“It’s only a few more weeks until Garret graduates,” she said with a bright smile, but it wasn’t the one that lit up my entire world. It didn’t reach her eyes, and I knew she was sad. “Then we’ll be back in New York.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, my jaw clenching at the thought of her brother. “Just a few weeks.”

“Please don’t be mad at him anymore,” she whispered. “He’s sorry, okay?”

I nodded, but I didn’t say anything, not wanting to lie to her or upset her more. I was beyond mad at Garret. I didn’t think there was a word in the English language for the rage I felt toward her brother. He should have been there to protect her, but instead, he’d been off getting high with the rest of the bottom-feeders in this small town. If he thought that he could work for my family and pull the same shit he got away with in Creswell Springs, he was shit out of luck.

He would have to earn his position in our organization, and lying around getting high and being an all-around fuckup was not going to get him anywhere but dead in that world.

If he made it that long.

I still wasn’t sure if I was going to put a bullet in him for not protecting Nova as he should have done.

Felicity placed a bowl of cereal in front of her daughter and then asked if I needed anything else. I gave her a tight smile and shook my head. I’d forced down the eggs and bacon she’d made for me, but if I ate anything else, I wasn’t sure it would stay in my stomach for long.

“We should be getting on the road,” Mom said as she finished her coffee. “We’re scheduled for takeoff in an hour.”

Tears filled Nova’s eyes, but she blinked them back and put on her brightest smile. “O-okay,” she choked out. “I-I need to get to school anyway.”

Even as she said it, her dad walked into the kitchen through the back door. “You ready, princess?”

She stood, her blond ponytail swishing as she nodded. “Be right there.”

Jet’s green gaze, so like his daughter’s, met mine. “Don’t worry, son. We’ve got this. She’s going to be safe. Trust me.”

I stood and shook his hand. “I know you do. It’s the only reason I’m able to leave her here.”

He pulled me in close, slapping me on the back. “Take care of yourself, Ryan. We’ll see you soon.”

“Yes, sir.” When he pulled back, he shook Mom’s hand and then motioned for Nova to hurry up.

She pulled her backpack over one of her shoulders, but instead of following him out the back door, she turned to face me. Her eyes were glazed with unshed tears, and she stared up at me like she was trying to memorize my face. “Call me when you get home.”

Reaching out, I playfully tugged on her ponytail. “Stay out of trouble. Call me when you get home. Or before then if you need me. One word and I’ll turn the jet around and be back here within a few hours.”