We ring off. Instead of snuggling down behind Clari like I want to, I kiss her and make my way downstairs, walking to the safe hidden in the floor behind Pop’s desk.
The files I’ve hidden in here are top secret and have been gathered over a few months thanks to Jared’s dedication and my own very insane need to have everything on file, just in case.
“Hey, Miah.”
“Jace.”
“What are you doing now? Obssessing over that file you got on Dobson again?”
“Roman isn’t coming home, and from the way he sounded on the phone, he won’t come back till this mission is over and done with and all the assholes are dead or behind bars. I need this to get moving, Jace. We still don’t know who sent those guys after Clari, and the longer we leave Roman under deep cover, the longer it’ll take him to come back home.”
“Bro, I’ve been over the intel a million times. I’m telling you, there’s nothing there. Dobson’s covered his tracks well, and the militia players are too well hidden. Roman is our only chance right now.”
I sigh and replace the files before grabbing an ice cold beer and leaning back against the desk.
“Do we at least have some progress with the family?”
Jace shrugs and leans back in his seat.
“You’re going to have to accept that Jerry and Ronny and whoever you’re playing with are just not worth your time or effort. Ronny showed up in France but never got past Paris before doing some shopping and coming back home. Even Paulie doesn’t have anything new. Drop this family thing and move on.”
Drop it? After everything I heard coming from Ronny’s mouth and the way Al had been badmouthing my girl? Not fucking likely. I also can’t shake the feeling that Lynn still had information about what they were planning after she killed Ellie.
She wasn’t intending to just disappear after killing Ellie. She thought she could slide back into her spot in the family, so I know that Lynn had something more planned for us.
“Go to the sanatorium and talk to Lynn.”
“Bro…that chick gives me the straight-up creeps. Make Jared do it, he doesn’t give a damn,” Jace complains, shivering delicately.
“No, I need Jared here on the rifle in case something goes wrong with Roman. You know he’s the better shot of the three of us, so don’t argue. Suck it up and get to Lynn. Make her talk, Jace. I want peace of mind in at least one area before Ellie and little Alex come home.”
“Fine. Shit. You’re a real peach, you know that?”
“You can take Wyatt’s jet after I get back from my meet with Roman. I want both you and Jared here with Clari, Josh, and the parents.”
I’m being paranoid, but I’ve got this terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach and my gut is never wrong.
Chapter Sixteen
Clara
My Monday morning starts just like any other Monday morning has since I moved in with the Lanes and adopted my little brother. I shower, dress, and eat breakfast with the family while trying to draw my little brother into conversation despite his reticence around me.
Miah’s got three guards to watch me at work, and today I’m going to try and take Josh with me to see how he responds to other children.
He seems fascinated by Alex and talks to him constantly since he and Ellie came home four days ago. I am looking to see if socializing is one of Josh’s trouble areas.
Jones only agreed because I told her that a school discriminating against a child with special needs would not look good on my new blog.
“Hey, Alex. Hey, little man. Aren’t you just a precious little bugger? Yes, you are, sweetheart. Come on over here and give your aunt Clari a kiss good-bye.”
Ellie laughs and lets me kiss her kid to death before taking him back to let me approach Josh.
“Josh, buddy? Remember how we talked about you coming to work with me so you can meet some new friends?”
“Me play.”
“That’s right, buddy, you can play at recess with all of the other kids. Are you ready?”
He claps excitedly and runs around the room to say good-bye to everyone, especially Alex, before allowing Miah to lift him into his arms so we can leave.
Strapping him into his booster seat isn’t easy since he’s the squirmiest kid ever, but we finally get him settled before Miah pulls out and starts on the deserted road to the school.
“You okay, babe?”
I look over at him and shrug, feeling out of sorts.
“Just nervous about Josh is all. What if he doesn’t like it and starts yelling like he did when Jared tried to buy him a new puzzle?”
“He’ll be fine. You just need to trust in him and yourself. If he doesn’t respond well, call me and I’ll swing by to pick him up.”