Page 52 of Coup De Grâce
“Not yet,” Johnny cut in, stepping around his brother to give her a hug. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
His words were low, but I heard the shame filling his voice. It was over, but for Johnny, that fear would be around for a long time.
“Let’s get inside until your friends get back,” Thomas said, ushering us inside.
I glanced around the expansive space, in awe of how much thought went into this underground bunker. They had everything they could possibly need in here, from a kitchen to asmall living space and cots on the other side of the room. There was even a bathroom with a shower. I had no idea how it was all hooked up without allowing access from outside.
“Thomas, this is Libby. She’s—” The smile on Johnny’s face quickly faded as he remembered that Rafe was dead, and I was nothing to anyone anymore. “She’s a friend.”
Thomas gave a polite nod, then turned to his wife. “This is Delilah and my kids, Oakleigh, Lucas, and that rugrat is Johnny.”
I smiled, finding it adorable that his brother named one of his kids after him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“So,” Johnny blew out a harsh breath. “Tell me everything.”
Thomas sobered instantly, running his hand along the rough stubble of his jaw. Based on the growth, I would assume they had been down here for at least several days.
“They came in the night. I set alarms at the entrance a few years back, along with cameras. When I saw them coming, I just fucking knew something was going on. I got Delilah and the kids out, and I was coming back for my rifle when they broke into the house. I’m assuming you saw the mess in the kitchen.”
“And upstairs,” I answered.
He nodded, his eyes flitting to mine for a moment. “For a minute, I thought they had me, but…” He shook his head, lost in the memories. “I shot one of them. Buried him out back. Almost let the pigs feed on him,” he chuckled. “The other one got away.”
That was strange. “He left?” The Shadow Government didn’t run from anyone. At least, not that I could see. Why would they run out after one man was shot and not finish the job?
Thomas nodded. “Took off with two other men. Why?”
“Nothing,” Johnny smiled. “All that matters is you guys are safe.” He glanced around again, grinning at the space. “This is one hell of a panic room.”
“Yeah, I based it off the one you forgot about when our house went up in smoke.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “I’m never living that down.”
Thomas grinned playfully. “My big brother, the security specialist, forgot about his own panic room. I’m not sure it gets much worse than that.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I failed.”
The smile was still on his face, but strained as he said those final words. Because he still felt like he had failed his brother.
“Anyway,” his brother moved on, noticing the tension in Johnny’s body, “I think I did a pretty damn good job on this panic room. And the kids love it.”
Speaking of kids, they were itching to get to their uncle, and the moment their dad winked at them, they rushed forward and flung themselves at him.
“Where’s Aunt Tahlia?” Oakleigh asked.
“She’s at home. She didn’t come with me this time, but you’ll see her really soon.”
The little girl’s eyes widened in excitement. “We will?”
“Yeah, we’re gonna take a little road trip to where I live. How does that sound?”
The little girl bounced in his arms excitedly. It was so weird to see Johnny interacting with anyone outside of OPS. It reminded me that our lives weren’t like everyone else’s. Would mine ever be like this?
With Rafe gone, I was adrift, with no purpose in life. I had walked away after his funeral and left everything behind. There wasn’t a damn thing I wanted to do, and even now, with everything on the line, I felt like I no longer belonged in this life.
“Hey, you okay?” Thomas’s wife asked. Even after everything she’d been through, she still approached me with kindness and a smile on her face.
“Yeah,” I forced a smile. “Everything’s fine.”
