Page 87 of F*ck Steal Kill

She eagerly rushed to me, throwing her arms around me as she buried her head in my neck, not caring that Q was right there, too. I didn’t plan on moving, not that he would let me if I tried.

“I’m sorry if you ever felt you couldn’t let your guard down,” she whispered, confirming that everyone had heard my confession.

“Shh. You saved me—you and Joy. Without you two, I wouldn’t be here. It’s as simple as that. I’m sorry I didn’t realize how closed off I’d become.”

“You lost your sister. We understood.”

“Still.” We cried-laughed together, knowing that if Joy were here, she would’ve told us to suck it up, kiss, and then dance it out. Wiping our faces, we pulled apart, but Lacey didn’t move far, keeping her hand in mind.

Grady gave us a soft smile. We all needed a little healing-honesty and connection. It made my need to get the other two pieces of my heart back flare to life.

“How’s Lukas? Any updates?” I asked, turning in Quentin’s lap. He barely gave me the space to do so, keeping his arms snug around me.

“Doc was able to stabilize him and set up a drip. He should be okay in a few days. He’s sleeping now,” Lacey said, squeezing my hand.

I sighed; at least one thing had improved, and our promise to Theo remained. “Did Ava tell him about his dad?” I asked.

She nodded, her face slack. Sucking in a breath, I let it out slowly. Fuck. It felt like all we were doing was failing. I turned to Grady, and he squeezed my knee, the four of us so close on the floor between the beds; I wondered for a second how we would get up.

“Ryan’s team will be here in an hour. We’re getting Max and Joy back, whatever the cost.”

“Even if that means Viper gets away?” I asked. I didn’t plan on that happening, but I needed to know where his loyalties lay. The three of them had been hunting him for so long that I didn’t know if he could let it go.

“They’re more important and the priority. If Viper escapes, then I’ll keep chasing him.”

“We will,” I amended. “He won’t know what hit him with the XOXO killer on his tail.”

Grady smiled, all teeth and predatory. “It shouldn’t be as hot as it is when you go all murdery.”

“And that’s my cue to leave before it gets X-rated in here,” Lacey said, attempting to stand in the small space.

“Nonsense. Like that’s ever made you leave before,” I teased, causing her to snort. “But as nice as that sounds, we should clean up, change, and eat something in the hour we have. Once they’re here, I want to hit the ground running. Viper won’t expect us to retaliate so quickly, and I want to use that.”

“I can help,” Ava said from the doorway.

“We just got you out of there. You’re not going back,” I said, not even considering it.

She shook her head, lifting it high and showing her strength. I admired that.

“You’re right. I never want to step foot back there. But I can give you a better outline of the place, where the weakest access points are, and his routines. Viper thought I was stupid, so he never hid anything from me. I can help.”

The steel in her eyes would do her well. I nodded, accepting her offer and knowing how much she needed to do something.

“Okay. Everyone get cleaned up and eat something. Let’s make it thirty minutes, so we have plenty of time to plan before they arrive.”

“Yes, Boss,” Grady said, kissing me with a smile. I couldn’t help it and returned it, liking how it made my heart flutter and my insides melt.

I could get used to that sound.

CHAPTER 30

GRADY

Somehow, despite two of our own being captured, I felt lighter than I had in years. The bitterness I’d been carrying around was gone, replaced with a sense of acceptance and hope. It was terrifying to want something new, but I couldn’t stop myself from craving Holland, even if I tried.

Gone was the desperate drive to kill a man—one who didn’t even know my name—and in its place was a solid comfort of connection… of belonging. I had no clue what would come of the four of us, but it felt like we were on the brink of creating something solid and real. Something whole.

I felt like a new man, so much so, that even the arrival of Ryan and his team didn’t piss me off.

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