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There definitely wouldn’t be an All American Bank once the FBI finished with them. They’d probably freeze the assets. Even if they kept it going for a while, it wouldn’t be a long-term solution, and no way would I ever let Hazel return to work there.
“So no Bangor then?” I said mentally rejoicing, hurrah and checking that one off the list. “What about Pelican Bay?”
She nodded in agreement. “Pelican Bay is gorgeous. And I love the people, but there are so many memories. Good and bad,” she said, meeting my gaze head-on for the first time.
She had a point. The memories of our first meeting and our time together, all of which happened in the city, but it’s also where the mob tried to kill her more than once. Would she ever be able to walk by the bed-and-breakfast and not remember the drive-by shooting?
“We have time to think about it,” I said, taking a bite of chocolate cake and chewing quickly. “I think we should take a vacation for a while. Until the stuff with the trial starts.”
“That could be months.”
“Exactly.” I’d love to keep her all to myself on a deserted island for a few months. They might never pin the photos and trafficking ring on the Grandmaster.
My phone vibrated in my pants pocket, and I slipped it out, holding a finger up to Hazel to tell her I’ll just be a minute. Cyrus’s name flashed twice.
“Are you bored already?” I asked, trying to sound annoyed, but even if Cyrus was the one person in the world who annoyed me, unlike anyone else, he was still my brother. My twin.
After the excitement here died, he took his trip to the Portland mall, saying he needed city life for a day. I had a feeling he’d be extremely disappointed, and it didn’t seem to have taken long for that to happen.
A heavy voice answered. One that definitely did not belong to my brother. “Hello, Cyrus,” he said with a thick accent created by a voice distorter.
My eyes narrowed and I open my mouth to explain they had the wrong twin, but he spoke again.
“We have your brother, Corbin. I want a hundred million in unmarked bills for his safe return. Don’t involve the police or you’ll never hear from him again.”
My heart stopped thrumming in my chest and my mouth went dry. “Okay, tell me where you want me to drop the money.”
He laughed, the sound sick and dark. “You worry about getting the money and then wait for further instructions. Your brother and I have a few things to talk about first.”
“Don’t hurt—” I tried to threaten the unknown kidnapper, but he’d already cut the call.
“What’s wrong?” Hazel asked, a forkful of cake halfway to her mouth.
I dropped the phone on the table, the bang loud within the empty diner. “Someone kidnapped Cyrus.”
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Hazel
A few years later
“Are you sure you want to spend the holiday in Pelican Bay?” Corbin asked as the buckle seatbelt sign lit up on the airplane.
It was a little late to reconsider our decision. “Yes, I want to see the finished house.” The brothers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars finishing the Cape Cod. They added on so both brothers and families could stay when the opportunity arose, but I hadn’t seen it since the workers finished the kitchen six months ago. We would’ve come back and looked at it sooner, but Corbin was working in Germany on a new spy software.
He was there to train the troops on how to work the program he developed. I spent the days wandering around our rented condo, being fat and pregnant. Carrying Corbin’s child wasn’t horrible except we were in a country where I couldn’t go to the local Arby’s and order a large Curly Fry.
And no one did ice-cream like America. So many flavors.
I was glad to be back on American soil even if I was no longer craved the seasoned veggies, ice-cream, or pickles.
“You know my brother will be there?” he said, staring at our three-month-old baby who rested peacefully in his car seat between us in the middle plane seat.
My ears popped as we lowered, getting closer to landing, and the plane rattled with a small bit of turbulence. Troy popped open his eyes, looking as if he was getting ready to let out a vicious wail, but Cyrus grabbed on to his little hand and let him squeeze his index finger. The baby closed his eyes and returned to sleep.
I married a man who didn’t show many people his emotions, but he never held a single one back from me or Troy. He was attentive and perfect. Our plane landed on a small strip outside Pelican Bay, and I walked off the plane first as Corbin carried the car seat, the diaper bag, and my purse on his shoulder.
“When is your brother coming in this trip?” I asked, letting Corbin lead the way from the plane.
