Gio shakes his head.
“And I’m with my birth family. Maybe. I need to see the DNA results first.”
She pauses a moment. “Your birth family,” she repeats slowly.
“Yes.”
“Are you there willingly?”
“No. But they said I can come back tonight.”
“Tonight. That’s good. Why don’t you tell us where you are, and we’ll send the boys to get you. That pilot they use is already fueled up and on standby.”
“He’s coming,” Tommy says urgently. “Put her on speaker.”
The phone shifts, and there’s some crackling before the tone changes.
“Are you hurt, sweetheart?” Tommy asks.
“Aside from a nasty headache, thanks to whatever I was drugged with, I’m okay. No one has hurt me.”
“Drugged and kidnapped,” Ruth snaps.
“Dylan told us what your house looked like. That man who abducted you, what’s his name?”
“Mattheus Karver,” I tell them. “He claims that he’s my brother.” As I say it, I glare in his direction. He offers me an awkward smile and shoves both hands into his pockets.
They’re both listening to everything I say, but since I’m too afraid to turn my back to either of them, I remain where I am.
Gio steps forward. “May I?” He holds out his hand.
But I don’t relinquish the phone. Instead, I put it on speakerphone.
“This is Emmaline’s birth father,” he says. “I’m afraid my son got overzealous in his attempt to surprise my wife and me with meeting our daughter.”
A door slams, and I know—without a doubt—Dylan is there.
I can sense him, just as I always can.
Even with however many miles are between us.
“Overzealous?” Dylan growls. “He drugged and abducted her.”
“Who is this?” Gio asks.
“Her boyfriend,” Mattheus chimes in. “I recognize the voice.”
“Not her boyfriend,” Dylan corrects quickly. It’s a dagger to my heart, even though it’s the truth. “But I am someone who will hunt down anyone who so much as lays a finger on her.” The ferocity in his voice is not something I’m accustomed to. Even this new version of Dylan, the cold one, has never held such anger in his tone.
Gio glances back at Mattheus. “There’s no need for that. As I said, my son was merely excited to find his sister and didn’t want to risk losing the chance to bring her home. My wife is not doing well since she discovered our daughter is alive. He was worried about his mother. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“Pine Creek is her home.”
Gio’s smile fades. “We merely wanted to ensure that those who know her back in your small town are aware that she is fine and not being held against her will. Should she choose to return home, we will escort her safely.”
Should she choose. My stomach churns.
Play it cool. I have to keep my composure. Trust in God. He’ll get me through this.
