Seth (Damage Control 3)

“She’s fine.” She nods at Shane who’s broken away from the circle and comes to perch on the armrest of the couch. “Any news?”

“It seems she…” He shakes his head, pulls his long hair out of his face. He looks shaken. “Your mom. She confessed.”

I stare at him. Stare at his wide eyes, his arched brows, the shock written on every line of his face. “She what?”

“She said you talked to her, told her things… made her realize what she’s done. Made her regret.” Shane’s eyes meet mine. “She confessed she set us up three years ago. Claims she was duped by her husband, assured we’d get off light.”

“The hell she did.”

“I know. But the thing is, man… she confessed. Officially and everything. Our case will be reopened.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.” He just sits there, slumped over. “Yeah.”

We stare at each other. Shouldn’t we be jumping around in joy, chest-bumping, back-thumping? Singing, or yelling or something?

I can’t believe this is real. From Shane’s face, I bet he doesn’t either. When life has fucked you over as many times as it did us, then you’re always suspicious of the good news.

The others don’t seem to have any trouble believing it, though. Rafe finally lowers the damn phone, and they all start yelling and punching the air. Zane grabs Dakota round the waist and swings her around, making her squeal. Micah and Ev hug each

other, laughing. Tyler and Asher bump fists.

This is really happening. Too much to take in. Especially when Zane and Asher turn toward me and come to stand over me.

“I have a damn good feeling about this,” Zane says, grinning like the mad joker. “We’ll clear your name, guys. Just wait and see. The Brotherhood doesn’t easily give up. Not on their own.”

Their own. It’s slowly sinking in, in fits and starts, in rippling circles. I’m part of this brotherhood, this family. They never were about to kick me out. All this time, they’ve been trying to help. They had my back and now they’re celebrating because they might have found a way to save me. Clear my name. Give me back my life.

Manon’s arm slips around me, and I breathe out, struggling to focus. But I can’t. My eyes have gone blurry, and I can’t breathe. I can’t. Gasping, gritting my teeth, I bend over. There’s a stone lodged under my ribs, a lump in my throat. It won’t go away.

“Seth.” Manon twists, puts both arms around me. “Hey…”

My chest contracts, my lungs finally allow in air, and I gasp again, dimly aware my cheeks feel cool. Wet. The pressure in my chest finally gives, and the pain starts to fade.

More arms go around me, patting my good arm, my back, holding me. Anchoring me. Shane, Asher, Jesse.

Fuck. I’m crying on Manon’s shoulder. What the fuck’s wrong with me? I’ve made it through the worst without shedding a damn tear, and now I can’t seem to stop.

“I love you,” she whispers in my ear. “I love you, Seth.”

I hang on to her voice, to her words, struggling through this, and think, well, if she still does, even after seeing me sob like a baby, then fuck it. Seriously, when all’s said and done? I’m the luckiest man in the whole damn world.

Thank you, fate. I owe you.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Manon

A month later

I wake up to find Seth sitting up in bed, clutching his injured arm to his stomach. He’s graduated from a full shoulder immobilizer to a smaller sling, since that awful day when we found him in that back alley, and the doctors are happy with his progress. Still, on some days he’s in pain.

“Hey.” I sit up, rubbing my eyes. The sky outside is lightening. “Can I get you a painkiller?”

“I’m fine.”

I know he has nightmares. Mostly from his time in prison. He told me about them, told me a few things about what happened there. Makes me want to hug him all the time, remind him those days are over.