Filthy Crown by Eleanor Aldrick
Two damn weeks and not a single lead. I’m pacing back and forth in my study, waiting. I’m always fucking waiting, coming out of my skin, begging God for just a glimmer of hope.
There’s a knock on my door, pulling me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I growl.
“The kids asleep?” Matt steps in, followed by Hunter and Jayce.
“Yes, Anaya got them down about thirty minutes ago.” Truth be told, Mary’s granddaughter has been a blessing to us. Without her, I wouldn’t be able to focus so much time on searching for Pen.
“That girl has taken to her role as nanny like a fish to water,” Jayce adds while pouring himself a drink.
“Yeah, but we might have to send her away despite that.” Matt raises a brow, his gaze landing on me. “Y’all know how Jack has a taste for the younger ones. Hate to see that innocent girl get trapped in his web.”
I’m about to lunge at Matt for the horribly inappropriate comment when Hunter steps in, holding me back. “Fucking asshole. I love Pen, and you damn well know it.”
Hunter, refusing to let me go, speaks up behind me, “That was a cheap shot, Matt. Especially since Pen made her position clear on the situation.”
Matt’s about to speak up when there’s a knock on the door.
“Come in,” we all say in unison.
Titus and Hudson step in, a guarded expression on their face.
Letting out a shaky breath, I steel myself for the worst. “Out with it. What info do you have?”
“We’re going to need y’all to come with us.” Titus is serious, not an ounce of emotion betraying whatever he’s hiding.
My eyes narrow, not wanting to play any games. “Just spit it out. Where are we going? Did you find Pen?”
Hudson speaks, “It’s not about Pen, though we have a lead on her whereabouts. This is about Austin.”
My head cocks back, but it’s Jayce who speaks up. “Austin?”
Titus claps down a hand on his shoulder. “Yes. He’s alive.”
Murmurs, gasps and a set of curse words are heard around the room as my legs threaten to give out. “Holymotherfuckingshit. Where is he? Take us to him. Now!”
Titus raises a brow at my demand, the rest of his face still stoic as ever. “That’s what we were doing until you started asking all these questions.”
“Oh, I still have plenty of questions. But we can ask them on the way.” I move toward the door, all Crown brothers following suit. “I’ll just let Anaya know we’re leaving. Meet everyone outside in five.”
My leg bounces impatiently, willing this SUV to go faster. “So, you just found him wandering in the Mexican desert?”
Titus is driving, his eyes focused on the road. “Yes. Our men were doing recon on the Las Cruces cartel when they stumbled upon him.”
Hudson turns from the front passenger seat, his face apologetic. “He’s in rough shape. Extremely emaciated, and frankly, it’s a damn miracle he’s still alive.”
“I bet it was sheer will to see his babies once more that kept him going,” I mumble under my breath, knowing that Pen is the only driving force behind every breath I take now. Without her, I have nothing.
As if reading my mind, Hunter places a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
“Thank you, brother.” I feel like a dick, not being able to fully appreciate Austin being found, but Pen is my world and my soul will never be complete without her.
“The report you gave us said his body was found during your rescue mission. How could that be if he’s now here in Texas?” Matt asks from behind us.
“Austin had beat up one of the guards, divested him of his clothes and switched places, but not before removing the man’s head.” Hudson’s jaw clenches as he stares Matt down.
“Jesus Christ,” Jayce mutters under his breath. “Who knew Austin had that in him?”
“From what we’ve gathered, that’s how he escaped. His plan was to get out and get help.” Matt turns, facing out the window once more. “Too bad for him, the Villa was surrounded by nothing but deserted land. The cartel wasn’t exactly keen on neighbors. Not with all the shit they were doing on that compound.”
The SUV comes to a stop in front of a nondescript building. Apparently, this is an outpatient facility where the men of WRATH bring their clients in order to avoid media scrutiny. It’s brilliant, making me realize once more that these guys are worth every damn penny.
After passing a ton of security checkpoints, we’re finally outside of Austin’s room. Hudson’s hand falls to the doorknob, his eyes floating over all four Crown brothers before opening it and beckoning us inside.
My eyes water as they fall on our brother, his body a shadow of what it once was. “Jesus.”
Austin’s eyes flash up to mine, his lips turning up into a smirk as my other brothers surround his bed. “What? Don’t like what you see?”
I let out a hoarse chuckle. “Good to see you’ve still got your sense of humor. You’re going to need it.”
Austin’s eyes turn dark, falling on Hudson who’s still lingering by the door. “I know. They’ve told me the news about Pen.”
A lump lodges in my throat, hearing her name fall from his lips. “I’m sorry, Austin.”
His eyes return to mine, the room stilling when a ragged sob falls from his mouth. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fucking fault.”
I collapse onto the bed, pulling him into me. “Shh. Don’t say that. Don’t say that, brother. We’ll get her back. Everything is going to be okay. I swear to you on all that I hold dear, I will find a way to get her back.”
Hunter, Matt, and Jayce all fall onto us—giving into a group hug, the likes we haven’t seen since our childhood years.
Right there, in the massive tangle of limbs and tears, I vow over and over again to never stop searching. I’m thankful for our brother coming back to us, but there’s no way we’ll ever be complete without Pen.
