Page 171 of Peaks and Promises

The color drained from Nate’s face. Hammer didn’t resist as I pulled my arm out of his grip and crossed the distance to my son. Throwing myself at him, I hauled him to the ground and covered him with my body in case Mayhem decided to start shooting.

Feet shuffled as the club members looked around. Who had shot Axel? Was it one of them?

Something hit the ground with a thud. Still keeping Nate covered, I looked back. Someone had tossed a gun from behind a tree.

Reese stepped out with his hands raised.

I held my breath. Every Mayhem gun was pointed at him.

“I just want my family,” Reese said, his voice clear and steady.

I looked at Hammer. Pleading with him wouldn’t help. He didn’t care about me or Nate. Or Reese, for that matter.

He lowered his gun and tucked it into his waistband. “We’re done here.”

One by one, the other club members put away their weapons. They glanced at me and Nate with disinterest, and one shrugged, as if we were the least important thing in the world.

I got up and helped Nate to his feet. Before I could ask if he was all right, thick arms surrounded both of us, crushing us against a broad chest.

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Not yet. I had a big ugly cry coming later, but in that moment, I just breathed while Reese held me. Held us.

It was over.

Things happened around us. They dragged Axel’s body through the grass. Talked about what to do with it. They didn’t seem to care that Reese had killed him. One even chuckled about it, joking that they should thank him. Saved them the trouble of doing it themselves.

Finally, Reese let go, and his eyes moved between me and Nate. “Are you okay?”

I nodded.

Nate gazed at him in awe. “I knew you were coming.”

“Of course we were, chief. Sorry it took so long.”

“Did you find my Lego?”

Reese smiled and pulled it out of his pocket. “Sure did. Found it in the house.”

“I left it so you’d know I was here. I dropped one in the barn, too.”

“That was very brave.” Reese put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

The smile that lit up Nate’s face almost made me burst into tears.

“Nate…” Reese hesitated, and his brow creased with worry. “I’m sorry that I… I had to.”

“He was going to kill me,” Nate said, his tone soft. Despite his height—had he grown overnight?—he suddenly looked every bit the ten-year-old boy he was.

“Yeah, he was,” Reese said. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

With a nod, Nate stepped close and wrapped his arms around Reese. The tears I kept trying to hold back trailed down my cheeks as Reese hugged him back.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.” Nate glanced down. “My feet hurt, though. He made me wear his shoes and they’re too small.”

“You can take them off as soon as we get to the car.”

“Nice family reunion,” Hammer said. I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not.