Where was the rush she had lived off of the past few years?
A city life without her family didn’t hold the same meaning it once did.
What had happened to its chokehold on her?
“I know there’s a lot going on right now, but we should talk about what happened,” Jack whispered, his eyes softening slightly. “Once all of this settles and dies down.”
Emma let her eyes sweep over his face, taking in the sharp jaw, the wide-set eyes, and the long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. Then, she followed the slope of his small nose and stopped at his full lips, a strange stirring brewing inside of her again.
She had no idea what she wanted her future to look like, but she did know one thing.
Emma wanted Jack to kiss her again as if his life depended on it.
Likebothof their lives did.
She wasn’t sure they didn’t.
With one kiss, he knew how to silence her demons and banish her insecurities.
It both terrified and exhilarated her.
Emma took an uncertain step back and nodded. “Yes, we should definitely talk.”
Jack brushed his hand against hers, his face giving nothing away. Together, they walked over to where everyone else stood and waited.
Minutes ticked by, and nothing happened.
“It won’t be long now,” Henry whispered, his expression turning grave as he glanced around. His eyes settled on Emma as he sat up straighter and squared his shoulders. “There’s something I need to say before the eclipse overshadows everything else.”
Emma held her breath and waited.
What other secrets was she about to uncover?
And what if she wasn’t ready?
Chapter Eighteen
Henry’s eyes widened as he began to cough. His glasses fell off, and his eyes watered as he doubled over. Marie jumped to action, thumping him on the back. Emma lurched over to where he was parked and knelt in front of him. In a daze, she lifted the bottle of water to his lips and helped him hold it up. His bright eyes fixed on her face and grew clearer. Slowly, she handed him back his glasses, and he lifted his chin.
After a few sips of water, he pushed her hand away and cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I’m all right.”
Emma frowned and peered into his ashen face—at the thin sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. “You’re not. You had a stroke a few days ago. You should be resting in bed.”
Henry shook his head and tightened his shoulders. “No, I should be here. I need to see this through.”
Emma rose to her feet and frowned. “You can’t be serious. Why would you want to risk your health for treasure?”
Especially when they were going to bring it back to him.
Emma wasn’t sure of the specifics, but she knew they could find a way between the six of them.
Even if it meant having to be stealthy and discreet.
Her father deserved to have the reveal be from the comfort of a bed, with the best doctors and nurses in the area waiting in the wings.
Because she had no idea how he would take any of this.
Half of Emma was afraid it was going to send him headfirst into another stroke. Another half of her was terrified the reveal would only push him further away into the labyrinths of his mind, lost to them forever.
