Deadly Reunion (Hardy Brothers Security Book 20) (17 page)

Jeff’s question was a like a knife cutting through James’ heart.

“That’s not fair,” Emma snapped. “James couldn’t possibly know how that would all play out. Don’t you dare blame him!”

“I’m not blaming him,” Jeff said. “I’m just … I can’t make a mistake where Emma is concerned. Not again.”

“We all make mistakes,” James said, his eyes locking with Mandy’s as she entered the room. “You can’t fixate on them, though. I made a mistake with your father. We won’t make a mistake with Sexton.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because this time we’re going to work together as a family,” James said. “We’re all going to fix this … together.”

M
andy found
James on the back patio a few minutes later, his eyes distant as they scanned the horizon. It was early summer so the sun stayed higher in the sky each day, but the fiery globe was making its inevitable descent and the warm glow bouncing off of James’ face made him look unbelievably handsome.

He also looked unbelievably conflicted.

Mandy shuffled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He didn’t jump, which told her he already knew she was there.

“What are you thinking?”

“That I love my wife,” James replied, chuckling as Mandy gave him a playful squeeze. “I’m thinking that we have a lot to do but nothing that can be finished tonight. We can’t go back to Emma’s old house until the morning so … it’s a beautiful night to spend with my wife.”

“That was incredibly sweet,” Mandy said. “It’s not what you were thinking, though.”

“Oh, yeah? What was I thinking?”

“What Jeff said about the day Pritchard took us captive here wasn’t true,” Mandy said, moving her hands to cover James’ hands and bringing his right arm up so he had no choice but to press his palm to the spot over his heart. “Do you feel that?”

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, baby, but it’s really not necessary,” James said. “What Jeff said wasn’t wrong. I miscalculated and you and Emma paid the price. I understand why he was frightened. He doesn’t know us.”

“Shh.” Mandy’s voice was barely a whisper as she pressed her ear to James’ back and listened for the telltale beat of his heart. “Do you know how you say my laughter is your favorite sound?”

“It
is
my favorite sound. There’s nothing better in this world.”

“Well, this is my favorite sound,” Mandy said. “It’s always strong. Sometimes it’s excited, like it will be tonight. Sometimes it’s slow, like when we’re having a lazy Sunday. Sometimes it’s fast, like when I do something stupid and you’re convinced I might get hurt. I like it best when it syncs up with mine right before we go to sleep, though.”

“Mandy … .”

“You are not a god,” Mandy said, cutting him off. “You couldn’t have known what was going to happen. You have a strong heart, the best heart really. You feel things more deeply than anyone I know. You have to let it go, though. I had to let go of what I did, and you have to let the guilt go.”

“Can I speak now?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Mandy replied. “If I don’t like what you have to say then I’m going to cut you off again.”

James chuckled. He couldn’t help himself. She always knew how to make him feel better. “I love you, wife, but Jeff has every right to be worried. We don’t know anything about this guy and Sheila lied to us. I fell for it, too.”

“She’s a master manipulator. That’s how she’s survived for so long. We’re all together. We’ll figure this out and fix it tomorrow. I have faith in you, but you need to have faith in yourself.”

“Well, I think you’re the smartest woman in the world so I guess I’m going to have to agree with you, huh?”

“Yup.”

“I don’t suppose you’d move around the front here so I could hold you, would you? I prefer our cuddling to be a more hands-on experience.”

“I can’t do that for at least five minutes,” Mandy replied. “I’m holding you now.”

“But … I really need to hold you.”

“No, you need to let go.”

“Fine.” James blew out a frustrated sigh as he moved Mandy’s hand under his and held it. “You’re really bossy. You know that, right?”

“Just wait until we’re alone later. I’m going to boss your socks off.”

“Can I turn around and hold you yet?”

“Nope.”

“When?”

“Five more minutes,” Mandy said, grinning as she rubbed her cheek against his back. “If you ask again I’m adding another five minutes to your sentence.”

“You drive a hard bargain, baby.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

“
W
HAT ARE
they doing
?” Jeff stared out the sliding glass door and fixed his attention on the spot where Mandy and James hugged and talked. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t work related. “We’re supposed to be focusing on Sexton not … whatever it is that they’re doing. This is ridiculous.”

“Shut your mouth.” Emma’s anger and vehemence surprised Jeff. He wasn’t expecting her to be “all is forgiven,” but he certainly didn’t think she’d be directing so much ire at him.

“Excuse me?” Jeff refused to back down. “We have a crazy guy out there and he’s threatening to kill you and Avery. The supposed head of the security firm is playing ‘where are my hands’ with his wife instead of doing research.”

“That’s not what they’re doing,” Emma said, her temper on full display. “Stop being so judgmental and help us instead of working against us for a change. Do you think you could do that? You’re making me very angry, Jeff.”

“And you wouldn’t like her when she’s angry,” Finn said, handing Ally a bottle for Avery as he navigated to the spot next to his fiancée. “It’s okay, sweetie. Just … calm down.”

“No, I’m done calming down,” Emma said. “I’m sick of calming down. Everyone wants me to calm down. That’s not going to happen. Not this time.”

“If they’re not feeling each other up, what are they doing?” Jeff challenged. It seemed he wasn’t in the mood to calm down either.

“What you said to James was obnoxious … and wrong on so many levels,” Emma said, resting her hands on the back of Ally’s chair as she offered the baby a small smile and adjusted her tone. For his part Avery seemed to realize something was going on, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what. He wasn’t used to the people in his life fighting. Teasing one another was one thing. What was happening tonight was something else.

“It was the truth, though,” Jeff challenged. “He took off and left you and Mandy alone when you were at your most vulnerable. She’s the reason you’re alive and have him.” He jerked his thumb in Avery’s direction. “James didn’t show up until it was over with.”

“That is so unbelievably wrong I don’t know where to start,” Emma said.

“Can I ask why you’re angry with James instead of me?” Finn interjected. “I left, too. She’s going to be my wife and that is my son and yet you seem angrier with James. Why is that?”

“Because … because he’s the boss.”

“That’s not it,” Finn argued. “You’re upset for another reason. What is it?”

“He’s larger than life,” Jeff admitted, his voice straining. “When I first met him I was in awe. He’s strong and self-assured. Then I heard what happened and … I didn’t fault him. Dad was evil and wily and he knew how to manipulate people. Emma could’ve died, though. He never should’ve left. That’s why I didn’t want to tell him what was going on. I thought he might make another mistake and this time Emma would pay the ultimate price.”

“Do you want to know what I think is going on?” Peter asked, putting his cell phone on the counter as he strolled in from another room. He’d spent the past twenty minutes making arrangements and planning for the next day’s operation.

“I’m pretty sure I don’t,” Jeff answered. “No offense, but … you’re a mobster. Your outlook on life is very different than my outlook.”

“Yes, and yet I’ve never spent a day in prison,” Peter said, catching everyone by surprise with his mocking tone. “Don’t open your mouth, son. I have a few things to say to you and I expect to be given the time to do it.”

Jeff snapped his mouth shut, but the look on his face was murderous.

“Your problem is that you blame yourself for what happened to Emma when she was a child,” Peter said. “You were a child, too, but as her older brother you believe you should’ve stopped what your father was doing. In truth, that was your mother’s job and she failed you. For the record, had I known what your father was doing to any of you I would’ve made him disappear – and it would’ve been a painful trip. That’s something I can’t change, though. You can’t either.

“You’re so twisted with guilt that it was almost better for you when you were in prison,” he continued. “You don’t understand why Emma doesn’t hate you, because you certainly hate yourself, and you’re struggling to find out exactly who you are in this world; you’re not quite sure how you fit in.

“Suck it up, Jeff,” he said. “You’re an adult now. Emma is not the frightened and scared girl you left behind. You believed she would succumb to horrors during your incarceration and instead she thrived. She found a place where she belongs in this world, and you’re both jealous and awed by who she has become.

“I think part of you believes you don’t belong in this world with her,” Peter said. “I think your guilt is manifesting in an obnoxious, although understandable, manner. You think you failed Emma back then and now you’re wondering if you failed her again by not coming clean about what happened.

“You were trying to protect her again, which is admirable,” he said. “You made the wrong decision, though. Again. You have got to trust people. Holding James up to a higher standard than you hold yourself is neither rational nor helpful.”

“James already feels bad enough about what happened,” Emma said. “Our father terrorized us and yet James is the one who feels guilty. How is that fair? Why is it that Mandy, who should be the one most traumatized by this, is out there making him feel better when you’re the one who did the damage?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings,” Jeff argued. “I think he’s a good man. Heck, he’s ten times the man I am. I was afraid when Sexton approached me and I shouldn’t have kept what he threatened to do to myself … but I did.”

“That brings up another point,” Finn said. “You said Sexton came by twice. The first night I was in the hospital and he asked for the key. What did you tell him?”

“I stalled for time and said I had to talk to my mother first because I didn’t know what he was talking about,” Jeff replied. “He didn’t look as if he believed me, but he let it go for the time being.”

“Okay, what about the second visit?”

“He was impatient and wanted to know when I was going to talk to my mother,” Jeff replied. “He threatened me, but Grady interrupted. I haven’t seen him since.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s not watching,” Jake said. “He probably knows that James, Emma, and Jeff went to see Sheila. He could be close and he could be working with other people.”

“I don’t think he’s working with other people,” Jeff said.

“What makes you think that?” Peter asked.

“Because the best way to keep a secret is to work alone,” Jeff replied. “That’s something everyone learns quickly when they’re in prison. Sexton might not have done time, but he understands the criminal element. My guess is that the only one he’s taken into his confidence is our mother.”

“I wonder if we should visit Sheila again,” Peter mused. “If Sexton is visiting and calling … .”

“What would be the point?” Finn asked.

Peter shrugged. “Honestly? I would like to go with Emma for the visit and make Sheila aware of the new reality I will be enforcing on her existence. If anything propels her to tell the truth, it will be that. She thinks she’s untouchable in prison, but that’s hardly the case.”

“That was … chilling,” Emma said, although her eyes brightened. “Are you really going to make her life hell?”

“You have no idea,” Peter said. “At first I was willing to let her stew in her own juices and do her own thing because I didn’t want to upset you. I no longer have that worry. She lied to us and purposely led us astray. I’m pretty sure that means she needs an … adjustment … to her attitude.”

“I would be happy for you to pay her a visit, but I’m not returning,” Emma said. “This last time that I saw her was the last time. I don’t want to play games with her. I want to take Mandy’s advice and let it go.”

“I think that’s a very healthy attitude,” Peter said. “I’m still going to visit her.”

“I want to go with you,” Sophie said. “I have some questions and I’m just petty enough to want to see her squirm.”

“Okay, that’s a start,” Finn said. “You guys can hit the prison tomorrow. We’ll try to run Sexton’s financials to find out where his home base is. I think we’re on the right track, but we’re also stuck until we get more information.”

“There is one other thing we have to do,” Emma said.

“What?”

“I have to go home tomorrow.” Emma’s voice took on a distant quality as she said the words. “We have to see if the key is still where Jeff hid it.”

Finn balked. “No. I don’t want you going back there. James mentioned that he would go with Jeff.”

“Well, as happy as I am that you want to protect me, that doesn’t mean you’re my lord and boss,” Emma said. “I want to go back with Jeff. I think we should see it one last time.”

“Well, fine,” Finn said, although he didn’t look thrilled with her decision. “If you want to go back, we’ll go back. I’m going with you, though.”

“You’re supposed to be taking it easy,” Emma argued.

“What everyone seems to forget is that I was the one who was shot,” Finn said. “This is about me, too. I will not let you go back to that house without me. Period. I’m laying down the law.”

“Oh, good, that always ends well,” James said, forcing a smile as he and Mandy walked into the kitchen. He looked strong and resolute, but Emma didn’t miss the fact that he avoided making eye contact with Jeff. “Women love it when you lay down the law, Finn. It makes them very happy.”

“No one needs your sarcasm,” Finn warned.

“You’re right,” James said, instantly contrite. “If you’re going back to the house, though, then I’m going, too. I’m not leaving anyone unprotected.”

“I’ll go with you guys,” Jake offered.

“And I’ll have Sven work with Grady to cover the area around the house in case Sexton is watching and waiting for Jeff to return,” Peter said. “If we go in two waves, Sexton will most likely only watch the first. I think that is our best approach.”

“Good,” James said. “We have a plan. Now we just have to work it.”

“And hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces,” Jeff added.

James nodded curtly. “And that, too.”