Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(65)

I walk into the vault as a guest this time. Well, I was technically a guest last time, but I had to break in. It’s nice to be invited inside. And even nicer to get to pick what I want. I’ll even refrain from taking any souvenirs. After all, I have Brayden, and no jewel could be better than that.





Epilogue


Aiden

Damn. My head feels like it’s about to split in two. I probably shouldn’t have had all that tequila, but I needed it. With the shit that’s going down with my dad—and now, me—I had to just bow out of the world for a couple of days. Who am I kidding? I had to run. I almost got caught two nights ago, and the shitstorm everyone I care about would’ve had to face might have been the end for me. I don’t care if I go down, but I couldn’t stand it if my friends—and family—went there with me.

Never mind that this time I was doing it for my dad, and not because I had the urge. He wouldn’t appreciate it if he found out, but those bastards had to pay. And I didn’t kill them like I normally would. I just messed them up a little. And then something went wrong, horribly wrong. So I ran to this cabin in the woods. One that has no TV and no cell phone service. I couldn’t bear to see what I’d caused to happen, even if they did deserve it.

It’s time for me to face the world again, though. I don’t even know what day it is. Maybe Wednesday? I’ll find out once I get back into the city, and my phone is charged. I have to be somewhere on Friday, but I should have plenty of time to make it there.

I shower and then start my drive. My car charger is pretty powerful, and my phone comes back to life as soon as I’m in range of a cell tower. The number of text messages and voice mails I’m hearing ping is crazy, seeing as I was only out for a couple of days. I’ve been dark much longer in the past, and no one has ever blown up my phone like this. Did something else happen with those douchebags I beat up? I pull over to the side of the road, and look at my text messages first. The date on the first one makes my stomach drop, and my heart race.

Friday, 6:08 A.M.

TheOne: Hey, Aiden. I’ll see you later today. Well, knowing you, I won’t see you at all, but I know you’ll be there watching out for me. Love you ?

No. No. God no. This isn’t right. It can’t be past Friday. I promised Ellie I’d be there on Friday like I always am, backing her up. We were even going to make a detour on the way back and have a romantic night or two together.

Friday, 3:15 P.M.

TheOne: Change of plans. I know I’m not supposed to go in alone, but I saw one of the guys hitting a young girl. I can’t wait until tomorrow for backup. Besides, you’re the best backup I could have anyway. I’m going in at 8 tonight. You know the address.

She wouldn’t go in without confirmation from me. Even if she thinks I’m there, she’d still wait for a response.

Friday, 8:05 P.M.

TheOne: I haven’t heard from you, but I know you’re here. You would’ve called in if you couldn’t make it. I’m going in. I have to save these girls.

Oh my God. Please let her be safe. Please.

There isn’t another text message from her, so I switch to voicemail.

“You have 30 new voicemails, and your mailbox is full.”

Friday, 8:15 P.M.

“Aiden? Why aren’t you picking up? Or texting? I think I was spotted. I have my ear comm on, and I’ll leave it in. Please patch yourself in. Please—“

I hear her phone clatter to the ground, but the voicemail is still recording. And I’m dying even more inside.

“Well, what have we here? You’re older than we usually go for, but I bet we could get a good price for you.”

“You’d have to kill me first.”

“Once we’re done with you, you’ll wish you were dead. And you won’t be needing your phone anymore.”

I hear a smashing sound, and then nothing. Whoever took her better hope she kills him first. I will find him if he’s alive, and he’ll be the one wishing he was dead.

I force myself to listen to the next messages, which have timestamps starting on Monday—of the next week.

“Aid, it’s Nate. Where the f*ck are you? And why weren’t you with Ellie? I would’ve gone in your place, you know that. Shit went down man, and it’s bad. Call me.”

“Dammit Aiden, what the f*ck were you thinking? I know you have your vigilante crap, but this was Ellie. She’s destroyed, man. What she went through. Just get your ass back here. Don’t go to the office, though. My wife has threatened to kill you on sight.”

“Aiden, this is Reina. Since you haven’t shown any of us the decency of coming in, I’m going to have to do this over the phone. You are no longer welcome at the Foundation, or as a friend of the Society. Matt will not allow you to be banned from the building, and he refuses to fire you, but I will not have you around anyone who works for me, especially Ellie. While you are not 100% to blame for what happened to her, your continued casual disregard for her is inexcusable. She is being disciplined for not following procedure, but if I see you, well, let’s just say I have a bullet with your name on it. And there are eight other women who feel exactly the same way. This is your only warning.”

“Shit man, I think Reina may have called you already. I tried to talk her down, but it’s not happening. I mean, I get it. Ellie’s pretty much destroyed right now, but you’re still my best friend. Call me if you can. Please.”