I shake my head. “But I think that will change.”
My dad eyes me curiously. “Because Emma’s here. You believe she’ll open up to her?”
“It’s worth a shot. Felicity was her best friend, and Emma looks just like her. I’m hoping that will be enough.”
“And if it’s not?”
“Then we keep her safe until he’s no longer a threat.”
“He’s her son.”
“It’s not like that, Dad. Their family isn’t like ours. Blood doesn’t equal loyalty. Her son has had her under his thumb ever since her husband died and he took over. She hates him, and he tried to kill her.”
My dad whistles. “I’m glad I’ll never understand what she’s going through then.”
“We set her up in the vacant cabin. She’ll have twenty-four-hour surveillance on the entire exterior of the house. Windows and doors have sensors. No one’s getting in or out without us knowing about it.”
“That makes me feel a bit better then.” He sighs. “I don’t mean to doubt your reasoning, son, but I just want to make sure?—”
“I know, Dad.” I take a deep breath. Now is as good a time as any. Nervousness replaces my frustration for not being able to head straight in and shower. “I’ve—uh—started reading my Bible again.”
He turns toward me, joy reflected in his familiar gaze as a smile spreads over his face. “You have?”
“I don’t want to feel like this anymore. And I figure, if anything can help, it’s Him.”
My dad’s been trying to get me to open up ever since I got back. Sometimes, he’ll just come over and sit on the porch with me in complete silence. Waiting for me to rip open the wounds of my past and bare my soul so he can help me pick up the pieces.
He’s always been like that. A superhero in this world. At least, he is to us.
“You’re on the right path. He’s the only one who can.”
“It’s a process.”
“You’re starting, though, and that’s what matters.”
We fall into familiar silence as the world around us moves slowly. Birds chirp in the distance, and cows graze in the field across from my house. I’ve always felt like time stood still here. Even right after I got home, when the world was at its loudest, there was a sort of peace that settled over me whenever my feet would touch the bare ground of this place.
More than once, I’d woken up from a nightmare, covered in sweat, and run outside barefoot. Something—anything—to ground me back into reality.
“How are you doing with Emma being so close?”
“Fine. She’s—uh—actually going to come stay in my guest room.”
My dad turns to face me again, this time his eyes wide with surprise and concern. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“She’ll have a lock on her door,” I say, frustrated because it’s the same argument I had with Bradyn when I informed him that she needs to be staying with me. But after Heath’s clear threat, I won’t risk my brothers’ wives getting caught in the crossfire. Not when I’m the one who kept instigating a fight they wanted to leave alone. “It’s safer if she’s with me.”
“Is it safe for you if she’s with you?”
I glance over at him, and fresh irritation bubbles to the surface. My dad has never been afraid to ask difficult questions. He’s kind, God-fearing, and would do anything for us. But right now, I wish he’d just let it go. I wish they all would. “I’ll be fine.”
Truth is, I’m not entirely sure. But she can’t stay there. Not if it means risking the lives of the families my brothers are building. If Slater or the Karvers come for her, they won’t be going through my brothers to get to her. No, they’ll come straight to me.
And no amount of preparation will help them when they do.
“How’s Alice?” Heath’s threat was clear as day. He might as well have spelled it out: “I know your family, and they aren’t safe.”
“Are you sure?” he presses.
