Page 112 of His Wounded Heart

“Is Renzo with you now?”

“Yes.”

“Anyone else?”

“He’s calling the sheriff and Zarek.”

“Good. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Are you on LaMars Hwy?”

“Just after the turnoff from Brookline.”

“Got it.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I lean against the fireplace mantle, next to Renzo with the big dog, watching everything that is going on.

“It’s called the Avery Avalanche,” Zarek says as he offers me and Renzo bottles of water. Then he puts a bowl of water down for his dog named Slayer. None of us are drinking anything that might impair our cognitive abilities. Trenda’s front door opens, and two more people enter her house without knocking. I go over and lock the door after they step in. The dog follows me.

I recognize another Avery sister, even though I haven’t met her before. She’s smaller than Trenda, and Chloe and Zoe who are already here. When I see the tall blond man who follows her into the house, I know this must be Evie Avery O’Malley.

Aiden O’Malley does a swift scan around the room, his eyes missing nothing. It surprises me that he’s here, but Drake isn’t, since they’re both stationed in Southern California. I look at my watch. Actually, it makes no sense that Evie and Aiden could have made it here from Southern California in the three and a half hours since Trenda and Bella were run off the road.

“Uncle Aiden!” Bella screeches as she launches herself off the couch into his arms. The hard-eyed operator I had just watched walk in the door is gone, and in his place is a doting uncle. Soon Bella is hanging down his back as he holds her by her knees, causing her to laugh uproariously.

Zarek, Renzo, and I look at one another and smile. Bella has been acting rather subdued since coming home, so this is good to see.

We’re close enough to see and hear the action, but far enough away that we’re not drawn into the mix, which makes both of us very happy.

“What do you mean she hasn’t told you what’s going on?” Evie practically roars. She might be little, but nobody could miss the anger rolling off her.

“Evie. Stop it this instant. What right do you have to come barging in here and yelling at Zoe and Chloe because I, apparently, have not provided them with enough information to tell you? That’s just rude. So, calm your ass down, and have a seat.”

The woman continues to stand over the other three sisters, her hands crossed over her chest. “I am not going to calm my ass down. You tell me what is going on, right now. I have been on a small plane from Texas for the last two and a half hours, and you know I hate small planes. So, tell me what’s going on, and when Drake is going to be here.”

Again, Zarek, Renzo, and I trade glances. This is not sounding good. Talk about too many chefs in the kitchen. As soon as I think that, I realize Bella is no longer laughing. I turn around and see that even though she’s on her uncle’s shoulders, her attention is riveted on her Aunt Evie.

“Why are you mad at my Mama, Aunt Evie?”

“I need a kiss, Baby Girl.” Evie walks over to where Aiden is holding Bella and he stoops down so that Evie can kiss her niece. “Now, that’s better. I’m not mad at your Mama, I’m just worried because you were in an accident. You know I get scared.”

“Mama says that the louder you yell, the more scareder you are.”

Bella starts bouncing on Aiden’s shoulders because he’s laughing. Evie glares at her husband, then turns around and gives her older sister the evil eye.

“Just telling it the way I see it.” Trenda shrugs.

“And the way I see it, you’re keeping us in the dark. Now tell us what is going on. According to what you said to the police, you don’t think this is an accident. Who do you think is trying to kill you?”

“Evie!”

“Evie!”

“Evalyn Lavender! You come with me into the kitchen right this minute,” Trenda said as she shot up off the sofa.

“Mama, where are you going? You’re not going to leave me, are you?”

I watch Trenda’s distress as she tries to figure out how to take Evie to task, and comfort Bella at the same time.