Page 25 of Vengeful Reign

“Boss, here’s the food.” Shamus enters, holding the bags. He’s much larger than many of my other men, so when he enters the small house, he looks like a giant.

“Where’s Giles?” I asked, since it was his task. I don’t appreciate people handing off assignments without my permission.

“He had an errand to run this morning. He said he’ll be back in a couple of hours, but he’ll be available via text.” Yes, I’d been so consumed by my business I’d forgotten that he’d been working here when I’d gotten the alert. Now, it’s time to contact Connor and Ian. They need to know I’ve found our brother.

“Please eat. I’ll get John.” She sits down, and I hand her the trays of breakfast.

“I like this spot. This restaurant is right up the street and it’s my favorite.”

“Good. Enjoy. Give me one minute.”

When I slip into his bedroom, he’s still asleep. I gently sit on the edge of the bed and stare down at my little brother. God, I want to hold him in my arms and never let him go, but I know not to push my luck. My phone rings in my pocket, and John stirs. Shit. I had called Connor, but he was with Dad so I couldn’t speak with him. I told him to call me when he was free.

“Hey, did you lose the tail?”

“Yes. I left his house. The detective stopped by, wondering if you had any clues. She knows you’ve been hunting down trafficking rings, so they think you’re on another one. Isthat the case?” I chuckled. Let that dumb cunt believe it if she wanted. I didn’t trust her one bit, but my brother needed to know the truth.

“No, but I wanted to let you know that I found him,” I say in a hushed whisper as if someone near him might here.

“What? Please God, tell me he’s alive.” His voice is shaky.

“Yes. He’s alive and healthy.” I’m so grateful to Nora for that. I want to pull her in my arms and kiss her right at this moment just for that fact. Not to mention that I’m so eager to devour her sexy ass.

“Tell me you killed every piece of shit involved,” he snarls.

I sigh and then lightly chuckle because I’ve been out for vengeance since they took him, but that’s the farthest thing from my mind when it comes to Nora. “So far there’s no piece of shit to be found. Only a woman who was handed a child to care for.”

“What? And you believe it?” Connor roars.

“If you see the way she cares for him and how good he’s doing, you’d believe it.”

He pauses before he says, “He’s doing good?”

“He called me Jack.”

“What?”

“Yes.”

I can hear my brother’s sobs on the phone. “I can’t fucking believe it.”

“Me either.”

“Bring him home. God, it’s a fucking miracle. I won’t tell Dad, but he will have to find out sooner or later.” As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right. Even if my father had nothing to dowith my brother’s disappearance, he wasn’t a good father, so he won’t get custody of John, but he’s still his son and he deserves to know he’s alive.

“I want John safely tucked into my home before I allow it.”

“Let me know what you need me to do, and it’s done.”

John stirs as I speak. “Hey, buddy. You’re awake. Do you want pancakes?”

“Cay, cay.”

“Did he just say that?” Connor asks.

“Yes, he did, Connor.”

“Can you say Connor?” I ask, putting the phone closer to him without trying to scare John.

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