, and he picked up quickly. “Please, Mick,” I said, my voice breaking. “Give us something to go off of.”
Mickey released a long exhale. “Arden, if I could, then you know I would. You can try retracing your steps at the warehouse, but if Kane was there, he would’ve been found by now. The feds are swarming the place.”
“I…can’t,” I said softly, brushing my fingers through Henry’s hair. “I can’t go after him. Not with a kid, Mick. I know you owe me nothing, but the Ravens have so many connections. Is there really nothing you can do?”
Rafe ran his palm over my arm, comforting me as tears fell.
“Please,” I whispered.
“The most I can do is the same I’m doing for the kids taken tonight, Arden. We’ll look for him. We will always look, and if we find him, you’ll be the first to know. I swear.”
I nodded against the phone, covering my mouth to muffle my sob.