Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Fred

Vincenzo and I didn't get to bed until late. We lazily kissed, rubbing our cocks together, coming with strangled breaths. Nothing rough, no orders, just tender climaxes.

My sleep wasn't fitful like I thought it would be, and I was sure that had everything to do with the man I was currently wrapped around.

I had to get up, so I gingerly extracted myself from Vincenzo, careful not to wake him, and made my way to the bathroom for a shower.

I let the water pound my aching muscles, unsure why I wasn't freaking out. Aiden was out there, and I was going to have to kill him. Was I disconnecting?

"You practicing becoming a prune?" Vincenzo questioned as he opened the bathroom door.

"Funny. I'll be out in a second."

I dressed in a suit, not knowing where the day would bring me, and headed down to the dining room. It was weird without Aiden, but as soon as the flicker of missing him entered my mind, I stomped that thought away.

We were halfway through eating when Zion's phone buzzed. He took it at the table, and we all watched as he spoke to whoever was on the other end and then hung up.

"Eden saw Aiden enter the train station. He bought a ticket across the country; it boards in forty minutes."

"Did he think we wouldn't be watching the train stations?" Vincenzo wiped his mouth and stood. "We should get there. We could end this today."

I followed suit, one foot in front of the other. Gun in my holster, open door, get in car, and go.

"Are you okay?" Vincenzo squeezed my hand.

"I'm great. So excited to kill my best friend and cousin, can't wait, gonna be a banner day."

"Shit, is he spiraling?" Zion asked, and I glared at him.

" He is right here, and no he is not."

"What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?" Vincenzo gently tugged my hair, and I swatted him away.

"I have very expensive product in there."

He held up his hands. "Apologies. Now what's going on?"

"I don't want to kill him. It's like if I do, I'm alone." I dismissed him with a wave of my hand just as he was about to speak. "I know, you're here, but this kills my bloodline, Vin. Finn, Rowan, Lorcan all of them, none have the Brennan name. I'm going to be it and it's hard…" I chuckled. "I don't know why I care. A huge part of my life was wishing I wasn't a Brennan."

"I get it. But I think it comes down to something you share with your uncle and cousin, and you think by killing Aiden you're killing their legacy, and that's just not true. The Brennan name might die with you many years from now, but you're bringing respect to it, and for that Sean and Aine's memories will mean everything to those that keep this organization together."

I couldn't hold back my smile. "You're a charmer."

"Yes, but I also speak the truth."

I chuckled again. "Thank you."

He brushed a finger over my cheek, and I wished I could freeze the moment.

"We're here," Thomas announced. "Eden said he's just gone to the bathroom so we can get in position while he's in there."

"I think it's best you stay in the car, Fred."

"What?" With everything Vincenzo had just said, he wanted me to hide.

"For two reasons. The second he sees you, he'll run. Me and my men know stealth."

I clenched my jaw. "The second better be outstanding."

"Let me bring him to you, Fred. When I open this door, let it be your face he sees. He'll realize he has nothing to hide behind, and you'll get your truth and your revenge."

I pursed my lips. "Well, fuck…okay, that was good."

After a quick peck on my lips, he left the vehicle. Thomas was staying with me, so I watched from the window while Vincenzo and the others went into the train station.

"It's going to be fine, sir."

I took a breath and met Thomas's eyes in the mirror. "I'm sure in the end it will all work out."

Once they weren't in sight anymore, I texted Finn and Albert. They'd asked for updates as soon as I had any and while I didn't have much, I let them all know that we had Aiden cornered. It was only a matter of time.

Thomas's phone buzzed, and I watched his reaction through the rearview. He gave nothing away, just said "Yes, sir" and "No, sir." Once he disconnected the call, I didn't have to ask.

"Aiden wasn't in the restroom," he informed me.

"Where was he?"

"Seems to have given them the slip. We have to keep an eye out."

Motherfucking fuckballs of fucking epic proportions. "I guess it was too easy to ask for this to go smoothly."

"Nothing in life ever comes easy," Thomas responded, and I couldn't argue with that.

Thomas watched the front of the car and I watched the rear; he took left and I took right. All I saw were people coming and going—no one I recognized, certainly not Aiden.

"What if he left before we began searching for him out here?" Fuck, he could be long gone.

"How would he do that without anyone seeing?"

"How has he been able to do any of this, Thomas? He's smart."

"Security is coming to the car." Thomas sat up straighter, and I turned to the left and saw a uniformed man approach the vehicle. I couldn't make out his face just from midtorso.

"Why is security approaching a parked car?" Shit . "Thomas, don't open the window."

Thomas didn't argue and when the man tapped on the glass, Thomas refused to slide it down. The man was on to us. He stepped away, pointed his pistol at the window, and shot.

"Bulletproof glass, asshole," I muttered. I texted Vin that he was trying to shoot the car. No response but I knew in my heart he was on the way.

"Fred!" Aiden shouted. There weren't a lot of people in the parking lot, and those that were scattered once gunfire was heard.

He kept shooting the glass. Thomas started the car, ready to hit the gas, just as the window shattered. Thomas reached for his pistol, but there was no question he'd be too slow, and I couldn't sit here and watch another person I cared about die.

"No!" I shouted and opened my door. "Me, you want me. Leave him alone, Aiden." I had my gun clutched in my hand behind the open door.

"Drop your weapon, Fred. I know you're carrying. You have two seconds."

I didn't let him count; I dropped it. "Leave him alone, and I'll go with you."

"I could shoot him and take you anyway."

I looked around quickly and saw the front doors to the train station open and Vin, Zion, and a few others came running out. But they were too far away. They wouldn't make it in time.

I inched toward Aiden. "You've killed enough people. Take me or I run, and you'll have to chase me."

He narrowed his eyes but he jerked his head to the left. "Company's coming. We're out of time." In a swift and strong movement, he slammed the butt of his gun to the side of my head and as I fell to the pavement I heard two shots, and then darkness surrounded me.