Defending Everly (Mountain Mercenaries #5)(6)

It was heartbreaking that two such amazing people had a daughter who’d turned out as Ella had.

The second she and Ball exited the secure section of the airport, Everly saw Me-Maw and Pop. Without worrying if Ball was following, she headed straight for them. They’d said they would meet her at the airport, but Everly had told them not to worry about it, that she and Ball were going to rent a car and she’d meet them back at their house.

Of course they ignored her and came anyway.

Not caring about anything other than feeling her grandma’s arms around her, Everly dropped her duffel bag and practically dove into the hug waiting for her.

For the first time since she’d heard about Elise’s disappearance, she broke down.

Smelling the familiar scent of Me-Maw and seeing how fragile she looked, Everly just lost it. It took several minutes, but eventually she got herself under control and looked up at Pop. He was standing behind his wife, as usual, and had a hand on her back as she held Everly.

She went to hug him and felt someone touching her. For a moment, she’d forgotten all about Ball. Turning her head, she saw him take a step back, and realized only then that he’d had his hand on her lower back the entire time she’d been hugging Me-Maw, lending silent support.

Before she could process that, Pop enveloped her in a hug. He smelled the same too . . . like the cigars he liked to smoke even though his wife scolded him for it.

“Hey, Pop,” Everly said.

“Hey, kiddo. You okay?” he asked.

Everly took a deep breath and nodded. She wasn’t, but she had to be strong. Her grandparents should be enjoying their retirement. Instead, they’d been busy raising their second granddaughter, and now were full of guilt and self-recrimination over her disappearance.

“We’re going to find her,” she told her pop with more confidence than she felt. She had no idea if they would find Elise, but with the Mountain Mercenaries at her back, hopefully there was a chance. Even a slim chance was better than no chance at all.

“Did you guys drive here?” Everly asked as she bent to pick up her duffel bag. It wasn’t at her feet, and she looked up to see it slung over Ball’s shoulder. She wanted to insist that she could carry her own bag, but she knew Me-Maw would scold her and tell her to let the “nice young man” carry her stuff.

“We Ubered,” Pop said proudly.

Everly chuckled. “Seriously?”

“Yup. Didn’t want to drive all the way down here, and we knew you were renting a car, so we figured we’d just ride back with you,” Me-Maw said. “Now . . . introduce us to your friend.”

“Right. Me-Maw, Pop, this is Kannon Black. He’s a part of a special group that will be helping me find Elise. This is my grandmother, Allison Adams.”

Allison held out her hand in greeting. “It’s very nice to meet you, Kannon.”

“Same here. I only wish it was under better circumstances. And please, call me Ball,” he said, shaking her hand in return.

“Ball . . . how unusual,” her grandmother murmured. “Let me guess . . . cannonball?”

“Pardon?” Ball asked.

Allison chuckled. “Is that how you got that nickname? Because of your first name? Kannon. Ball?”

Ball smiled. “Actually, no. But that’s very appropriate.”

Everly couldn’t suppress the grin at her grandmother’s words. “And this is my grandfather, Landen,” she said, gesturing to her pop. Ball shook her grandfather’s hand.

“Thank you for your service,” Pop said.

Everly blinked in surprise. “How did you know he was in the military?”

“I can just tell,” Pop said, then turned to Ball. “What branch?”

“Coast Guard, sir.”

“It’s Pop. Or Landen, if you want. None of that sir crap.”

“Sorry,” Ball said. “It’s ingrained in me. I grew up in the south. My mom would smack the back of my head if I didn’t show my respect by calling you sir.”

Pop chuckled. “Fine. You’ve shown me respect. Now enough. It’s Pop or Landen to you.”

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s get the car. I’m eager to get home and get to Elise’s computer.”

Her words were a reminder about why she was there, and Everly could’ve kicked herself when she saw Pop frown and the worry lines appear on Me-Maw’s forehead. She linked her arm with her grandmother’s and pulled her toward the rental car area of the airport. “We’re gonna find her, Me-Maw,” she said softly. “I swear I won’t give up until she’s home.”

“I’m not an idiot,” Allison said. “I know the statistics just as well as you do. And I know all about sex trafficking. Elise is beautiful, like you, and I’m terrified that we’ll never see her again.”

Ball responded before Everly could. “From what Everly tells me, Elise is smart. She knows her sister will do whatever it takes to find her. Have faith, Allison. We’re going to look under every rock and in every crevice and find your granddaughter.”

“Thank you,” Me-Maw said with a sniff. Then she took a deep breath and seemed to straighten. “I’ve got a roast in the Crock-Pot,” she told Everly. “You’re too skinny. You need to keep your strength up. Have you been sleeping?”