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n477 Goodbye, Nick

nIf you like music while you read, try “Stars” by Skillet. It’s what I listened to while writing this chapter!

n*****

n~ ZEV ~

nThe only truly terrifying part was when the security guards stopped the car at the gate. Nick had a communicator in the car and they’d heard chatter on the radios about staff questioning whether they should enter the lab to make sure Nathan was okay because he hadn’t come out. And they thought Nick was with him.

nSasha and Zev held each other, both of them praying, as Zev listened to his sort-of-father lie like a professional when the guards stopped him before letting him through the compound fence. It threw his already twisted emotions into even greater turmoil.

nNick snorted like their question was ridiculous. “Nathan’s working late tonight. A sudden discovery—

nhe thinks the kid might not just be human after all. I’m taking the samples to our friends out of state.”

n“Now?”

n“Nate doesn’t trust anyone else to do it.”

nApparently, that made sense to them because a few seconds later, the car began to move again.

nZev held his breath for what seemed like minutes. And then, just when he was beginning to breathe again, while he and Sasha stared at each other in the dark, every hair on their bodies standing on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop, the car slowed, then pulled over, the tires crunching on gravel.

nThe front door thudded and footsteps started around the vehicle. Then the wide, back door opened and Nick was there.

nAnd he was smiling. n0𝑣𝓮𝑙𝒰𝓈𝔅.𝑪0𝗆

n“This vehicle doesn’t trace because it’s used to take samples to our other lab that they don’t know. We’re out kids. You might as well get into the passenger seats. You’ll be a lot more comfortable.”

nSasha looked at Zev, who shook his head in disbelief, but a few minutes later they were racing down the highway towards the Gateway.

n*****

nZev nodded. “I’ll always be grateful for your help, Nick.”

n“Call me Grandpa.”

nZev didn’t even huff. “No, Nick. I’m grateful for the good you brought into my life, but that doesn’t mean you’re good. It means God used you in ways I needed.” Then he leaned in until they were nose to nose. “But you are a **ing psychopath.”

nNick sighed and looked pained. “I believe it’s called a high-functioning sociopath? I mean, I have feelings. Just not all the time.”

nZev shook his head. Sasha crowded closer to his back, as if she didn’t want him to forget that she was there. Or maybe, she was using him as a shield between Zan and Nick? It didn’t matter. He’d happily die for either of them.

nAnd it was **ed up that the man he’d called father was the reason he felt like he might have to.

nNick was peering around him, trying to catch sight of Zan in Sasha’s arms, but Zev just shifted his weight to make sure he stayed in the way. Nick’s eyes rose back to meet his. Zev could feel the tension in his face, but he tried to keep himself as expressionless as possible.

n“When he’s grown up, I’ll tell him about you. How you saved his life. Ours. But I’m telling him everything, Nick. He’s going to learn from me the lessons you should have taught me. What I learned the hard way, he’ll hear from the minute he’s old enough to understand. He’ll never be deceived by anyone the way you’ve deceived me. Ever.”

nNick’s throat bobbed and he nodded. “That’s good, Zev. You’ll be a good dad.”

nZev snorted, the desire there to growl, but he wanted to keep the peace, to keep Zan calm, and just so they could get out of there without any more drama.

n“Thank you, Zev,” Nick said softly. He reached for Zev’s arm, but Zev pulled it away, a warning in his eyes and he nodded again. “I… You kept me decent.” Zev gaped at him until he flapped a hand. “Okay, fine, you made me more decent than I would have been without you to take care of.”

n“Newsflash, Nick, separating a kid from everyone he loves, who loves him, isn’t love, you **ing—”

nSasha’s warm hand appeared on his back and he stopped himself.

nLet’s just go, she murmured in his head. It’s good that he thanked you and you thanked him. Let’s just go and start our new life. He’s not going to be a part of it, Zev.

nZev sighed because the words were such a relief, he wanted to weep.

nShe was right. She was almost always right.

n“It’s time for us to go, Nick,” he said.

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