Page 158 of Give Me Redemption

I didn’t notice the car before. I turn my blinker on, and it does the same. As I turn, I look back and see the side of the car. Holy shit.

Is that Monroe?

He has a dent in the side from his nephew hitting it with a rogue baseball. How in the world did he get here? I reach over to grab my phone, then remember it’s dead. I drop it and grab the radio.

Turning it to his channel, I say into the speaker, “When the fuck did you get here?”

It crackles and then he comes back. “You think I was going to let you do this alone?”

I don’t respond to that. I look in front of me, seeing the rusty piece of shit truck turn into a driveway. I follow it with my eyes, watching it go back into the woods.

I wait until the man is out of sight, and then I pull over. Yanking my car in park, I open the door and get out, tucking my shirt back into my pants. Monroe gets out, and then the passenger door opens. I tilt my head, putting my hand over my eyes, trying to see who’s with him. The person walks around the door.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Dalton?”

Jace’s voice is unexpected and snaps me back into reality.

Oh my God.

What is he doing here?

I’m not sure what to do as he walks toward me.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” he asks me. The moon reveals worry on his face, confusion and anger.

“I had to,” I tell him. “He sent me another email and I got the IP address. I knew he was here. I couldn’t sit around and wait for answers this time. I had to do something.”

“You could have gotten yourself killed. And then what would I do? Huh?” He lifts his hand and moves a piece of hair away from my face. It’s not like him. It’s sweet. I’ve worried him.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him, grabbing his hand when he goes to drop it. “I’m sorry for worrying you. I’m sorry for dragging you into this shit.” I shake my head.

“Don’t you get it? I love you, Dalton. Drag me through hell, but be by my side.”

My heart stumbles, and I swallow the lump in my throat. I squeeze his hand, and then I remember why we’re here.

“We need to go,” I say. “I’ll leave my car here and we can take Monroe’s.”

Jace nods. I reach back and lean into the car to shut it off and grab my keys. Jace waits for me, and then we walk toward Monroe’s car.

“Is it him?” he asks me as we walk around the car door he left open.

I nod. “It’s him. I know it.”

Jace gives me a small smile, and I climb inside the passenger seat as he gets into the back.

I look over at Monroe. He lifts a brow at me. “You’re sure?”

I know it’s hard to believe. I know that I didn’t get a great look at him when I was a kid standing in the road with Chloe. But I remember his body build. I remember his height, and I remember the fucking tattoo he had on his arm. It was a dragon, blowing fire, and the flames shot across the backs of his knuckles. When he walked out of the shadows of the bar and ordered a drink, my eyes landed on those flames and my soul sparked to life.

After all this time. After all these soul-sucking years, finally, I got him.

“I am,” I say with a nod. “Let’s go.”

He looks in front of him, reaching up and pulling the gear shifter down. My skin crawls with anxiety. I’ve waited my whole life for this.

It’s go time.

I look in the rearview mirror at Jace. Our eyes connect, and we share a look that can’t be described with words. It’s like a seal has formed on our relationship, bonding us together for life.

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