After the Storm (KGI #8)(108)

But here he was. Him and Joe both. Assuming command of their own team, and a damn good one from the looks of things. Rio and Steele were hard acts to follow, but Nathan and Joe would soon give both team leaders a run for their money.

“Doesn’t anyone ever answer their goddamn phones?”

Donovan whirled around to see Sean Cameron stride into the restaurant where they’d arranged to meet Walt Breckenridge. The look on Sean’s face made Donovan’s blood run cold. His brothers came to attention, every single one of them tense and ready to explode into action.

“We’ve got big problems,” Sean said tersely. “Did you take care of Breckenridge? Is he out of the picture?”

“No,” Donovan said carefully, dread hitting him squarely in the gut. “Not at all. What’s the problem?”

“Eve’s the problem,” Sean bit out. “She pulled a gun on Rusty when Rusty got to your house. She forced her to drive her from the compound to the hardware store, where she made Rusty empty the safe and cash register. She then tied Rusty up and left her behind the counter and took off in Rusty’s Jeep. Oh, and she left Travis and Cammie at your place.”

CHAPTER 36

TRAVIS read the letter Eve had left on the dresser in utter disbelief. His hands shook violently and he thanked God Cammie was still asleep. What were they going to do? Eve had left them. He didn’t believe for a minute that she’d callously deserted them. Nor did he believe the lies she’d written, that they were better off with Donovan and that she didn’t want him to worry about her.

It was a good-bye. The finality—and sadness—to the words on the note instilled aching grief in his heart. He was afraid for her. What if his father found her? What if he’d already found her? The thought sent a chill bone-deep through his body.

Here, she was protected. Donovan wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. What had happened to make her take off on her own?

He knew she was protecting him and Cammie—just as she’d always done. But why leave? It didn’t make sense. What had driven her to this act of desperation? What did she know that he didn’t? What hadn’t she told him?

Rusty burst through his door just then, her glance going toward the bed. Then she grimaced when she took in Travis’s expression and the note he held in his hand.

“You know,” she murmured.

“What do you know?” Travis demanded. “Do you know where she is, Rusty?”

Rusty sighed. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t. But we’ll find her, Travis. I swear to you we’ll find her. Sean is letting Donovan know. Believe me when I say my brothers on a mission is a scary-as-shit sight.”

“I don’t understand,” Travis said, allowing his frustration to leak into his tone. He was barely managing to keep it under control. He was scared. More frightened than when it had been just the three of them on the run, constantly looking over their shoulders and worried that they’d be discovered at any moment.

But they’d been together. And now Eve was God-only-knew where, and he and Cammie were just supposed to stay here with Donovan and have a happy life when Eve wasn’t in the picture.

To hell with that. If this was what bought them security, then he didn’t want it. He’d rather take his chances—with Eve—with his family intact, even if it meant running for the rest of their lives.

Rusty put her hand on his shoulder as if sensing the turmoil of his thoughts. “We’ll find her, Travis.”

He looked bleakly at her just as Cammie stirred and called out softly.

“Trav?”

Travis stared hard at Rusty, telling her without words not to tell Cammie what was going on. If Travis had his way, Cammie would never know. Eve would be found. Excuses would be made for her absence. But she would not know that their sister had left them in Donovan’s care and had fled.

Travis still didn’t understand any of it. He was sick to his soul and he damned Walt Breckenridge with every breath in his body. It sickened him that he was of his father’s blood. That he shared that bond. How could he have come from such a monster, and what did that make himself?

No, he’d never be like him. He’d die first. Never would he hurt others as his father had.

Travis walked over to the bed just as Rusty’s cell phone rang. When she answered, her eyes widened in surprise. Then she only said, “Okay, we’ll be here and ready.”

Travis picked Cammie up, looking at Rusty in silent question.

“Nathan and Swanny are on their way over to get us,” Rusty explained quietly. “You remember them.” Then her gaze shifted in Cammie’s direction and then back to Travis in silent communication.

As much as it frustrated Travis not to demand information, to know what the hell was going on and if his sister had been found, he wouldn’t traumatize Cammie that way.

Rusty walked over and smiled at Cammie. “What do you say I help you get dressed? Nathan and Swanny are on their way over to get us and we’re going to my parents. Your grandparents,” she said, emphasizing that they should be considered Travis and Cammie’s grandmother and grandfather.

Tears burned Travis’s eyes because they weren’t his family. Eve was. Without her he had no ties. No one who loved him unconditionally and who had sacrificed everything.

Cammie looked cheered by Rusty’s declaration, and then she brightened as if a sudden thought had occurred to her.