Page 36 of Their Stormy Reunion

“This guy is a total nutjob. Roo the day? At least you know you’re not dealing with a mental giant.”

I wasn’t so sure, my gut was telling me this was bad. I carefully opened up the envelope addressed to me, like Simon had taught me, then I read the note.

Mikey

Your time has come

You took away my life

Now I’m coming for yours

The note slipped out of my hands and slowly floated to the floor. I hadn’t been called Mikey since I was adopted by the Rankins.

Zarek bent down and picked up the note. “What the fuck, man? Who is this guy? And why is he calling you Mikey?”

“It’s my dad. Only my real mom and dad ever called me Mikey, and my mom is dead.” I shook my head, trying to clear out my confusion. “I mean, my biological parents.”

Zarek tilted his head. “I keep forgetting you were adopted. And the fact that you hardly spoke when you started school with us. You were a weird kid to begin with, but that didn’t matter to Chloe and me, we liked weird.”

Zarek’s hand landed firmly on my shoulder. “I’m sorry your real mother is gone. If you ever need to talk about it…”

I shook my head, my throat tightening. “Not now.”

“Okay.” His grip was solid, grounding. “But when you’re ready, I’m here.”

“Thanks, man.” I met his eyes briefly, grateful for the lifeline he always offered.

“So this note… you think it’s from your dad?” His tone was careful now.

“It has to be,” I said, my voice low, the realization settling in like a lead weight. When had he even gotten out of prison? He’d been sentenced to life. How was this possible?

I clenched my jaw, shoving the notes into my bag. “I’ve got to talk to the Captain. I need a couple hours to figure this out.”

“Understood. We’ve got your back.” Zarek’s voice was steady, and for a second, I felt like I wasn’t spiraling alone.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Thanks.” I nodded, my gratitude too heavy to put into words. With my heart pounding, I strode toward the Captain’s office, every step laced with the weight of the past and the storm brewing ahead. I needed Simon—or Roan—or both. This wasn’t just a letter. It was a warning.

“Yeah, he was released six months ago,” Roan said, his tone clipped as he looked up from his computer. “According to his parole officer, he’s checked in for every meeting on time. He’s also passed every home inspection with flying colors.”

“Where is he living?” Just the thought of the man had me shaking with horror. I hadn’t thought of him since bootcamp, when I’d been exhausted and hungry from training and had nightmares of my childhood where I had been exhausted, hungry and beaten.

“Nashville. I’ve got his address,” he said, tapping his screen. “According to his parole officer, he’s due for a surprise inspection.”

“Is there any way you could tag along?” I asked, my stomach knotting.

“No,” Simon answered. “But I’m having a friend hack into the parole officer’s system and see when the surprise inspection is scheduled and we can follow him to your dad’s.”

“Sweet.” That was the first smile I’d had all day.

“We’ll let you know when we have things set up, okay?”

I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. “You’ve got it. Thanks.”

I turned back to Roan. “How’s Jace and his family settling in?”

Roan laughed and shook his head. “It’s crazy over at that house. Jace’s brother Bruno has his crew over there working on the kitchen that Jace’s wife Bonnie, wants. But when I go over there, the baby always seems to be crying, and the twins trying to help the contractors!”