Nate growls beside me as if the thought of Cory seeing me again would be the worst thing in the world. Faith gives him a small smile as if she expected his reaction.
“Let me know if he reaches out or if you hear from his parents.” She turns to Kincaid and Emmalyn. “I’m advising against trying to talk sense into them if they show up on the property. I wouldn’t let them in the clubhouse.”
Kincaid nods. “That’ll never happen. I’ll let everyone know all visitors have to wait on the porch from now on.”
“I have to get to work,” Faith says as she gathers her notebook and purse. “We’ll talk soon, April.”
I stand and walk to the window when Kincaid and Emmalyn walk her out. Legend, Nate’s best friend is hovering outside despite the early hour, and his smile widens as he sees the attorney. She doesn’t make eye contact with him, but they disappear around the corner of the clubhouse together on their way to the parking lot.
Emmalyn walks up, asking if I need anything while Kincaid and Nate chat.
“I’m terrified,” I confess.
“We’ll work through it together,” Em says, her warm hand comforting on my back.
I want to believe her. I really do, but I don’t have the best luck when it comes to anything in life. I thought I was lucky to have Nate, but he may just be another thing I end up losing, along with custody of my child.
Chapter 34
Apollo
I didn’t know Kincaid and Emmalyn were planning to have an attorney at their house for our meeting, but when I first saw Faith Robbins, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I’d hoped that having someone there professionally knowledgeable about this sort of thing would bring April a sense of relief.
I can tell that it didn’t help her that Faith didn’t dole out false hope of niceties. She didn’t assure April that everything would be fine, and if I’m being honest with myself, it didn’t leave me with the best taste in my mouth either.
It’s been almost a week since we had that meeting and April just seems to close in on herself more and more. She isn’t pushing me away, and there are times I can get her to forget, but those moments only last as long as I’m inside of her. The shutters come down once the sweat cools from our bodies.
Everyone is back from Mexico, the mission I had to leave early. It’s another win under Cerberus’s belt, but I know we’re going to be heading out again soon. Tons of information was obtained from the last job, and we have to strike when the iron is hot.
“I need you to be okay,” I tell her, angling her face so she looks at me instead of down at her hands.
“Maybe Cory was wrong about his parents. It’s been days since he said the PI was going to give them the information, and we haven’t heard anything.”
“Maybe,” I tell her even though I doubt that’s the case.
I’m not giving her false hope, because deep down I know things are going to work out in our favor, but I want her worry levels to go down since I’m leaving again soon.
“I want you to stay out of your head while I’m gone.”
“I’ll try,” she whispers, her eyes already brimming with tears.
“I want you to respond to my texts and answer when I call.”
She nods her agreement. “I’m sorry for making you worry.”
I pull her to my chest, waiting until I hear a knock on the door, letting me know that the meeting is about to start.
It’s late evening, and I know she’s tired. April moves toward the bed the second I release her.
“I’ll be back, baby. Get some rest.”
The guys are laughing and joking as they file into the conference room, and I wish I could conjure the same level of levity, but I just can’t.
“You going to be okay?” Hound asks before I can enter. “I’m going to need your head fully in the game when we leave.”
“You’ll have it,” I tell him, knowing I’m going to give my best to focus.
I would never intentionally put anyone on my team in danger, and I won’t have a problem speaking up if I’m struggling too much. That’s how people get hurt. I can’t have that on my conscience.
Kincaid stands in the front of the room, watching us enter, his eyes skating over every man and Rivet.
This already feels like it’s going to be a different meeting from our norm, and everyone must sense the same thing because they settle faster than we usually do.
Kincaid begins by telling us about the mission, explaining the fucked-up details of the rash of abductions in and around Mexico City and how that has lead them to Puebla, a city about two-and-a-half hours south of the capital.