Page 20 of Finn's Future

“I know.”

Riot pushed off the wall and moved outside, pressing at his phone as he went.

They didn’t stay long; Reaper took the letter with him.

Lucy lingered. She stepped closer, looking down at Noah like she couldn’t get enough of him.

“Can I take him for a bit?” she asked gently.

My arms tightened. The answer came to mind.

No.

But she saw it.

“I’ll stay in my room at the clubhouse,” she added quickly. “I’ll have my phone on me the whole time. You can call whenever you want, I swear.”

I hesitated. Every instinct in me screamed not to let him go, but I was also so tired.

Not just tired, but empty. Drained from the fear, the running, the waiting and the constant looking over my shoulder wherever I went.

“Kate,” Lucy said, “you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“I haven’t,” I answered honestly. “It’s more like months.”

Her expression softened. “Let me help. Just for a few hours.”

I looked down at Noah. At his tiny face. His perfect little mouth. The way his fingers curled into my shirt.

“Okay.”

Lucy’s face lit up. “I’ll bring him back to Finn’s place before you even start to worry,” she promised.

I passed him over carefully, my chest tightening the second he left my arms.

“Call me,” I said.

“I will.”

Then she was gone and the room felt too quiet.

I stood there, staring at the space where he’d been, my arms feeling wrong without him.

“Let me take you over to my place,” Finn said.

He moved to the bits Maria had sent over and began placing them back into the bags she’d brought them in. I followed his lead and shoved the clothing Lucy had brought for me back into the backpack.

“Thank you for this,” I told him as we left the room.

“Don’t thank me. Noah is one of ours. Family. I’d do everything I can for family.”

I watched as he walked away, back to reception to hand in the key. Noah is family, not me, only Noah. Something panged in my chest at the thought of still having nobody, but I also felt relief that my son, at least, would be safe.

Chapter 10

Kate

The ride back to Finn’s house was interesting.