Page 327 of Redeemed

Guilt eclipses the pain in my chest, and I blink back the tears it brings. “Never.”

Charlotte pulls me into a firm hug. “Go home and get some sleep. I have everything handled for the next few days.”

“Are you sure?”

She laughs. “Oh, my sweet boy, of course I do. Your father may have been head of the Rooks by title, but don’t forget how much he delegated to me.”

“Yeah.” I run a hand through my hair. “We’d fall apart without you.”

Her eyes sparkle. “I know.”

As she steps toward her Bugatti, I grab my helmet. Right before I put it on, I give her one last glance.

“I can’t stop Xander, you know.”

“I’d never dream of asking you to,” she replies. “He needs to move quickly, though. He’s not the only one who wants to kill Mark.”

I nod in acknowledgment.

“Ride safe, Colton.”

“Always,” I lie. She doesn’t need the extra worry that would come with knowing how fast I push my bike on a clear, open road. Although, now that I’m thinking about it, she probably already knows.

We go our separate ways, and I take as many shortcuts as I can to get home. The cool air whips around me as I speed down the main highway.

I wonder if Haven would ever want to come out riding with me. Given her anxiety, I assumed she’d be terrified, but I’ve never actually asked her. I’d love to have her behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist, experiencing the thrill of zipping past our surroundings until everything is just a blur.

By the time I’m pulling into the garage, I’m smiling at the thought of it. I’d have to work her up to it, of course—take things slow at first. I’d get her some riding gear, too. I’m not an idiot. Accidents happen, and I want her protected.

Once I’m inside the house, I take the stairs two at a time and rush to Xander and Lucas’s room. But when I quietly open the door, I freeze.

Their bed is empty.

What the hell?

I know they made it home. Lucas texted me the moment he pulled into the garage, and the armored van is still there.

So where…?

As I step into the hallway, panic claws its way up my throat. Was Mark waiting for them when they got here? I know I pissed him off, but he shouldn’t have been able to get in here, let alone get past Lucas and Xander.

I’m in the middle of pulling my phone out to call Lucas when I see a soft glow coming from under my door. IknowI didn’t leave a light on this morning, so I stalk down the hallway and throw the door open.

And there—they’re all in my bed. Haven is in between Lucas and Xander. As she always does when she’s sleeping with one of us, she has her leg draped over Xander’s body, and her arms are wrapped tightly around him.

Lucas is sitting upright with a protective hand on Haven’s waist. It looks like I woke him when I burst into the room.

“What’re you doing in here?” I ask quietly as I close the door behind me.

“She didn’t want you to be alone when you got home, and you’ve got the biggest bed.”

My gaze moves back to Haven’s sleeping form. Of course she thought of that. It’s just who she is. She thinks I haven’t figured out that she stayed home for Thanksgiving so I didn’t have to spend it by myself, but her actions are more transparent than she realizes.

Careful not to disturb Haven and Xander, Lucas slips out from under the covers. He rounds the bed and gets back in behind Xander.

“Come on,” he whispers. “She’s gonna freak if she wakes up and realizes I’m not behind her anymore.”

Quickly, I shed my clothes and crawl into bed. Lucas turns off the bedside lamp just as I envelop Haven with my body. The blankets have fallen off her a little, so I kiss her shoulder and pull them up to cover her.

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