Page 181 of Zach
“She’s right,” Bree says. “I’ve been doing a little research on life after prison—.“
Cara snorts. “You watchedShawshank.”
Bree gives her the finger. “And I read some books, asshole. I can read. Anyway, he’s living in an
environment where he has to watch his back twenty-four-seven. It’s the heightened awareness that’s…
exhausting.”
“Why do you sound like you’re speaking from experience, Bree?” Nick asks, frowning. We all sit,
eyeballing Bree. You can bet we’ll be checking up on Bree a little more. She’s not ok, and that can’t
stand.
She lifts her feet up and wraps her arms around her knees. “Because I’ve been living like that for
a long time. If I don’t expect it, every noise, every touch, is a potential threat. My nervous system goes
haywire. I’m ok because I’m in an environment that I’m familiar with, at the same job I’ve had for
years. But for your brother, everything is new. You’re the only connection to the world he has right
now. Unless there are other people from his past he can reach out to?”
“Shit,” Maverick says, eyeing Colton. “No fucking way do we want him anywhere near other
people from his past. Going back to gang life is not an option.”
“I already handled it,” Colton says, dropping to his back on the floor. “I bought him out.”
“Is it final?” Ransom asks, trading a look with Maverick I can’t read.”
“I hope so,” he says with a groan. “I made it clear I’m not a well they can tap again. But I doubt
that’s going to stop them from trying.”
“Keep a close eye on it,” Ransom says quietly, a thread of steel in his voice.
Colton gives him a thumbs up. “Bugged their headquarters, and I have trackers on all their cars.
Declan’s working on getting me into their financials. I’ll be so far up their ass, I can tear it apart if I
need to.”
“Ew,” Cara says, scrunching up her nose. “That imagery is gross and really doesn’t have the
impact you’re looking for.”
She shudders and heads for the door. “You guys will make the right decision. You love him, you
want what’s best for him. And personally, I think Maya knows what the fuck she’s talking about. Get
him out, get him working so he can find his footing, then figure out the next steps. One day at a time,
people, one day at a time. I’m taking a bath, see ya.” The word bath sends a bolt of electricity through
Declan, who rolls off the arm of the couch and runs after her, only wiping out once on the polished
