Chapter 18
CROSS
Iwas working through a mound of paperwork in my office at Inferno when my phone buzzed insistently in my back pocket, jarring me. I’d been trying to get through this shit as fast as possible and get back to my girls, so the intrusion was extremely unwelcome.
Grunting in annoyance, I fished out the device from my back pocket. King’s name flashed across the screen.
“Yeah,” I answered, holding the phone to my ear as I stood and stretched.
“Cross.” His voice carried an undercurrent of something urgent.
Tension immediately coiled tight in my chest, anticipation sharpening my senses as I braced myself for whatever was coming.
“We’ve got eyes on Gavin. Recent movement confirmed. He’s holed up, trying to stay off-grid, but he got sloppy.”
A fierce surge of satisfaction flared inside me as I exited my office and took the stairs down two at a time. Finally. This was the first step toward ending it all.
“Where?” My voice came out gritty with barely restrained aggression.
“Outside Atlanta. Kevlar, Cruze, and Stryker are already rolling out. They left fifteen minutes ago. They’ll bring him in,” King informed me, his quiet authority leaving no room for doubt. “Figured you’d want to know now.”
I inhaled, the implications hitting me fully. Isa—my little girl—would finally be safe. Hannah wouldn’t have to constantly wonder if a threat to our family would suddenly appear.
“Appreciate it,” I muttered, already heading toward my bike parked just beyond the open bay doors. “On my way home. Gonna tell Hannah.”
King’s voice softened a touch. “Good. She deserves the peace of mind. Fill her in, but leave the details on our next moves vague.”
“I’ll handle it,” I promised, hanging up and shoving the phone into my pocket.
My mind was already spinning, and I quickly closed the bay door behind me and mounted my bike. The powerful rumble beneath me grounded some of the agitation swirling inside my chest as I tore down the road toward home.
Minutes later, I was walking into my house, the front door swinging shut behind me with a firm thud. My gaze found Hannah instantly, and tension immediately ebbed away at the sight of her.
She stood by the window, a slight crease between her brows as she stared thoughtfully into the backyard.
The sunlight spilling through the glass made her blond hair glow softly, highlighting the gentle curve of her hips beneath her fitted jeans.
My eyes tracked the lush swell of her body, desire sparking even amid the serious conversation looming ahead.
“Hey.” She turned as she heard me approach, her brown eyes softening immediately when they met mine. “You’re home early. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I closed the distance between us, and my hands found her waist automatically, pulling her into me. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
I slid one palm around to rest on her flat stomach, still in awe that there was another little life in there.
“Other than craving weird things like pickles and peanut butter? I’m fine.”
I raised a brow and opened my mouth, but she waved a hand to stop me.
“Don’t knock it until you try it.”
A chuckle rumbled in my chest, and I kissed her forehead before remembering why I’d come home early. “Just talked to King. They’ve got eyes on Gavin.”
Hannah sucked in a sharp breath, a mixture of relief and uncertainty flickering across her expression. “So…it’s really him? It’s almost over?”
“Almost,” I confirmed, tracing my thumb along her jawline, savoring the softness of her skin beneath my touch. “King already sent guys to pick him up. It’ll be handled.”
She nodded, her eyes searching mine for something I knew she wouldn’t ask. I kept the details on what would happen next vague, refusing to let the darker edges of this situation touch her any more than they already had.
Hannah let out a slow breath and leaned into my chest. She had complete faith that I’d keep her and Isa safe. Her trust meant everything to me. More than she could possibly understand.
I cupped her chin, tilted her head up, and kissed her. Claiming her, reassuring her, and letting her feel the possessiveness that never faded. “I love you.”
Hannah’s face lit up, and she went on her toes to brush her lips sweetly across mine. “I love you, too.”
I took her mouth one more time, then sighed. “I need to make a call. I have to talk to my parents about this. But I need to do it alone.”
Her eyes softened immediately, understanding flooding her expression. She knew how hard this would be for me, how much I’d tried to shield them from Gavin’s constant betrayals and fuckups.
“Of course,” she whispered, her hand resting gently on my chest. “I’m here if you need me.”
“Fuck, Hannah,” I growled, my fingers tightening in her hair as I held her close, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo and savoring the feel of her curves against me. “How the hell did I get this fucking lucky?”
She laughed softly, the sound sweet and soothing, washing over me like balm. “It’s mutual.”
I smirked, my thumb brushing along her cheek, and my eyes locked onto hers. “Just a heads-up, sweetheart. Once they hear about you and Isa, my parents will be here sooner rather than later. They’ll want to meet their soon-to-be daughter-in-law and grandbaby.”
Hannah’s eyes widened, excitement and nerves mingling in her expression, making her cheeks flush. My pulse spiked at the sight, desire surging. I kissed her again before stepping back with a reluctant growl and heading into my home office.
Closing the door behind me, I sat down at my desk, my shoulders tightening with tension I couldn’t shake.
I dialed my dad’s number, rubbing a hand over my jaw as the phone rang.
When he answered, the ache in my chest intensified.
We exchanged a few brief words of greeting, and then I cleared my throat roughly.
“Get Mom, Dad. Need to talk to both of you together,” I muttered, my voice tight, bracing for what I was about to unleash.
A moment later, my mother’s voice came on the line, soft and trembling with fear. “It’s about Gavin, isn’t it?”
I cursed inwardly, hearing the pain. “Yeah, Mom. It is.”
My dad cleared his throat. “Is he—?”
“He’s alive,” I assured them.
For now.
Quickly, I started explaining, not holding anything back—Rea, Isa, Gavin’s involvement with Division Nine, the threats against Hannah and Isa, and the plan to make him disappear for his own safety.
Every word felt heavy, jagged with emotion, but I forced myself through it, giving them the truth because they deserved nothing less.
Silence stretched for several long seconds when I finished, the quiet filled with unspoken grief and worry.
Finally, my dad spoke, his voice gruff but steady. “We understand, son. We appreciate everything you and your brothers are doing for Gavin. And for your family.”
My mom’s voice trembled, thick with tears. “Please thank King and the others for giving Gavin a chance to start over despite everything.”
I nodded even though they couldn’t see it, swallowing past the tightness in my throat. “I will.”
Then my dad cleared his throat again, a faint note of hope creeping into his voice. “Let us know when we can come visit. But don’t wait too long, or we’ll just show up on your doorstep. Your mother and I want to meet our grandbaby…and the woman who’s finally managed to settle our boy down.”
A smile pulled at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest. “Figured as much.”
Their laughter eased some of the tension inside me, and when we hung up, I sat back in the chair, letting out a slow breath.
Then I stood and went in search of my old lady and our precious baby girl. Until I got the call that Gavin had arrived, I was going to distract myself with the peace and joy only they could bring me.
My phone buzzed late in the afternoon, and I carefully shifted Isa, who was asleep on my chest, so I could reach out and pick it up off the coffee table. Seeing Blaze’s name flash on the screen instantly sharpened my focus.
“It’s done?” I asked as soon as I picked up, keeping my voice pitched low so I would disturb my daughter.
“Boys have Gavin. Headed back to the clubhouse. ETA around two hours. Bringing him in quiet so Division Nine is none the wiser. I’ll let you know when they’re ten minutes out.”
“Thanks.” A surge of relief mingled with tension coiled inside me as I pocketed my phone. The waiting had worn on me more than I’d admitted. Now that Gavin was almost here, I could practically taste closure, though I knew it wouldn’t come easy. Nothing with Gavin ever did.
When I got the word that my twin had arrived, I was finishing washing Isa’s bottles and putting them away.
I padded into the living room, then stopped at the door to take in the scene.
Hannah sat on the floor, playing peek-a-boo with Isa and making silly faces to coax her giggles.
The sight hit me square in the chest, spreading warmth low and tight through my core.
Hannah’s golden hair cascaded around her face, her smile lighting her eyes as she laughed softly, her cheeks flushed from happiness.
Isa’s delighted squeals filled the room, and my pulse quickened at the sight of them both—my girls.
I pushed away from the doorway, crossed to Hannah, and crouched beside her. Her smile widened, softening her features as she turned to me.
“Hey,” she murmured, warmth radiating from her expression.
“Got confirmation from Blaze.” I brushed my fingertips along her jaw, savoring the softness of her skin beneath my touch. “They’ve got Gavin at the clubhouse.”
Her eyes widened slightly, relief flickering across her expression before quickly clouding with concern. “What happens next?”
I leaned in and kissed her gently, lingering just enough to reassure her. “I take you and Isa to the clubhouse, let you hang with the other women, then I go deal with this shit. After that, we move forward.”
She nodded, trust evident in her gaze as she reached out to squeeze my hand. “Okay.”