Page 101 of Thaddeus

“Please.”

“Not yet, Emmy, I’m not done,” she whispered.

“I’m getting married tomorrow.”

I don’t know why I told her that, standing outside of the container I’d been held in, with other scared women standing around us. But I wanted her there. I wanted her to come with us so Thad could make her safe.

“Happy for you.”

“Please come. I want you there. We can help—”

Autumn’s arms squeezed the breath out of me, cutting off my plea.

“Not yet,” she repeated. “Happy for you, sister. It’s time for you to get back everything I took from you. Don’t worry about me, just be happy.”

“I can’t help but worry. I love you.”

“I love you, too. That’s why I need you to forget about me.” She let go and stepped away.

“Hate to break this up, but we have to go,” Declan announced, and I wanted to punch him again.

I wasn’t done. I needed more time with Autumn.

“You straight?” Kyle asked.

I didn’t know who he was speaking to, but my sister answered. “Yeah. I got the girls.”

“One of us—” Max started but Autumn spoke over him.

“I have backup. Van’s waiting on the street for loadout. You worry about my sister, I’ve got the rest.”

Backup?

Autumn had backup? What the hell?

“Café was empty. Beach was clear,” Declan told her.

She nodded her understanding to Declan then pinned me with her eyes. “I’m serious, Emmy, go be happy.”

Then she rounded up the girls. I was still in a daze when Patty’s body collided with mine.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll never forget you.”

Then she was gone, too.

“We’re out,” Declan commanded and I was swept up into Thad’s arms and he followed Declan.

“I can walk,” I told Thaddeus.

“No doubt you can.”

“Then why aren’t you letting me?”

“Because I can’t walk. Not without you in my arms.”

Shit. He’d been scared, too.

“Thaddeus…”