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I sighed as I explored her stomach with my hand. “You can be selfish, Button. All you have to do is ask me to stay, and I will. Any other woman would want her husband to stay by her side and protect her.”
“I know how much your brother means to you, Crow. You have a bond just as powerful as ours. I know you’ll do everything you possibly can to come back to us. I know you won’t hesitate to slaughter everyone in there to make it back to me. We’ll just have to take the chance…and hope for the best.”
“You’re sure, Button?” I whispered. “Because we don’t have much time for you to change your mind.”
She cupped my face and kissed me. “Yes…I’m sure.”
14
Cane
“Are you sure you about this?” The cars were lining the driveway as the men prepared to take Pearl and Lars away. They were leaving the estate and retreating to Greece, to a small island where people wouldn’t look twice to find her.
“Yes.” Crow’s expression didn’t change as he held my gaze.
“Because you don’t have to do this. I understand, Crow.”
“I know you would be there for me if this were reversed.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re obligated to do this.” Whether I would do it for him was irrelevant.
“I’m in, Cane. Pearl is too.”
“You’re certain she’s okay with this?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
I knew Crow wouldn’t change his mind. “Alright. Thank you…”
Crow nodded before he stepped aside.
Pearl walked up to me, looking exactly the same even though everything was different. “Please get her out of there.”
“I will.”
“And please…bring Crow back to me.”
“I’ll make sure that happens,” I whispered. “I’d rather die than keep that from happening.”
She nodded slightly, tears in her eyes.
“Congratulations on the baby.”
“Thank you.” Her hand immediately went to her stomach. “We weren’t expecting it…but now it feels right, like it was meant to happen.”
“I’m excited to be an uncle. I told Crow I would feed them lots of candy and get them into all sorts of trouble.”
I got her to laugh, but it was weak. “I’m sure you will.”
“And you’re gonna be a great mother, Pearl. If you have a daughter, she’ll be strong. If you have a boy, he’ll grow up to a man.”
“Thank you, Cane.”
I brought her into my chest and hugged her, holding her like a sister.
She rested her face against my chest and breathed hard. “I love you, brother…”
“I love you too, sis.”
She pulled away from me and walked to the car. The drivers were ready to take her away along with Lars. She would have all the protection she needed as well as most of Crow’s money. If we both died, she would be okay.
“We’ll leave after I say goodbye to her.” Crow walked toward her in the entryway. The rest of the men and Lars stepped away to give them privacy. The engines were running, and the house was dark since all the curtains were drawn.
Crow rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
She did the same, but the tears started to fall.
Neither one of them said anything.
They just stood there.
After a moment, Crow tilted his head back and looked at her. “I love you, Button.”
Tears streamed down her face, and she started to sob. “I love you too…”
He cupped her cheeks then kissed all of her tears away, treasuring her with his love. He rubbed his nose against hers before he pulled his hand away and abruptly walked away, turning his back on her so he wouldn’t have to watch her get into the car.
But I knew the real reason he turned around.
He walked toward me, his eyes visibly red and wet. He walked past me and stepped underneath the olive tree. His hands were in his pockets, and he stood absolutely still, listening to the car doors shut as they prepared to leave. Soon, the tires rolled as they pulled out of the roundabout and left the property.
Crow didn’t watch them drive away.
When they were gone and out of sight, he finally turned back toward me.
With tears running down his face.
* * *
Bran grabbed my wrist then pointed the gun at the underside of my forearm. He hit the trigger, and the tracker went inside.
Crow hadn’t said anything since Pearl left. He was dead silent. He quickly wiped away his tears and returned to the stoic man I’d always known. It was like nothing had happened at all. When our parents died, he didn’t shed a single tear. When Vanessa was shot in front of him, he didn’t express a single emotion.
But watching his pregnant wife drive away broke his heart.
Bran turned to Crow. “You’re next.”
Crow extended his arm without looking at him.
Bran inserted the chip, and Crow didn’t flinch.
“That way we’ll be able to locate each other if we ever lose track of one another. They shouldn’t be detected if we’re captured.”
