By the time we got to the Waters farm, the family home was engulfed in flames. While the glow could be spotted from further away, the flames came into view as soon as we passed the forest. When Eric pulled out onto the main road, I didn’t expect there to be much left of the house. I wasn’t sure how Eric managed to drive with so much composure – or maybe it was the adrenaline feeding him – but I’d never seen him weave on the road past all holes and mounds so quickly.

“Eric, slow down, please.”

“I’m not going to crash, Emma. I just need to get there.” We were lucky enough to find Mr. Front, the butcher, along the way. He lent us his truck.

“I understand.”

I didn’t say another word until he pulled up behind over a dozen cars. The fire truck had run out of water and was turning around to get more from the lake. In a town this small, there were no hydrants or sufficient safety measures to fight these kind of blazes.

“Stay in the car,” he ordered.

Like hell I will.

As soon as he ran off toward the fire, I stepped out of the car. My feet ached as I stumbled forward, skipping over every second step after him. Julian was the first to see me and he ran over, lifting me into his arms.

“You all right, Em?”

“Yeah, just a nasty cut on my foot. Huntz is dead.”

“Something tells me there’s more to that story.”

“We’ll chat when this is over. Bring me to Eric, please.”

Julian carried me to where Eric was standing, pulling on his hair. His chest was rising and falling so quickly, I thought he might have a heart attack.

“You were supposed to stay in the car.” Eric’s brows furrowed.

Julian laughed. “I thought you already knew how well Emma listens.” But I don’t think Eric heard him. He just stood there, hopeless and speechless. All I wanted to do was hold him.

“Casualties?” I whispered into Julian’s ear.

“None.”

“Then maybe someone should tell him!”

Tristan put his arm around Eric, saying, “Don’t worry, walls can be rebuilt; lives can’t. We got here just in time. The ambulance took your parents to the hospital.”

“You mean, they’re alive?” Eric’s jaw dropped open.

“Yes, although they’re in critical condition. Huntz took some anger out on your father, but they’re in good hands.”

I’d never seen a man fall to his feet and cry so hard.

“Let me down, Julian. Please let me down.”

My brother set me down by Eric. I took him into my arms and hugged him as tightly as I could from the side. Once he composed the first wave of emotion, Eric must have gotten another kick of adrenaline. I nodded, looking at his face, and said, “It’s time to go. There’s nothing you can do here now.”

Max, the family dog found us, and buried his head in Eric’s lap.

His friend Derek who was standing nearby, coughing into his sleeve, added, “She’s right, Eric, you need to go to the hospital too.”

“Where’s Hunter?”

“We sent him off in one of the ambulances as well.” Julian tapped me on my shoulder. “Come on, Em. We’ll take you guys. It’s over an hour drive.”

He lifted me up while Tristan took Eric under his arm. I sat in the back seat of Derek’s truck, cuddling into my man, while my brother drove. It seemed like the longest trip of my life.

“Thank you,” Eric said. “Thank you for saving them.”

“We were lucky, Eric. You were right to send us there. And thank you for saving Emma.”

“She’s quite the fighter,” he chuckled. “You should be very proud of her.”

“We are.”

“I would have died if it wasn’t for you, Eric. You know that,” I whispered.

“Let’s keep that between us, please.” He gave me a humble kiss, and I leaned against him.

At the hospital, at my brothers’ orders and flashing of identification cards, the doctors took care of my foot and Eric’s cut as if they were treating the President himself. Both his parents were in the recovery room. His father had undergone surgery for a broken leg, fractured ribcage that punctured his lung and apparently had brain swelling. He was in intensive care, in an induced coma, with his skull still open to relieve the pressure. His mother had a burnt left arm and would undergo long treatments to heal the flesh with future skin grafts. But the important thing was that they were alive, and that justice was finally brought onto John Huntz.

Sitting in my bed, all I wanted was to go see Eric. Tristan got my crutches and helped me maneuver through the hallway, when I saw Missy sitting in a chair against the wall.

“I’m so sorry, Emma. I didn’t know he’d come back to my house. He never has before. I’ve seen him a few times only. But not to my house.”

“Missy, it’s all right. It’s not your fault. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Why are you here?”

“Blake had to come in for smoke inhalation. The Fields brothers and your brothers pulled Mr. and Ms. Waters out of the house.”

“You didn’t tell me it was that close.” I looked up at Julian.

“We came out with Joanne first. It took a bit longer for Mr. Waters because of the broken leg. He was barely conscious, mumbling.”

“Missy, there was someone else with Huntz when he hit me. Do you know who it was?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, he never introduced me to anyone. And I didn’t see them.” I wondered whether that person was a threat and what Huntz had promised him in return for his help. Hopefully, it was just someone he hired. My gut twisted in an argument.

“That’s all right. How about if I introduce you to your half-brother then?”

“What?”

I took her hand into both of mine. “Missy, you have a family your father deprived you of. You have a mother who had loved you very much, until the day she was lied to and told that you died at birth. There’s no need to hide any longer.”

Her hand flew up to her chest as she repressed a sniffle. “And a father who wanted you to be his own and to love you as his own. The Waters are your family. Donna Jo is your mother. Eric and Annabelle Waters are your half-siblings.”

“That’s impossible.” Missy shook her head sideways. Tears were running down her cheeks like a river.

“You’re not alone. You never were. They had no idea who you were, and your mother mourned you for years.”

I took her hand and stood up, leading her into Eric’s room. The reunion squeezed my heart. The connection between her and Eric was immediate. I’d never seen anything like that in my life, and it made this job so worthwhile. Even Julian shed a tear as he wrapped his arm around me.

“I guess that family dinner should have an extra guest, then.”

“You betcha. As soon as we can get Annabelle, Eric’s sister, into town, we’ll have a huge family dinner, with a bonfire and games and songs.”

“I’ve missed you, Emma.” Julian kissed the top of my head.

“I’ve always been here, just a little lost for a while. Eric found me. He helped me find me again.” I sat down at Eric’s side and kissed him on his cheek.

“Thank you,” he said.

“You have nothing to thank me for.”

“You gave me my family back.” He squeezed Missy’s hand.

“And you gave me the strength I needed to feel again, to love again, and to hope again.”

I snuggled into his side while Missy did the same on the other. Julian sat down and was texting, Tristan was outside making a business call, and I couldn’t be happier that our adventure ended with everyone I loved and cared about alive.

While deep in my heart I was jumping for joy that my first case was finally solved and behind me, something told me that this family’s troubles were far from over, and that it would be a long time before the Waters found true peace.

* * *

Dear Reader,

The Waters family is not out of harm’s way just yet. In (book 2 in the Crossed Series), Annabelle Waters comes back to town to help her parents, but little does she know the trouble she found in San Francisco follows her home. And if you thought Cash Wagner was interesting, Grace’s brother stars in (book 3 in the Crossed Series). Both novels are now available. Full series can be now be .

Happy Reading,

Lacey Silks