Again, my heart thumps and I take a deep breath to try and dull the pain.
"Yes." Travis nods. "We will drop Adri by the restaurant on the way."
Adri stands from the stairs and hurries over to me. Her arms wrap around my shoulders and her face burrows into my neck.
"I can't even put into words how much I love you and what you've done to change my life. You gave me a family and taught me what it means to love unconditionally." She sniffs and I feel the wet of her tears on my neck. "Don't take that from me."
I hug her back and squeeze her in tight. She's my sister, regardless of the blood running through our veins.
"I love you, too." My voice cracks with emotion.
She pulls back with a sob and runs out the front door.
Travis' hands cup my face and he forces me to look into his eyes.
"I knew from that very first day that you would come into my life like a tropical storm. Fast, tough, and destructive. I knew you would swipe up all the small broken pieces of my heart and form it back into something worthy of your love. Emberlise Craven, I have loved you from day one and I will love you until this mended heart stops beating." His lips press against mine in the most tender kiss. It's not romantic, it's filled with love and reverence.
He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, "I love you too, Travis. You will never know how much."
Then he releases me and I watch his retreating back with my heart in my throat. I can’t stop thinking that we have this all wrong and one of us-if not all-are walking into traps. I haven’t heard from Moore, he hasn’t called for a ransom or any demands, and I can’t help but think this could be the last time I see my family.
“I see that look, Mija.” Carm says softly. “Nothing will happen to you while I’m with you.”
“But what about them?”
“There’s only one of me and I chose who it was I wanted to protect.” He sounds confident.
“Why Carm?” I look at him. “Why did you choose me?”
“Because I have wronged you and I wanted to make it up to you.”
“What happened to me in the beginning is all water under the bridge. You know you’re my brother as much as Emmett, right? You have to know I love you just as much.”
“Thank you.” He nods and I notice his eyes filling as well. “When this is all done and over with, you and I will have a talk. Go upstairs and change into something dark. I will talk to the guys and we will hit up the rental as soon as dusk hits.”
I nod and head upstairs to my bedroom. Once I enter and see the rumpled sheets, I fucking lose it. All I see in here is Vin, his scent is everywhere, and his clothes are all over the place.
I sink to my knees and let the tidal wave of fear and despair pull me under. I’ve experienced this overwhelming sadness a few times before. My mother dying, Vin and Travis being taken by Carlos, and then Travis attempting to commit suicide. The only difference this time is this was all my doing.
Did I really need to purge this little decaying town? Did I need to put my family at risk to prove I was capable of such a large task? The answer is no, it will always be no and if my actions put any of them in our mausoleum, I won’t be too far behind.
I picture Tommy and his unwavering loyalty. I imagine him telling me to suck it up and take care of business as he usually would. I see my aunt and uncle smiling at me and loving me despite my dangerous decisions, and then I see my mother. She’s watching me with that small smile she always had when I did something to make her proud. I realize then that she would be proud of me for what I came here to do and how I’ve avenged her.
None of them would want me to give up.
I have to believe that Moore wouldn’t kill Vin, that he sees his importance and plans to use him to draw me in. That’s what he wants anyway. He wants me.
“Hermanita!” Carm calls from downstairs. “Come down so we can go over this plan before we have to head out.”
I once again bury my grief down deep under mountains of anger and get to my feet. My moment of weakness is done and now it’s time to take out the rest of the trash.
“No one’s here.” I say while I watch Carm’s men surround the darkened house.
“Not necessarily, we have to think like him. Maybe he knows we’ve gathered forces and scouting all residences. Maybe he’s watching us now from a darkened room.” Carm whispers into the dark car.
Travis called to say no one was at Moore’s house but they are staying there to see if he shows up. I haven’t heard from Emmett but he wouldn’t be at the cottage yet anyways.
“I have a feeling Carm,” I shake my head. “Something is off. He’s not in any of these places.”
“Think Ember, where else could he go?” He lifts his phone and dials a number. “Enter the house and search it thoroughly.” He barks at whoever is on the other side.
That’s just it, I have been thinking. He’s not at the police station because those cops looked more than surprised when we showed up demanding to see Moore. He’s not in any residences with his name on the listing because that’s easy to obtain.
Where the fuck is he and my fiancé? I start running through all the places I can think of in Whitsborough.
“Place is empty, Jefe.” I hear one of the guys say through
