by Lisa Harris
Apparently Michael had been right. But she had no idea whether they could trust his friend, no idea if they’d been tracked here … no idea how or when all of this was going to be over. Every minute that passed was another minute that something could go wrong.
“How are you holding up?” Michael’s question broke through her troubled thoughts.
“Ready for all of this to be over.”
“It will be. Soon.”
She caught the determination in his voice, but knew he had just as many doubts as she did.
“What about Ivan? How do you think he’s doing?”
“I don’t know.” Which was what had her worried the most. “He’s never been much of a talker, but we’re close, and he’s always opened up to me. This time—with Felipe’s death—it’s as if everything has changed between us.”
“Just keep giving him some space. There’s a lot to process and a lot of loss for both of you to deal with.”
“It’s hard to do when I know he’s hurting so much.” She glanced at her watch, wishing the waiting would end. Wishing there was something they could do to reverse the effects of the mess they’d stepped into. But all the wishful thinking in the world couldn’t erase the past three days.
“What about your friend?” she asked. “Are you sure he’s coming?”
“He’ll be here.”
She stared out across the open area of the park. By now, the sun was out and starting to melt the snow that had fallen during the night. She tapped her foot against the ground and tried to relax. It wasn’t the first time she’d visited the urban park with its large, open green spaces, trails, gardens, and playgrounds. She’d come to concerts a few times with friends over the years, and once she’d gone fishing with an older couple from her church. But this morning wasn’t about hanging out with friends for a few hours of fun. Instead, she felt as if the crippling feelings of fear were about to consume her.
She pressed her hands against the bench seat. “Am I the only one who’s nervous?”
“Hardly.”
“Afraid he’ll turn you in?”
“Mason? Never.”
“People change.”
“Not the essential part of who they are.” He leaned back against the bench, looking like a man with no plans other than to enjoy the morning, but she knew he was completely alert, watching everything that was going on around them. “I think I’m more worried about seeing my family. I can’t help but question what my presumed death did to them. Especially my mother.”
“Questioning whether your choice to stay in was worth it?”
“Yeah. At some point I’m going to have to look my mother in the eye and explain to her why I did what I did.”
“Do you think she’ll understand?”
“I come from a family of cops. They’ve all had to make sacrifices. But losing your son is different. And I’m not sure that seeing me again is going to instantly wipe away all those months of loss she’s felt.”
Olivia tried to imagine the immense emotion they all were going to feel when they were reunited. “She loves you, and even your presumed death can’t change that. Besides, not many people get a second chance like she’s about to be given, and I’m pretty sure that will far outweigh any hurt or anger.”
Michael nodded toward the entrance. “Mason’s here.”
Michael stood up as Mason walked toward them. His friend had changed little over the last year. His dark-blond hair was still a bit long, and he was wearing his typical jeans and T-shirt that allowed him to blend in almost anywhere.
Mason stopped in front of him, then pulled him into a big hug. “I’ll be honest, when I got the message from you, I wasn’t sure if I should hug you or slug you.”
Michael smiled, unprepared for the wave of emotion that shot through him. “I’ll take the former, thanks.” He caught the hesitation in Mason’s eyes as his gaze shifted to Olivia.
“I didn’t realize you had anyone with you.”
“This is Olivia Hamilton.”
Mason shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Olivia said. “Michael says great things about you.”
“And this is her brother, Ivan,” Michael said as Ivan walked up with Gizmo in tow. “He’s deaf, but he can read lips.”
Mason nodded at Ivan. “I could have used you a time or two on a stakeout.”
Ivan smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
Mason turned back to Michael. “We have a lot to talk about, but I’m still trying to convince myself that you’re really standing here and this isn’t some whacked-out dream of mine.”
“Trust me, this is real.” And so was the danger both to himself and anyone he involved. “Did you tell anyone?”
“Avery knows, and she brought in your father.”
Michael frowned.
“I didn’t have a choice, Michael. This isn’t exactly something we can deal with alone.”
“So who else knows?”
“Just your sisters and your father. No one else. They’re not even going to tell your mother until things are sorted out.”
Guilt reemerged. “You could all get into trouble for this. You and Avery could lose your jobs—”
“Forget it. You’re a whole lot more important than any job will ever be. So you know they’re looking for you?”
“Yeah. We know.”
“Avery’s the one leading up the hunt for you,” Mason said. “I want to hear everything, but I think it’s best to get you both out of here so we can talk in private. And I’ve got a place where we should be safe. Your family is meeting us there. How’d you get here?”
Michael paused. “A stolen car that’s a bit worse for wear than when we first took it, which is one reason why it’s only a matter of time until the police pick up our trail.”
“Then we better make sure we stay one step ahead of them,” Mason said. “Any signs of being followed?”
“Not here.”
“I guess it’s hard to kill a dead man.”
“Apparently not.”
As they started walking toward the exit, Michael explained briefly how he had saved Valez’s life, how Valez had orchestrated his death, and what had happened the past few days, including his rescue off the island and their subsequent escape from Felipe’s cabin and the storage unit.
“They’re going to keep looking for you, which is why we need to get out of here.” Mason nodded toward the stadium across the street. “I’m parked just south of 10th Street. The hotel will be a lot safer than out here in the open.”
Olivia went on ahead with Ivan and Gizmo, seeming to understand Michael’s need to talk to Mason in private. Eight months away had left him with dozens of questions, starting with the well-being of his family.
He waited for a pair of joggers to pass, walking in silence past century-old trees and a thin blanket of snow covering the lawns, before speaking again. “I’ve been able to gather bits and pieces of news over the past few months. I know that Emily called off her wedding, and that she shot Charlie Bains while rescuing you. I know my mother threw my father a retirement party in August and Avery’s engaged, but beyond that, I’ve stayed pretty much in the dark.”
“You really have been living under a rock. I guess you haven’t watched the news the past few days either.”
“I’ve been a bit busy recently, trying to thwart my impending death. Has something happened?”
“Where do you want me to start?” Mason shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket as they followed the trail toward the exit.
“Tell me about Avery’s fiancé.”
“Jackson Bryant is Atlanta’s newest associate medical examiner. He’s a Texas transplant, but still a good guy. You’ll like him.”
“It’s hard to believe how much I’ve missed these past few months.” After losing her husband in the line of duty, he was glad to see Avery had finally come to the place where she could remarry. “Does she seem happy?”
“Ver
y.”
“What about Emily? I know she was involved with shooting Charlie, but I don’t have any details.” He’d tried to follow the local news and any information he could get on his family, but he’d been afraid that any contact, or even Facebook stalking, could possibly lead back to him.
“First let me assure you that they’re fine,” Mason began, “but last week, Emily’s classroom was taken hostage, and Tess was kidnapped.”
Michael slowed his stride, feeling as if he’d been living on Mars the past eight months. “Whoa. What in the world happened?”
“Long story short, one of Emily’s students took her class hostage for ransom money in order to save his brother’s life. The positive outcome of all of it was that we were able to take down Bains. And while your sister might not be a cop, that girl definitely has Hunt blood inside of her.”
That statement didn’t surprise him one bit. “What exactly happened?”
“There was a showdown at the mall parking lot.” Mason’s voice was coated with a layer of emotion. “She ended up saving my life.”
“This can’t be easy for her,” Michael said. “I know Emily. She can handle a gun, but she went into teaching because she didn’t want any part of law enforcement.”
“You’re right. This hasn’t been easy on her, but she’s strong, Michael. Emily’s going to be okay.”
Michael frowned, noting the change in Mason’s expression when he said Emily’s name. “You’re not planning to take advantage of her vulnerability now, are you?”
“You always were the protective older brother.”
“And I can still see that spark in your eye,” Michael said. “I told you years ago, my sister was way out of your league.”
“More specifically, you said I had three strikes against me. I was a cop, I didn’t share her faith—”
“And like I said, she’s way out of your league.”
“Maybe that all used to be true, but your death forced me to look at life—and death—differently. And while I know I still have a long way to go in my faith, I’ve learned that being a Christian isn’t about religion, it’s about a relationship with Christ.”
“Wow.” Michael paused in the middle of the trail and turned to his friend, then gathered him up in a big bear hug. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you say that.”
“I’m just glad for the chance to tell you in person.”
Michael took a step back, still smiling at his friend’s news. “And Emily? How does she fit into all of this?” Michael caught Mason’s grin. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
Michael laughed. “Apparently you’re losing your undercover skills.”
Mason started walking again. “I think I’ve always been in love with her. I’m thinking about asking her to marry me. Maybe not right away—things have actually moved faster than I expected—but we’re headed in that direction.”
Michael chuckled. “As much as I love you both, it might take me awhile to get used to my little sister and my best friend being an item.”
“Don’t make it sound like it’s the end of the world. This is a good thing.”
“You know I’m happy for you.” Michael slowed down as they approached the exit. While he knew there would be many more questions on both sides over the coming days, there was one more thing he needed to know now. “What about my mother?”
Mason’s mouth tightened. “Your ‘death’ has been hard on her. She thought she lost her only son.”
“Something I’ve regretted every day for the past eight months.”
“But like your sister, she’s a Hunt. And while the road hasn’t always been easy, she’s strong.”
“Will she forgive me?”
“She’s your mother, Michael. She’ll never stop loving you, no matter what happens.” Mason stopped again at the exit of the park. “I have a question that can’t wait. What about Olivia and Ivan? I’m still trying to connect how they fit into this.”
Michael hesitated and turned, watching Olivia stop to rub behind Gizmo’s ears half a dozen yards ahead of them. “Three days ago I was preparing for my death, and they rescued me.”
“But who are they? What were a young woman and her teenage brother doing on Valez’s island, and how did they know you needed rescuing?”
“Antonio Valez is their father.”
“Wait a minute.” Mason paused, eyes wide, as he took in the news. “You’re not serious, are you?”
“They were both born here in the States. Their mother died a few years ago. They’ve had regular but limited contact with their father over the years.”
“And you trust them?”
“They saved my life.”
“According to what you just told me a few minutes ago, you saved Valez’s life, but that doesn’t mean you did it because you’re on the same side.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Why not?”
Michael’s anger spiked, hating the fact that he needed to defend Olivia and Ivan. “Because it’s not the same. They’re not involved in their father’s work.”
“And you know this how?”
“Because Olivia told me, and according to everything she’s said and done, I have no reason not to trust her.”
“I’m sorry.” Mason rubbed his temple. “Forgive me if all of this is a bit difficult for me to take in, but you’re on the run from the man who wants to kill you, with his son and daughter, of all people, and you expect me to trust them?”
“Yes, I’m asking you to trust them and me. Because now that Kendall is dead, it won’t be long before everyone inside the department assumes that I’m working with Valez on the wrong side of the law.”
Mason looked hard at him and held his gaze. “They already do.”
18
Michael and Olivia stepped out of the elevator onto the fifth floor of the hotel, where Mason had arranged for him to meet with his family. Michael’s heart was hammering. A decade of law enforcement had trained him to keep his emotions in check, but there were some situations that one could never prepare for. And this was one of them. Everything about today had become personal. He’d missed his parents and his sisters. Missed his life as part of the Hunt family. And now that was all about to be given back to him.
Olivia walked beside him down the hall with its generic, pale-green wallpaper and floral-patterned carpet. At the moment, besides Mason’s confession of faith, it seemed like she might be the only good thing that was going to come out of the entire mess. That was if they even made it out with their lives intact.
“You ready for this?” she asked, as the elevator dinged shut behind them.
“I’m ready to see my family, I just didn’t expect the flood of nerves. So much has happened in the past eight months. None of us are the same—at least I know I’m not.”
“And you’re right, they won’t be either, but they’re still your family, and they love you unconditionally. That’s something that will never change.”
“I know, it’s just that”—he glanced down at her—“despite all of my good intentions, I know my decisions have hurt them. They’ve had to live with the reality—right or wrong—that I’m dead. I can’t imagine what they must be feeling.”
“I imagine they’re ecstatic, but also just as nervous to see you walk into that room.” She ran her hand down his arm. “They never imagined you coming back into their lives, and now you are.”
“Like Lazarus rising from the dead.” He shot her a smile that quickly faded. “But even that joy can’t completely erase the grief they’ve gone through the past eight months.”
“Maybe it can.”
Maybe. He stopped in front of room number 536 and drew in a deep breath before knocking.
“You should go in alone,” she said. “I’ll understand—”
“No.” He clasped her hand. “I want you here. That’s why I asked you to come with me while Mason and Ivan take care of the dog.”
The confession took even him by surprise. His few attempts at dating hadn’t exactly worked well for him over the past few years. There had been a few women he’d been able to imagine a future with, but he’d always put work first. And it had never gone over well when he was running down a suspect and couldn’t tell his date where he was, or why she’d just been stood up.
He squeezed her hand, then knocked on the door.
A moment later, he was engulfed in his father’s arms, feeling like Lazarus and the prodigal son all rolled up in one. He’d been the middle child who pushed boundaries and drove his parents crazy growing up. The one who’d let them believe he was dead. But when he looked into his father’s eyes, Michael knew all had been forgiven.
“I’ve missed you, son. More than you’ll ever know. And to have you back …” Tears welled in the older man’s eyes. “It’s the miracle I never even knew to pray for.”
Michael studied his father’s face. He’d aged over the past year and had acquired a few more gray hairs, but he clearly hadn’t lost any of his inner strength.
Avery grabbed onto him next, his fiery, redheaded sister. “After all these months of trying to discover the truth behind your death, this—” she gripped his shoulders—“this isn’t what we expected.”
“It wasn’t what I’d planned either, but seeing you all again feels even better than I thought it could.”
Emily’s tears fell freely as she pulled him into a hug, erasing in one moment the months they’d spent apart, and lessening the guilt threatening to swallow him.
The front door opened, and Mason and Ivan walked into the room with Gizmo in tow, along with a bag of dog food and a water bowl.
Michael pulled Olivia beside him, his own tears pooling, as he began making introductions. “This is Olivia and Ivan. And that little guy is Gizmo. They saved my life.”
He stood beside the couch as his family—in typical Hunt family fashion—hugged Olivia and Ivan. He barely noticed the posh décor of the apartment-styled room, or the smell of coffee brewing in the tiny attached kitchen. All he could do was cling to the realization that they were safe for the moment, and he’d finally come home.