Page 92 of Redemption

“We knew he was going to try to escape,” Alaric says. He doesn’t sound surprised at all. “Everyone spread out and try to locate him. He can’t have gotten far.”

“On it,” Trick replies and walks over to me. “Everyone pair up.”

“Yes, boss,” everyone replies.

“Are you okay?” Trick says to me as he runs a critical eye over me to make sure that I’m okay, and I do the same to him.

I nod, “Yeah, I’ll have a few bruises but nothing serious. Are you okay?”

“I’m good,” he replies. “Come on, let's find Liam.”

We search, somewhat halfheartedly on my behalf, considering he just saved my life, and he’s the reason why we were able to take down Hunt in the first place.

After only thirty minutes or so, Mr. R says. “I’m calling it. He’s gone. He’ll show back up at some point, and for once he is the least of our worries. We need to finish up here and get you guys home, the wedding is in a couple of days.”

“It is,” Pete replies, and I can hear the excitement in his voice. “I can’t wait.”

“Go home, we’ve got it from here,” Alaric replies.

“Go and celebrate. We’ve finally taken down Hunt,” Mr. R adds. “Atlas, that was an incredible shot.”

“Thank you,” Atlas replies.

“Right, we’ll see you for the wedding in a couple of days,” Mr. R says.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Alaric adds. He’s coming up for the ‘night before’ party at our place with D and Ryan too. Mr. R was invited, but he couldn’t make it. Alaric adds, “I’m going to ring Liam and see if he will answer. It won’t bring him back, but at least we might know if he’s got some sort of plan.”

“We’ll stay and help get everything sorted,” Raid adds. “We don’t need to be at Pete and Elijah’s party until tomorrow evening.”

“Alright,” Trick replies. “Thank you. Keep us updated.”

“Will do,” Mr. R replies with a smile.

We find the other guys quickly, and Luc makes sure that none of us are badly injured, just battered and bruised. Once he has reassured himself and, consequently, each other, we head back to the cars.

“We didn’t really think this through for the wedding photos,” Pete says with a smile. “Most of us are going to be sporting bruises.”

“Isn't there makeup that can help cover it?” Jensen asks with a slight frown.

“There is, but I actually think I like it more, this is us, who we are,” Pete replies.

“Let’s get home,” Atlas says, smiling.

Liam

I have never questioned their abilities.

They are and always have been extremely skilled, but watching the way that they handled themselves today, being involved enough that I could see it firsthand and not just hear about it, proved it even more.

I am incredibly proud of them, all of them. Although I know I don’t have the right to feel proud of them.

I’ve watched them grow up, as soon as Atlas met Trick and the others in Serendipity, I knew that they were going to be friends for life. I was aware of what Trick and the others were up to, the way that they ran things, and the amount of respect that they had earned despite their ages.

Alaric was aware too, and we were both extremely impressed, although at the time Alaric wasn’t aware that I was aware.

Alaric had no intention of moving Atlas again, not when it was obvious that he was so happy in Serendipity, and then that fucking moron Blake caught wind of where they were, and that was that.

I failed Atlas. Over and over again, I know that. Even in the way that I tried to protect him, I still failed him.