Page 49 of Final Sins

Alex appeared to give that some thought before nodding. “I agree. Let’s hit the road.”

“Aye, aye, captain.” He sketched her a salute and started the car.

As the engine roared to life, he allowed himself a small, determined smile. Seven-Five had no idea what they were in for now.

But beneath the determination, worry gnawed at him. Jane’s face, etched with a mix of pain and uncertainty, flashed in his mind.

Please, Lord, keep Jane and the twins safe.

“We’ll get there,” Alex said, her voice softer than he’d ever heard it. “Your sister looks plenty tough. And those babies? They’ve got Reilly blood. They’ll be fighters.”

Jason shot her a grateful look.

He’d finish this fight with Seven-Five, make the world a little safer, and then be the best uncle Jane’s kids could askfor. Resolve renewed, he pressed the accelerator, heading the muscle car toward Redemption Creek.

Toward home.

26

Four butt-numbing hours later,Alex’s jaw dropped as they crested the hill, revealing the picturesque valley that cradled Redemption Creek. The vibrant ranch town nestled against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, its main street lined with charming storefronts that looked like they’d been plucked from a Western movie set.

“Wow,” she breathed, her eyes wide as saucers.

Jason’s lips twitched. “Not what you expected?”

“I thought it’d be more ... I don’t know, secret lair-ish?”

He chuckled, a warm sound that sent an unexpected flutter through her stomach. “Just wait till you see headquarters, but first, I want to stop and see Jane. Her place is on the way.”

Two hours into the drive, Bridger had called back to announce that the labor was a false alarm. Jane was back home, resting comfortably. The news had made Jason visibly brighten, and he’d spent the rest of the drive regailing her with stories of his idyllic-sounding childhood. A world-away from her own. Literally. He learned how to hunt and camp and raise livestock. A life full of rough and tumble play that had obviously instilled a strong faith, and serious self-sufficiency.

She’d been paraded around golf courses, galas and charity balls. Until she got out on her own, her sole set of skills included walking safely in stilettos and knowing the best make up strategies for daytime vs evening events.

Envy might be a sin, but she couldn’t help a tinge of jealousy at the differences in their situations.

As they drove down the main street, Alex’s head swiveled left and right, trying to take in every detail. The smell of fresh-baked bread wafted from a corner bakery, making her mouth water. A group of men seated outside a barn-shaped burger stand tipped their hats as the Mustang rolled by, and she found herself waving back before she could stop herself.

“And there,” Jason pointed, “just past the bakery, that’s the family hardware store.”

Alex blinked in surprise. “I didn’t know you ran a store.”

His expression turned serious. “I don’t. Even since our grandparents aged out, it’s been all Jane. My sister’s kept everything together.” He paused, his voice softening. “I owe her, big time. Probably like what you did for your cousin,” he added, in a surprisingly insightful comment.

Alex nodded, privately thinking that Jane had far more on her shoulders than she ever did. She and Gabe had a set of parents to raise them. Thinking about the weight Jane must have carried added a new layer to her understanding of Jason’s family dynamics.

After winding up into the hills outside of town, they pulled up to a beautiful, big-windowed home. Her nerves jangled. This was it—she was about to meet Jason’s family.

Alex was just climbing out of the vehicle when a very pregnant woman waddled out the front door, her face a mix of joy and exasperation. Behind her, a tall, broad-shouldered man with thick, dark hair followed, his hand protectively at her back.She recognized the team’s defacto leader, Bridger North, from their video conference calls.

Jane waved them toward the door. “Jason Michael Reilly, get your butt over here!”

Jason’s face softened in a way Alex had never seen before. He jogged up to his sister, enveloping her in a gentle hug. “Hey, Janie. How’re my nieces doing?”

Jane swatted his arm. “Kicking up a storm, no thanks to their troublemaker uncle.”

Her gaze shifted to Alex, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Welcome. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Alex felt her cheeks heat. “All good, I hope?”

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