Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(69)

“We can’t just let him walk out of here,” Logan said, clearly agitated as Garrick walked back to his car. “We don’t know where Nate is.”

Blake put his hand on his brother’s arm. “He doesn’t know where he is.”

“How do you know?” Logan spat, shaking off Blake’s hand. “Maybe he was in on it the whole time. Maybe he’s going to take my son in the place of his.”

“I think he was being honest,” Nathan added.

“Fuck,” Logan swore. “Fuck, fuck fuck. I can’t go home and tell Grace that Nate is still out there somewhere, and the only person who knew where he was is now dead. I just can’t.” He looked up at Ryder, pleading with his eyes for his half brother to do something . . . anything.

Ryder felt sick inside. The only leverage they had was Garrick’s fear of Rex. He had no idea if the Chicago Mob boss really would look for little Nate, but he had to believe it. He’d get Rex to put pressure on him.

“I’m sorry, Logan. So sorry.”

They all watched as the Town Car turned around and sped down the dirt road. As the car disappeared, sirens sounded in the distance. Ryder knew Logan had called Detective Baker, and he in turn had probably called the Denver SWAT team. The brothers turned to look at Joseph. He was lying where he fell. Facedown in the dirt.

Felicity moved to Ryder’s side, and he immediately raised his arm and settled it on her shoulders. He was pleased as he could be that Felicity was free to live her life where and how she wanted without ever having to worry about Joseph making it a living hell again. But at what price? He knew as if she’d said the words out loud that she’d prefer to have Joseph stalking her once more if only it would mean baby Nate was back at home with his parents and twin brother.

The quintet stood motionless and silent while they waited for the officers to arrive.

Tears fell down Logan’s face soundlessly, and no one said a word, as they didn’t know what to say.





Chapter Nineteen

It had taken quite a while to be allowed to leave the scene. Detective Baker wanted information about the kidnapping, and the Denver PD also had a ton of questions about Joseph and what had happened. Felicity didn’t blame them. Dead bodies weren’t exactly unheard of, but they also weren’t everyday occurrences either.

The plan had been for Ryder to take Joseph out of the area before the police arrived at the rendezvous point. Ryder was going to take him down to Colorado Springs and to the rest of the Mountain Mercenaries. There, Joseph would’ve been interrogated, mostly by Black. The plan was that the brothers, and Felicity, were going to meet the officers and let them know that Joseph had run and that Ryder was hot on his trail.

But that had all gone to shit, and now they had to explain the dead body.

Logan, Blake, and Nathan let Ryder do the talking. They nodded in the appropriate places, and eventually the Denver PD detective allowed them all to go back to Castle Rock. He was made aware that baby Nate was still missing and reassured them that the CRPD would do whatever possible to find the baby, since he had been kidnapped in their jurisdiction.

Logan rode back home with Felicity and Ryder.

It was a mostly silent ride. Felicity had so many emotions, and adrenaline, whirling through her body, she almost felt sick. Relief. Terror. Disgust. Shock. And worry. Lots and lots of worry.

They pulled into Logan’s driveway, and he said softly. “Please give me a moment alone with Grace so I can tell her.”

“You want us to go?” Ryder asked.

“No,” Logan answered immediately, and Felicity quietly sighed in relief. She didn’t want to go anywhere. Wanted to be right by her best friend’s side until her baby was back in her arms.

“Then we’ll be right here until you need us,” Ryder told his brother.

Logan got out of the sports car, his shoulders slumped, and headed for the front door. Felicity sat right where she was. “I’ve never seen him so defeated,” Felicity said softly. “Even when Grace was missing for those couple of hours, he was more determined than scared. And he was so great with Blake when he was on Alexis’s trail. But this . . . He doesn’t think he’s ever going to see his son again.” Felicity turned awkwardly in her seat to face Ryder. “Do you think Joseph killed him?”

Ryder shook his head. “No. I think he did just what he taunted. Dumped him with someone with plans to go back and get him. I think he really did want to torture Logan with the knowledge that his child was being raised by someone else to be a part of Joseph’s world.”

Ryder brought a hand up to Felicity’s face and slowly ran his thumb over the apple of her cheek. “It’s over, love. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

A sob hitched through her chest, but she covered her eyes with a hand and did her best to control herself. If she started crying now, she wouldn’t stop. It felt wrong to be so damn relieved when she knew how much pain Logan and Grace were in.

“God, I hate this,” Ryder said softly.

Felicity nodded but didn’t take her hand from her eyes.

A knock on Ryder’s window made her look up. It was Blake. Ryder opened his door. “We can go in now,” he said sadly.

Felicity opened her door and met Ryder at the front of the car. He grabbed her hand, and she did her best to control her tears once more. Even holding his hand felt different now that she never had to worry about Joseph tracking her down again.