Chapter 16
Sebastian’s heart pounded in his chest as he pulled into Yeats’ driveway. He had to think fast. “Just need to make a quick stop. You good, bud?” He glanced at Owen, who was happily engrossed in a game on Sebastian’s phone. Thank you, Jesus, for the distraction.
“Stay here,” Daniel told him and got out of the truck.
Opening the front door, Daniel stayed on the porch to keep an eye on Owen.
“Hey, Yeats,” Daniel called. “You in there, man?” A beat of silence stretched.
Daniel wished he hadn’t given Owen his phone, but both Yeats’ motorcycle and another one of the company trucks was parked near the house. “Yeats!”
Just when worry built, Yeats lumbered out into the living room. “What’s wrong?”
Daniel breathed a sigh of relief that whooshed past him like a summer breeze. “I need a favor.”
Yeats approached him, his hair damp and wearing a pair of long shorts. “What kind of favor?”
“I need you to take Owen to Grace Meadows.” Seeing Sam would blow his cover, and he couldn’t afford for his sister to know he was this close by right now.
Plus, he hadn’t spoken to her in years. The fact he read her emails and never responded to them sat heavy in his conscience.
He’d chosen silence as a shield to protect them both. But the bigger terror was Owen.
He glanced back at Owen, who looked up and gave him a thumbs up.
He waved at the kid. If Owen discovered the truth about his identity, it would shatter everything.
The trust they’d built, the life he carved out for himself.
It would vanish in a puff of smoke. He couldn’t let that happen.
Not for Owen. Not for Sam or Caitlyn or even himself.
“Can you take him out to Sam?” Sebastian asked.
Yeats stared at him in disbelief.
“I’ll owe you one,” Daniel pressed. “You know why I can’t go there.”
“I know.” Yeats placed his hands on his hips, looking more amused than anything. “I’m wondering how you got yourself in this predicament.”
“I took Caitlyn and Owen to Chambersburg to that go-kart place. We ran late, and Caitlyn was going to be late for work if she took Owen there herself.”
Yeats nodded, his mouth twitching to hold back the smile.
Sebastian wanted to wipe it from his face as soon as he let it appear.
“Listen,” he said, trying to ignore the amusement dancing in Yeats’ eyes.
“This is important. You can check on Sam for me. Make sure she’s okay, alright?
But under no circumstances can you acknowledge you know I’m here or that you know about the email she sent. ”
Yeats’ amusement vanished, replaced by a solemn understanding. He met Sebastian’s gaze, the weight of the importance settling between them. Yeats rolled back his shoulders. “Sure, I’ll do it. I don’t mind checking on Sam. You’ll have to explain to Caitlyn why Owen rode with me instead of you.”
“I’ll tell her it was the French fries.”
“I’m not even going to ask,” Yeats said. “Give me a minute to change. I’ll take your truck so he doesn’t have to get out.”
“Change?” It was Daniel’s turn to give Yeats a hard time.
“Like I’d go see Sam looking like this,” Yeats snorted, heading back the hallway.
Daniel headed back outside. Steeling himself, he opened the truck door. Owen kept his head bent and playing a game on his phone. “Hey, bud. I’m going to need my phone back in a minute. Yeats is going to take you out to Grace Meadows.”
Owen looked up, and his face fell. “I thought you were taking me. Mom said.”
Those big brown eyes, a shade darker than his mother’s, almost gutted Sebastian. “Something has come up, but tomorrow after work, we’ll play that new game of yours.”
“You don’t have it,” Owen said.
Daniel wiped his hands on his jeans. Since when did a kid make him nervous? “Yet. I’ll get it to play. Can’t be without my game partner.”
Owen handed back the phone. “Cool. Tomorrow, right?”
“Tomorrow.” Sebastian fist-bumped the kid, stepping back as Yeats jogged toward them. He changed into jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. Daniel tossed him the truck key. “Be good.”
Owen pffted.
Yeats slid in the truck and lifted his chin toward Sebastian. “The little man and I got this. You do what you need to do.”
“See ya, Dan.”
“You owe me,” Yeats said, starting the truck and closing the door.
Sebastian watched them pull out of the driveway and walk back into the house.
Inside, he sat on the couch, pushing his fingers through his hair.
He was off the hook. But how much longer could he keep this up?
He couldn’t keep avoiding Sam forever, not when she and Caitlyn were friends.
He needed time to figure out how to handle keeping them all safe without screwing things up with Caitlyn.
Sebastian’s fingers flew across the controller, the video game’s rhythmic clicks and beeps filling the living room’s silence. He was deep in concentration, battling a challenging boss, when the rumble of Yeats’ truck pulling into the driveway broke his focus.
He paused the game and set the controller down, walking toward the window to watch as Yeats climbed out and headed towards the house. Opening the door for Yeats to step inside, Sebastian asked, “Got Owen settled in?”
“Yep. Sammy was happy to see him. Me too.” Yeats grinned. “Shame you had to stay here. That a new game? Owen said Silas got him that.”
Sebastian glanced behind him at the television. “Huh, Silas bought it for him.”
“And then you bought it while I was out. Afraid the kid was going to kick your butt in this game, too?” Yeats tossed the truck keys at Sebastian, and he caught them.
“Demo. No harm in checking out what the kid is playing,” he added quickly.
Yeats caught his eye with a knowing look. “Right,” he said. “Just checking out the competition, huh?”
Sebastian forced a smile. He wasn’t sure if he was annoyed at Silas for buying the game, or himself for allowing the other man’s actions to make his defenses rise. Silas was the boy’s father. No matter the type of man he was, who was Sebastian to rebuke the man for wanting to give his son a gift?
Yeats changed the subject. “Figured you were watching me on surveillance in the barn.”
“I checked the cameras earlier, and there wasn’t any motion triggering the camera alarms.”
“That’s good. You got ones in the house?” Yeats fell back into his favorite recliner and hit the button for his feet to recline.
“I couldn’t risk setting off the house security system. I’m good, but not that good.” Sebastian leaned back against the wall, looking forward to playing the video game. He had a few more hours until Caitlyn’s shift ended for the night. “What took you so long?”
“Sammy invited me to stay for dinner,” Yeats said, leaning his head back and patting his stomach. “Couldn’t say no to smoky barbecue ribs. She used your mom’s recipe.” A satisfied smile spread across Yeats’ face.
“You didn’t bring me back any?” Sebastian forced a playful jab, but envy filled him.
The image of the warm family dinner, laughter echoing through the house, sent a familiar wave of loneliness crashing over him.
Years of keeping his distance from his family had carved a silent chasm between them, and it ached with a hollowness he couldn’t fill.
“And have her ask questions? She had Cole, Owen, and another teenager there to feed, too,” Yeats said without looking at him.
“Sounds like you had a good time.” Sebastian glanced at the clock on the wall.
Caitlyn’s shift ended in a couple of hours.
Yeats had taken his time dropping off Owen and lingering for dinner.
He knew Caitlyn would be okay getting off after ten, but the thought of her alone caused a prickle of unease to crawl up his neck.
“I think I’ll head over to La Rosa’s soon to wait for Caitlyn to finish work.”
Yeats opened his eyes and sat up. “Why?”
“She might get stuck being the last one out,” he said, vaguely. “I figured I’d grab coffee and keep her company until she finishes locking up the place.”
Yeats raised a brow. “Caitlyn’s a grown woman. She’s been taking care of herself long before you came along.”
“I know,” Sebastian said, his voice tight.
“It’s just... with Silas back in town, it doesn’t hurt to be around.
” He wouldn’t let her face her ex-husband alone again.
The man scared Owen, and while Caitlyn hadn’t admitted it, she was clearly afraid, too.
She needed someone to be there for her, even if she only allowed him into her life as friends.
But tonight, with Owen safely at Grace Meadows, Sebatian harbored a secret hope.
There had been a shift in Caitlyn’s demeanor all day.
The way her hand held his when they spoke, the lingering glances she seemed to steal his way, and the way her eyes softened when they met.
Maybe, just maybe, after tonight, when Owen was safe, he could finally act on the growing urge to kiss her, for real, not just a friendly brush on the forehead.
But a knot tightened in his gut. Silas loomed in the background, putting more strain on Caitlyn. Yet, the thought of her caught alone with her ex filled him with a protective urge. What if the next time Owen got scared, Sebastian couldn’t get there in time?
“I’ll go with.” Yeats put his feet down and motioned to get up.
“Nah, man,” Sebastian said quickly, the idea of a third wheel shattering his plans. “We’ve got an early morning tomorrow, and we’ve got those trees to plant at the park in Biglerville.”
“It might not be a good idea to take the truck. Logo and all,” Yeats said, his brows furrowing. “I can contact Jax and see if he and a few others from the Soldiers of Christ can drive by and keep an eye out. I was thinking of bringing it up at our next meeting this Saturday, anyway.”
He should have known Yeats would be one step ahead. The man could have gone up in the ranks in the Army if not for the incident that had sent him home and haunted him at night. Sebastian woke many a night to Yeats’ night terrors.
“Thanks.” Sebastian grabbed his jacket and keys. “I’ll take the Rebel this time. Don’t wait up.” She needed to know he had her back. Lord, please don’t let me fail again.