While the kids are occupied by the nanny and Brooklyn works toward the cure, I take the time to fire up the grill. This will be the last family dinner we have before all this really starts. Matthew should be on his way home soon, and he, the kids, and the nanny will be leaving first thing in the morning. I also need to figure out a backup plan in case Matthew’s recommendation doesn’t go through to land me the job. The weight of the unknown is heavy, and the fact that my brother’s life is on the line is only putting me on edge.

But for now, I refuse to acknowledge it. I have one last night with my family, and I’m going to enjoy it. I have to force myself, knowing that Jake is out there somewhere.

I dice and season the steak before pouring it over the potatoes inside the foil pouch. I pour on some seasoned garlic butter and seal the packs. While the grill heats up, I move on to making a salad.

Internally, I laugh at myself. Here I am, tossing a fucking salad with the plans of breaking someone out of prison. I really wish I could go back in time and kick my own ass for ever getting into this shit. But then it hits me—I wouldn’t have Brook or my kids without living the life I had. Even if this shit does get me killed, they’re all worth it, and I’d live out my whole life in captivity to keep them safe.

As I’m walking the food out to the grill, I run into Brook on her way to the house.

“Are you cooking dinner?” she asks, pausing next to me.

I nod. “Yeah. I figured this could be our last family dinner for a while. I wanted it to be special.”

Her head cocks to the side, and a look of sadness washes over her before she reaches for me. Her hands tangle into my shirt, and I allow her to pull me closer. Her blue eyes meet mine. “I don’t want to hear you talk this way. Everything will be fine. We’ve been through this before.”

I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

Her brows pull together. “Why are you laughing?”

I shake my head. “Shouldn’t I be the one reassuring you?” I place my hand on the side of her face, cupping her cheek as I look longingly into her eyes. “You’re so strong and fearless. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She smiles before placing her hand on mine. “Good thing you won’t ever have to.” She presses her lips against mine quickly. “Now, get my dinner done so I can get back to work.” She pulls away with a giggle, and I swat her on the ass for her smart-ass remark.

I toss everything on the grill and go inside to set the table. Normally, our dinner isn’t anything big. Half the time, I eat standing up while pouring milk and picking up forks that have been dropped, but tonight I set the big table in the dining room. I use the best plates, glasses, and silverware. I even light a few candles to place in the center.

In the corner of the room is a drink cart, and I make sure everything we will need to drink is there so that nobody has to leave the room. I want at least an hour of uninterrupted time with my family.

Even though Matthew is no longer in the presidency, Brooklyn works undercover, and I am no longer on the call to place your hit list, we’re usually still pretty busy. All of our phones are always ringing, and it’s something that Brooklyn hates. I take out a basket that’s used every Thanksgiving and Christmas to place your phone into before entering the dining room and set it down on the table outside the dining room door. Anytime this basket is setting outside this door, everyone knows what to do, and they don’t even bother arguing it anymore. They know Brooklyn won’t serve anyone anything until all the phones are accounted for.

Matthew walks in the front door, dropping his bags on the floor. “Where are my grandkids?” he asks when they don’t come barreling toward him.

I look up from the wine I’m pouring. “They are with the nanny, but they should be coming in at any minute. Are you excited about your Disneyland trip?”

He lets out a jolly laugh. “You know I am. I’ve been trying to talk Brooklyn into letting me take them for months now.”

“Want a glass of wine before dinner?”

One of his brows raises as he looks me over. “Let’s save the wine for dinner. What do you say to taking me into the office and pouring me a stiff drink? It’s going to be a long flight.”

I look at the time on my watch, checking to make sure I have a few minutes until I need to take the food off the grill. “All right and then you can brief me on my new job.”

“I didn’t say you had the job. I’m good, but not that good. I got you an interview. It’s up to you to get the job.”

I lead him into the office and walk over to the drink cart in the corner, pouring us both a glass of bourbon.

“They haven’t called yet,” I say, handing over his glass and taking a seat behind my desk with my own. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get the job. I mean, would you want to break into a prison, find one person in a sea of hundreds, then break back out? I don’t want to be the first dumbass to go to prison for breaking into a prison.”

He laughs as he takes a sip. “I don’t blame you there. I’m sure it will all work out, John. I know how stressed you can get about things like this, but you need to believe in yourself.”

I’m so tired of hearing everyone say this. “I was a hitman. I wasn’t some expert at breaking and entering. Give me a gun, I can hit the target every time, but break into a highly guarded prison that’s covered in security cameras, guards, and a twelve-foot electric fence?”

“What’s your plan if you get the job? How do you plan on getting him out of there? Never mind, don’t tell me. I don’t need to be involved in the plotting of a crime.”

I chuckle. “Well, that’s good because I have no fucking clue. This is fucking useless. Maybe I should be focusing on trying to find whoever took Jake and working on getting him back instead of feeding into this web of bullshit.”

“There is something. I mean, I’m sure I can get a detailed list of Knox’s visitors. Maybe even security footage of his visitors and lawyer meetings. It would be something we could do while we wait to see about the job at the prison.”

I nod. “Okay. It’s worth a shot anyway,” I reply.

“I’ll make some calls.” He places his empty glass on the edge of the desk before standing and walking out of the room.

I lean back in my chair, thinking everything over. Breaking Knox out of prison won’t just be a problem. It will be a lifetime of running and hoping the authorities don’t track me down. And Matthew can’t bail me out this time. If I get caught, I’m done for. I’ll be spending the rest of my life in prison. All I can do is pray that we can get around Knox and find my brother. Then Brooklyn wouldn’t be under any pressure to find this cure. I also need to gather evidence that Knox is attempting to break out, putting him back in max and limiting his contact so he can’t put a hit out on us. I refuse to wreck my family’s lives by packing them up and keeping them in hiding from the rest of the world. If these kids deserve anything, it’s a shot at a normal life.

I’m pulling the food off the grill when I hear the kids’ feet stomping their way through the house. They run out the back door. Jack automatically goes straight to the swing set, but L.J. runs up to me. “We had so much fun today! We went to the park and then had ice cream. Then we went to Splash World!”

I laugh at his excitement. “That’s awesome, buddy! I think Mommy has some more fun things planned for you. Why don’t you go get her out of her office so we can eat dinner.”

“Okay!” he yells before running off.

I turn off the grill and grab the tray. “Come on, Jack. Let’s get cleaned up for dinner.”

She jumps off her swing, being the little daredevil she is, and runs up to my side.

“Will you open the door for me, princess?”

“Sure, Daddy.” The sweetness of her voice could stop my heart.

Everyone comes in, and the kids get washed up. We all drop our phones in the basket as we head into the dining room.

“This is so nice of you, John,” Zoe says, taking her seat at the table.

“You did a beautiful job at setting the table, babe.” Brooklyn presses a kiss to my cheek. “Now that I know what you’re capable of, you can do this every Thanksgiving and Christmas.” She laughs as she helps Jack up into the chair.

I mock a laugh back at her as I place the food on the table. I feel guilty knowing Jake is not here.

Brooklyn and I help the kids make their plates then we pass around the dinner rolls and salad.

“I should have everything we need after dinner, John,” Matthew says as he takes the bowl of salad Brooklyn is passing him.

“What do you need?” she asks, looking at me.

“Your dad suggested while we wait to hear back from the prison that we look into Knox’s visitors and phone calls. Maybe try to figure out who took Jake.”

“That’s a good idea, Dad. If we can get to Jake without having to deal with Knox, there wouldn’t be any real pressure to get this cure done right away. I mean, I think we’re close, but it’s going to need proper testing and years of study to make sure the disease doesn’t come back.”

I place my hand over hers that’s setting on top of the table. “It could mean a lot of things. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed. But in the meantime, do you want to tell the kids where they’re going tomorrow?”

Brook smiles as she looks over at the kids who are picking at their salad. “You guys are going to go with Grandpa and Grace to Disneyland!”

They scream and clap their hands and bounce up and down in their seats, showing their excitement.

I look at their smiling faces, and my heart swells with love for these two kids. They are perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for a better life. I’ve gotten so much more than I deserved when it comes to my family. I never thought I’d be this lucky. I only pray that Jake can hold on a little bit longer. I want him to have this feeling about his family. I want him to know the power of love when it comes to your child. I know he loves L.J. and Jack as his own, but nothing beats the feeling of holding that little baby in your arms for the first time. I won’t allow him to miss out on that.