“I’m proud of you, brother,” he finally says.

“Thanks, Maddox. I owe it to you, you know. I’m not sure anyone could have knocked some sense into me quite like you did. You made me see the hell I was letting myself become consumed with.” I look away, getting ahold of my emotions. “I wouldn’t have any of this if you hadn’t reminded me that there were still things worth living for. I wouldn’t have one hell of a woman who is about to become my wife. A son on the way. And most importantly—with this shit we just finished up here this week—I wouldn’t have peace with Coop’s death.”

“I didn’t do anything but remind you what’s important. Far as I can see, you did all the hard work. Just remember, there are going to be days when that darkness starts creeping up on you. You can feel it starting to whisper against your skin, see it out of the corner of your eyes, and sometimes it’s right on your heels. It’s not easy, Ash. Sometimes it’s a daily war against no one but yourself. If you need me, I’m here.”

I clear my throat and nod. He’s so spot-on with how it feels when I have a bad day. When the grief and sadness of missing my brother become too much to bear.

“Congratulations, by the way. I noticed that rock on her hand the other day. You deserve this, Asher, and she’s one hell of a warrior to have in your corner.”

“That she is,” I reply with pride dripping from my words.

I wait a few moments and study Maddox. He looks exhausted. I can tell that the last few months have been hard for him. I know enough that he’s been fighting Emmy to come home, but as far as details—he’s been dead silent on those.

“How are things with Emmy?” I hedge.

His eyes flash, pain and exasperation in the forefront. “She’s back, so there’s something.”

He doesn’t say anything else, and judging by his tone, if I pressed it, he wouldn’t take that well. Whatever the hell is going on between them seems to just be getting worse.

“You were there when I needed you, Mad. Don’t go at this like you’re alone, okay?”

“It’s sometimes for the best that way. I’m happy for you and Chelcie—really, I am—but Emmy deserves better than anything I could ever give her.”

I open my mouth to lay into him like he did to just months before but stop and hold up my hand for him to wait when my cell starts ringing.

“Hey, Sunshine?”

The grin I’m sporting has Maddox pushing himself up to stand. I notice distractedly that he seems to be moving slower than normal today.

“Chelcie? Are you there?”

I wait, wondering why the hell she’s calling me if all I’m going to hear are some weird scuffling noises. It sounds like she dialed me from her purse or something.

“Chelcie?” I try one more time.

Maddox turns from where he’s about to walk out of the room. His eyes are narrowed in a way that has every hair on my body tingling with dread.

“Chelcie, please,” I mutter. “Please, Sunshine.”

My stomach feels like it’s full of lead. I don’t move the phone from my ear as I start moving papers from my desk, looking for my keys.

I look up when Maddox lets out a quick whistle. He holds his own keys up and nods his head towards the door. He doesn’t have to fucking tell me twice. With the phone to my ear, I make my way behind Maddox.

I’m praying over and over that my gut is wrong and that she just accidently forgot to lock her phone, but I stop dead just steps away from the front door to Corps Security. When I hear her ear-piercing scream break through the static in the line, my blood runs cold and I sprint into action.

I reach Maddox’s Charger ahead of him, waiting impatiently as he hurries to the driver’s seat. He doesn’t ask questions—he just throws the car in gear and speeds out of the parking lot. I keep the phone pressed tight to my ear, praying to hear something else that will give me a clue as to what we’re about to walk into.

Fuck me. An image of Dominic Murphy flashes through my mind and a sob bubbles out when I think that, by not killing that bastard when I could have, I could lose everything.

We’ve only been on the road for a minute at the most when I hear another voice, this one making a cold sweat break out across my skin. I can’t make out her words, but I would know that fucking nasally whine anywhere.

Sarah. Fucking. Jane.

Chapter 32 – Sarah Jane

It’s just a matter of time now. Only time. Time is all I have, and I don’t mind waiting just a little longer. I’ve let him have his fun.