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“Wouldn’t want to deny you that.” Lily winked at him. “Teresa was worn out. We’ll get an Uber, no worries.”
Hyde pulled out his phone and brought up the app. Sariah said goodbye to Hyde and hurried to the front entry. Thankfully the condo was big enough they could have some privacy to say their goodnights. Unfortunately, it wasn’t big enough for her to miss hearing the sound of their kissing, soft laughs, and smitten voices. Oh, to find a love like Hyde and Lily’s. Obviously, it wasn’t in the cards for her. Sariah pushed a hand against her heart, but it still felt tight and painful.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Two weeks had passed since Mack had seen Sariah. Griff had finally, finally got him some information. He didn’t blame Griff, not at all, he’d just been impatient because he wanted to see Sariah. His brother had been busy taking down a trafficking ring in Belize and rescuing dozens of women and children. His brother was a hero many times over, and Mack was proud of him. He still wondered what had happened with him and Scarlett Lily, but knew he’d get nothing out of Griff. Bringing up Scarlett’s reference to tickling Griff might get Mack a reaction, but guaranteed it would tick Griff off. Most people tried very hard never to tick Griff off.
Mack was in a rented Cherokee, driving west from Denver up I-70 into the mountains toward the little town of Georgetown. Sariah’s hometown. He couldn’t stop thanking Griff, and Heavenly Father, in his head. He had Sariah’s address. The only worry was if she was actually here. Hyde had said she lived in Denver. Was she working in Denver, going to school in Denver? Most people at twenty-one or twenty-two wouldn’t still be living at home. But this was his only hope of finding her. Griff had only given him this address, and told him gruffly to stop saying thank you.
The river flowed next to the freeway, speeding along with spring runoff. Mack rarely saw traffic this sparse in Atlanta, especially on a Friday at noon. It was a pretty spring day. The leaves were just budding on the trees at this higher elevation, but there were so many pine trees in these mountains it still looked lush and green. He’d been to Denver quite a few times but he’d never seen this part of the area and he loved it. Not quite as green as Georgia, but these towering mountains were unreal.
He took the turn for Georgetown and drove past a mountain lake and through a very quiet town. The mountains sheltered the town, towering above it on all sides. It fit Sariah perfectly—beautiful, peaceful, guarded, and unassuming.
He followed Siri’s directions, stopping at a small house on the edge of the town’s park. The grass was still brown from winter and a few piles of snow remained. How cool was that? Mack had grown up in Rhode Island and loved the snow. He’d missed it since going to college in Texas and living in Georgia the past couple of years.
Slowly climbing from the vehicle, he felt the stirring of nerves and the crisp air wrapping around him. What would Sariah think of him chasing her down like this? What would her family think? Would they call Hyde, find out he’d already been warned away, and tell him to leave? Mack hated confrontation and never sought out a fight, but Sariah was worth fighting for.
He strode to the front door. There was a small cement spot that served as the outside entry, but it was flat without any front porch. He was surprised Hyde or Lily hadn’t fixed up the drooping family home with all the money they surely had, but maybe Lily and Sariah’s parents were too prideful to accept help like that. Not seeing a doorbell, he rapped his knuckles on the door and it immediately sprung open. A small boy stared up at him, his dark eyes wide with hero worship. “You’re Mack Quinn.”
Mack nodded. “Hi.” He stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
The little guy put his small hand in Mack’s palm and shook it vigorously. He pulled back and leapt into the air, did a little dance, and yelled, “Mack Quinn came to see me! Yes!”
Mack chuckled. He hoped it wouldn’t break the kid’s heart when he found out Mack was here for his sister.
“Wait right here,” the kid demanded, holding up both palms. “I’ve got to find your card and have you sign it.” He danced back into the house singing, “Mack Quinn ishe-ere!”
Mack stood in the open doorway, not sure what to do but wait. A tall older, teenage boy appeared, with two smaller teenage girls with him. The entire family was olive-skinned with dark hair and eyes like Sariah and Lily. Possibly Italian heritage. They all gawked at him for a second.
Mack put out his hand. “Mack Quinn. I’m here to see Sariah.”
The boy’s eyes widened in understanding. “Caleb Udy.” He shook his hand and tilted his head to his sisters. “Trudy and Mary.”
“Hi.” Mack shook their hands quickly.
“Sorry about Josh. He’s obsessed with football.”
“He’s a cute kid.” Mack loved that Sariah had a large family like him. He’d come from much more affluent circumstances but at least they had family size in common. It could be a point in his favor.
“How do you know Sariah?” Caleb asked.
“I saw you talking to her after one of Hyde’s games,” Mary piped in, her tone more accusatory then welcoming.
“I’ve … seen her at a lot of games, but I officially met her at a party a couple weeks ago,” Mack tried to explain. “Are your parents here?”
They all shook their heads. “Dad’s at work and Mom’s grocery shopping with our brother, Brandon. It’s early out on Friday so I’m babysitting,” Caleb explained.
“You don’t need to babysit us.” Trudy rolled her eyes and pushed out one hip. She looked the most like Sariah.
“Why don’t you just call or text Sariah if you ‘know her’?” Mary made quote fingers with her hands and her dark eyes were full of sass.
“I’d love to. Will you give me her number?”
Mary gave him a challenging glare. “Do you know how many guys want her number? I’m not stupid.”
Mack hid a grimace. Her little sister obviously saw right through him. The whole family seemed to have a lot of fire in them.
Josh rushed back into the room and plowed through his siblings, triumphantly holding up Mack’s football trading card. “Can you sign it, please, Mr. Quinn, please?”
