Page 62 of Rage

I pull back, drinking in the sight of him.His hair is shorter, face more weathered.But his eyes are the same, warm hazel, crinkled at the corners as he grins down at me.

“What are you doing here?”I demand, punching his arm lightly.“I thought you weren’t due back for another month!”

Caiden’s expression darkens slightly.“Got word about what’s going on.No way I was staying away with that psycho Peterson after my baby sister.”

A lump forms in my throat.Of course he came.Caiden’s always been fiercely protective, even when we were kids.

Dad steps forward, pulling Caiden into a bear hug.“Good to have you home, son,” he says gruffly.

I watch as they embrace, years of worry and pride passing between them in that silent exchange.When they part, both their eyes are suspiciously bright.

Caiden’s gaze lands on Mason, who’s been hanging back.The air crackles with tension as the two men size each other up.

“So,” Caiden drawls, eyes narrowing.“You’re the one who’s been looking after my sister.”

Mason steps forward, shoulders squared.“That’s right,” he says evenly.“Mason Bennett.Good to see you again, Caiden.”

They shake hands, grip firm.I hold my breath, half expecting another fight to break out.But after a moment, Caiden’s face splits into a grin.

“Heard you stood up to the old man,” he says, jerking his thumb at Dad.“Takes balls.I like you already.”

The tension dissipates, replaced by cautious camaraderie.Mason relaxes slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“All right, enough with the macho bonding,” I interject, rolling my eyes.

“My baby!”me mom screams, then starts running as fast as she can toward my brother, tears flowing freely at this point, and Mason comes over to hug me.

“What’s the screaming about?”my grandpa yells out from one of the meeting rooms, and his eyes widen at the sight of my brother home.

The clubhouse erupts into chaos as everyone rushes to greet Caiden.My mom sobs as she hugs him tightly, refusing to let go.Grandpa fully emerges from the meeting room, his face breaking into a rare smile at the sight of his grandson home safe.

My uncle Trenton is currently off finding a missing politician’s son that was kidnapped.

After he came home from the military, he opened a business where he finds missing people, and provides bodyguards and security.

I know if he wasn’t working, he’d be here too.

Mason’s arm tightens around me as we watch the joyful reunion.“You okay?”he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my temple.

I nod, leaning into his solid warmth.“Just… overwhelmed.It’s been so long since we were all together like this.”

As the initial excitement dies down, Caiden extracts himself from our mom’s embrace.His expression turns serious as he surveys the room.

“All right, let’s get down to business,” he says, voice carrying the authority of a seasoned soldier.“I want a full briefing on this Peterson situation.Now.”

The mood in the clubhouse shifts instantly.My family and the club members gather around the main table, faces grim.Mason and I take seats near Caiden as Dad begins outlining everything that’s happened.

I watch my brother’s face darken with each new detail.His jaw clenches when Dad describes the threats against me, hands curling into fists at his sides.

“And now he’s targeting hospital staff,” Mason adds, his voice low and dangerous.“Left a… message for Meadow at the nurses’ station.”

Caiden’s eyes snap to mine, blazing with protective fury.“What kind of message?”

I swallow hard, the image of that mutilated rat flashing through my mind.“Nothing I want to repeat,” I manage, grateful when Mason’s hand finds mine under the table.

Just as everyone starts to settle down, my pager goes off, announcing I’m needed at the hospital.

Everyone looks at my pager like it’s a bomb, and I know right then that me leaving to go to work is going to be a fight.

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