Page 56 of Tracking Hearts

As the call ended, Freddy leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling. A mix of excitement and apprehension swirled within him. The thought of having his brother back home stirred up warm memories of their childhood, but he couldn’t shake the nagging worry about how their father and Patrick would react to this sudden decision.

He ran a hand through his shaggy hair, sighing heavily. Nathan had always been protective of the company’s operations, and Patrick took his role as CEO seriously. Would they see the urgency behind Gabe’s choice? Or would they view it as an unnecessary overreaction?

The soft click of the door opening pulled Freddy from his thoughts. Sabrina entered, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Everything okay?” she asked, moving to stand beside him.

Freddy nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, just got off the phone with Gabe. He’s coming home.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened, a flicker of relief passing across her face. “Really? That’s great news!”

Her reaction eased some of Freddy’s tension. Seeing the hope in Sabrina’s eyes reassured him that they would face whatever came next together. Still, a shadow of doubt lingered as he contemplated the potential clash of wills when all the brothers were back on the same mountain.

“I just hope it brings us closer together,” Freddy murmured, more to himself than to Sabrina.

She squeezed his shoulder gently. “It will. Your family is stronger than you think.”

Freddy nodded, turning back to the screens before him. Change was on the horizon, and with Gabe’s support, he felt ready for the challenges it might bring.

Epilogue

Ipace through the tiny house I hate in the stupid town I despise and wonder if it’s time. I haven’t met my goal yet, but I’m close. Still, close isn’t good enough. Especially now that I have the worst of fucking China coming after me.

That stupid, fucking bitch completely screwed me over.

She said she could get the code. She swore it wouldn’t be an issue, but she fucked up. Based on her word, I promised Law Qiang I’d give him the code. His money, well his government’s money, is already sitting in my account. If he calls his daughter, Holly will tell him everything that’s happened, and I’m fucked.

He might have a hitter coming after me now, for all I know. I pause my steps. Scrunching my face and yanking on my hair, I force my panic back from the surface. I can still salvage this. I have to. I’m not one to disappear and live off the grid. I want the power and control my wealth deserves, and that means living free.

My feet resume their steady thumps back and forth across the room as I think. There are other ways to get the code I need. I just need time.

Picking up my burner phone, I hit send to connect a call with the only number in the contact list.

“Do you have my purchase?” the man answers in heavily accented English.

“Not yet, but I will. I was just calling to assure you that things are in motion.”

“Hmm. I’ll accept that for now but not for long. If I don’t soon receive that for which I have already paid, I will be severely displeased. Though, I am not your biggest concern. If you fail to meet our expectations, my associates will send highly-skilled individuals to increase your incentive to deliver as promised.”

“I understand. You have no cause for concern.” The call disconnects before I can say anything else.