Page 70 of Newton

I won't argue the point about fresh air. The man has never been accused of being a fool, and I sure as hell won't be the man to call him one today.

"I can't just sit here and do nothing," I tell him, and I can tell by the look in his eyes that he knows it to be true. "I love her."

Kincaid has never been the type of man who tries to prevent people from forming bonds and connections. As far as I've heard, he's been more likely to push people together than trying to gatekeep relationships from forming. He didn't push me before when he really needed information from Brielle in order to ensure Nathan stayed locked up. He didn't doubt me when I told him that there was no way Brielle was there of her own free will despite what we've all witnessed happening in the house since one of the guards pulled back the curtains.

"You're a valuable member of my team, Beck Keller."

I swallow as I nod in understanding, but I still step past him when he drops his hand.

"Where the fuck is he going?" Detective Calloway snaps. "He's going to get us all killed.

And the truth about how the woman really feels is finally revealed. I feel sorry for her. I really do. I'm sure she had all sorts of grandiose ideas about how her career as a cop would play out, and I'm sure it leaned more toward medals of valor rather than possible headlines about her death or disappearance.

I don't waste time standing on the front stoop and pretending to get the breath of fresh air I lied about inside.

I cut across the grass, walking in the direction of the house Brielle is in.

Beth told Oracle every detail about her abduction and the things the Adair men talked about. We know that Nathan's plans for Brielle include both her death and his, and the man may be free right now, but he'll never put himself in a situation that will lead to his long-term capture if he can help it.

I wouldn't put it past the man to take a bite of pancakes with one breath and slit her throat with the next. He has to know that we're waiting for him to do something before we can move on the house.

I have the urge to put a bullet in as many heads as I can, but I know I can't get all five of the men inside before they take me down. I consider it to be the best thing for me, but I also know it's something Nathan will step over my dead body to punish her for as well.

I lift my hand to knock on the door, but I make no mistake in thinking they didn't clock me the second I stepped off the porch.

I fully expect a gun to be pointed in my face when the door opens, but I'm simply met with the sneer of the very man who ushered her out of the parking garage at the courthouse yesterday. I don't even want to think about what he could've done to her before Nathan got here an hour or so later.

"What the fuck do you want?" he growls.

"Do we have a guest, Mr. Banks?"

Although the only other time I've heard Nathan Adair speak was when he was screaming threats at Brielle, I recognize his voice. I hate the formal, unconcerned tone of it.

"Don't be rude. Let him in."

Mr. Banks, a rather scary-looking motherfucker in person, steps to the side, but he doesn't go far.

I walk into the house, keeping my eyes locked on Nathan sitting at the dining table. I can tell by the way the furniture is arranged that this is a production for our sake. The table isn't centered in the room but on the window, so we don't miss a thing from Finn who is outside recording and providing live feedback to the command center down the street.

"Ah, Mr. Keller. It's lovely to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

My blood runs cold that he knows exactly who I am on sight.

I keep my eyes locked on him, not wanting to make him think that I'm here for her. He's made it very clear that he knows more than he should, considering no one but she and I know the full details of what we shared together.

She has her back in my direction, and she doesn't bother to even stop eating as I take a step further into the house.

"It's fine," Nathan assures Mr. Banks when he takes a step to block me from getting much closer.

"I'm here to get Brielle," I say, holding my head a little higher.

"Oh lovely," Nathan says, his smile forced as he looks at his stepdaughter. "Angel, your friend is here to see you."

I hate the pet name he has for her, but it hasn't stopped me from listening to the recorded call from the shelter over and over to see if I can find the lie. I know a lot of people are questioning her loyalty or at least her hatred for him, but I heard it in her voice during every second of that call. I felt it in her tears when I held her as she made confessions of the horrible things he did to her. That pain is real. It's not something she made up to garner sympathy, and, despite her not even bothering to turn around and look at me, there's nothing that will convince me that she lied.

It feels like I take a million breaths before she places her fork calmly on her plate and turns around in her chair to face me.

Despite the blank expression on her pretty face, I can read the fear in her eyes. They've always been the most expressive thing about her. I see the apology, the wish that things could be different. I see the defeat.

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