Page 17 of Prodigal Son

Vivian blinked, obviously surprised. “That might be the only intelligent thing you’ve ever said. He’s right. Come, girls, we’re leaving.”

Eden didn’t budge. She shot Fox a narrow gaze. “What are you talking about?”

“Just what I said. You can all go. I’ve got this.”

She tipped her head to the side, not buying it for a second. “Charlie,” she said, chiding and careful at once. “What’s got into your head?”

“A little common sense, finally.” He snapped his fingers. “Dad, you go first. There, out you go.” He made a shooing motion that was promptly ignored.

Devin did a convincing job feigning horror. “I can’t go out there! I’ve got a price on my head!”

“I know. You think if I hand you over myself, I’ll get the bounty?”

“Fox,” Eden said.

Devin’s brows jumped, and Fox thought it might have been real surprise this time. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m your dad!”

“Theoretically.”

Eden made a quiet, disbelieving sound.

The other girl chuckled and said, “Damn.”

Devin, for his part, looked wounded. Good.

“Fox,” Albie said, coming up behind him. “You need to calm down. He doesn’t mean it,” he said to Devin. “He just–”

“Calm down?” Fox rounded on his brother with theutmostcalm. He’d never been riled up a moment in his life. Calm was his hometown; helived incalm. “I’m being perfectly serious right now,” he said, enunciating with great care. “Let the bastard leave. If he won’t go, I’ll push him out there. He goes, and we stay, and after that, whatever. That’s his problem. If he didn’t want to get gunned down in the street, he shouldn’t have broken into some supervillain lab and stolen their shit.Actions have consequences,” he said with finality, teeth clicking together.

It was very, very silent a beat.

Then, slowly, Albie lifted his brows in a pointed way.

Fox took a deep breath, and another, and another, and…

Oh.

Oh shit.

He was breathing hard. Panting through his teeth, loud, rapid breaths that sounded like some kind of power saw in the silent workshop. He looked down at his hands, which were curled into fists, knuckles white, old scars standing out stark pink.

He wasn’t calm. Not even a little.

Actions have consequences, he’d said. Like a total wanker.

A quiet electronicpingdrew his attention, and he lifted his head to find Eden aiming her mobile at him.

“What?” he asked, and it was a snarl.

“You’re looking a little upset there, son,” Devin said, calm as a motherfucker by contrast.

“I’m recording this,” Eden said. “Maybe even sending it in to the Guinness World Record people. The day Charlie Fox finally snapped.” Her voice was amused…but behind her phone, her face looked pinched. Not concerned. Troubled, maybe.

Fox…

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