Page 131 of Maximus

“I love you.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“Tell your brother I love him, too, and I’ll be home as soon as I can get there.”

“Okay.”

There was some more static then Max came back.

“You still there?”

“Yeah.”

“Good God, it’s so good to hear your voice. I think I lost twenty years off my life when you didn’t come home.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Please stop saying that, honey.”

“But—”

“You coming home is all that matters.”

“Okay. See you in a few hours?”

“The boys and I will be at the airport waiting for you.”

“I love you.”

“Love you, Eva.”

I hurried and disconnected the call and tapped Gabe’s shoulder. He turned and took his phone, but before he righted himself in his seat, he smiled huge.

“Everything good?”

“Everything is perfect. Thank you for finding me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

* * *

We were on the private plane Zane Lewis had arranged before I was formally introduced to the rest of the guys. And much like Max’s team, these men were all tall, muscular, and menacing. But they all looked a little older than Brooks, Thad, Kyle, Declan, and Max. They looked a little rougher, too.

After takeoff, Owen, the man who’d carried Natasha to the SUV, made his way to where she and I were sitting, knelt in front of her, and tenderly tended to her wounds while she gripped my hand to the point of pain. The poor woman was scared out of her mind.

“Natasha?” I called once Owen was finished and was picking up the medical supplies he’d used to clean her forehead and butterfly her gash closed.

“Yeah?”

“You’re safe with these men,” I told her. “They’ll help you get home.”

“I don’t have a home,” she whispered, and Owen’s intense gaze snapped back to Natasha.

“What do you mean you don’t have a home?”

“Novak bought me.”

A deep rumble emanated from Owen and Natasha jolted and squeezed my hand harder.