Everyone hangs around for a bit more, getting photos of their individual families.
Wyatt drove Aubrey and Lily home since I was on the four-wheeler. And I’ve never been happier to get home. There’s a reason I never became a wedding or family photographer. It’s flat exhausting. I’d much rather get to travel and take photos on my own time.
Passing Wyatt on the road in, I wave to him, but don’t stop. Nothing is stopping me from getting home.
Pushing the door open, I was expecting Lily to barrel into me and the second she didn’t, I knew something was wrong.
I find Aubrey in the kitchen, frozen, her face pale, staring at her phone.
That fucker got to her. She turns her phone toward me.
Unknown:You know what I want. It’s time to pay Jack’s debts. And the payment is you and Lily. I’ve been hired to complete a job someone else couldn’t.You can’t hide from me forever. Your time is coming when I’m ready to cash in.
Looking back at Aubrey, her face is paler than before.
“They want Lily. What does that even mean?”
I can’t even focus. I’m seeing red with my fists balled at my side. Whoever this is has been hired. And hired by Nolan. This is no coincidence from the email I got this afternoon. Wyatt just needs to be able to prove it.
“We need to show Wyatt. He must be able to get a tracer, maybe if I call the number? I got an email from my boss, I think that we can definitely—”
“No. I can’t keep doing this here. I need to go. I need to get out of here. If this is your boss then maybe he’ll back off if I’m out of the picture. Maybe Lily and I can live a fresh start and check our cars for trackers all the time. We can…” She breaks down in tears finally.
“Stop. Right now. You’re not going anywhere. Neither am I. So get that out of your head right now.”
She shakes her head in her hands. “We can’t keep going like this, Cooper. Something has to give.”
Holding her hands in mine, I kiss her. “And it won’t be us. I can promise you that. I’m not letting you go.”
She swallows hard, resting against my chest. “I’m not strong enough.”
“I’ll be the strength for both of us.” My arms wrap around her, holding her tight.
“Mommy!” Lily yells from her room. “Bad dweam!”
“I’m sorry.” She slowly pulls out of my embrace and walks down the hall to Lily’s room.
I will do whatever I can to protect these two.
All the hard work Emma and I put into this weekend is culminating in the most romantic wedding tonight.
The couple is ecstatic about their whole weekend. Everything has gone perfectly, and with the cake cut, all we have left to worry about is the send-off brunch tomorrow and then clean up. Which the entire Keaton crew has been pulled in for.
My phone rings on the table next to me, pulling me from my thoughts of Cooper.
Ryder Chiave’s name flashes across my screen. My best friend’s brother wouldn’t call me unless it was an emergency. And with his relation to Jack’scolleagues,it could either be about the debts they’re looking for, or about Sophia. I’m not willing to risk missing something about either so I quietly duck out the hidden side door.
“Ryder, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Sophia. That fucker almost killed her this time.”
All the air in my lungs whooshes out. “You said almost so that means…?”
“Yeah, she’s alive. She’s at one of my safe houses about three hours away. I have a private doctor looking at her now.”
“I’ll be on the next flight out. Want to send me the address or meet me at the airport?” I pace back and forth along the barn.
“I’ll have Damon meet you at the airport. I’m not risking sending the address anywhere. I don’t trust Hugh.” I pause for a moment and he picks up on the reason for my silence. “Damon’s with me, not Hugh. Don’t worry, he’s safe.”
