Chapter 22

Emma

A jolt and a screeching noise wake me up. Getting my bearings straight, I look around and realize that I’m still on the plane. From what I gather, we’ve just landed.

I nudge Cade and whisper, “Babe, I think we’re home.”

He groggily moans, opens his eyes, and looks around. “You ok?” he asks.

“Of course. You?”

“Stiff.”

“Well, you are an old man,” I tease.

“Watch it,” he says. “I’m still agile enough to spank your ass.”

“Promise?” I whisper. He always threatens but never follows through. He just laughs at my response.

He gets up from his seat and walks over to Ari and Rebel. “Hey brother, how ya feeling?”

“Like I’ve been shot. How the fuck do you think I’m feeling?” he says grumpily.

“Nice to see that you took your happy drugs today,” Caden says as Rebel scowls at him.

“So, you’re Caden’s girl?” I hear from the woman sitting across the aisle from me.

“I am,” I reply.

“I’m his aunt, Aillise, Balefire’s mam.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say. I’m really not sure what to make of her. But I have a feeling that she’s going to be around for a while and that I should probably get to know her.

When the plane finally stops moving and the doors open, Caden and Ryder help Rebel out. He seems to be doing a little better, but I can tell that the pain medicine that Doc gave him is still leaving him groggy.

There are two SUVs waiting for us next to where the plane parked. Hawk is standing next to one, eagerly waiting for us to get to him. When he spots Caden and Ryder with Rebel, he rushes up to them and offers assistance.

“Welcome home!” he says sarcastically.

Caden says, “Call Brewer. He needs to meet us at the house.”

“Already have,” Hawk replies. It appears that they both know who this Brewer is, but I have no idea. The guys get Rebel situated in one of the vehicles, then return to the plane to get the bags out. One SUV has Rebel, Ari, and all the bags. The rest of us cram into the other one. Before we know it we are on the road back to Edinboro.

I never thought I would be able to consider Caden’s home my home, but as we pull up into the driveway my first thought is that it’s good to be home. Caden and the guys get out of the car and leave Honey and me to deal with Conner and Aillise.

“The boys are going to get Rebel,” I say to them, pulling my keys from my bag. “Come inside with me and you all can get situated. I am sure you are both tired.”

“We are, thank you,” Aillise says. They follow me to the front steps and as we approach the door I notice a piece of paper pinned to the center. Scrawled in the same handwriting as the threatening notes I had received before I left for Ireland are the words, “Welcome Home.”

I think that I was the only one to see the note, so I quickly pull it down before the others approach the door. I’ll show this to Caden when Rebel is settled.

I unlock and open the door and walk in as Honey and the O’Byrnes follow me inside. Seconds later, the boys come in with Rebel. They take him straight to Ari’s room and lay him on the bed. I’m surprised to see that he’s still awake. He doesn’t look well; he has a pale and ashen look to his face.

Caden turns toward Doc and Ryder and says, “You boys look beat. We’ve done all we can here and you need to get some rest. There’s shit we have to deal with tomorrow and I want everyone fresh.” They nod in unison, say goodnight to everyone, and leave.

Hawk looks at his watch and says, “Brewer should be here in ten minutes.” Caden nods and they both go out to get the rest of the bags. Ari remains with Rebel and I’m surprised to see Aillise coming into the room to check on her son. It’s the first I’ve seen her pay him any attention—I’m not sure if she’s just been giving Ari and him some space, or if she’s so removed from her children that the fact that he’s been shot doesn’t faze her.

“How is he?” I hear her ask Ari.

“Mam, I am right here. I’m gonna be ok,” Rebel replies. “You don’t need to talk as if I am not here.”

“I know,” she says, “but I thought you were in a lot of pain and I didn’t want to hurt you by making you talk.”

“It doesn’t hurt to talk.” Rebel says. “Have you met Ari?”

“No, I haven’t, but I am assuming by the way she has not left your side that she’s your girl?”

“She is.” He looks over to Ari with adoration in his eyes. “She’s my world.”

“I can see that,” she says with a smile. “I’m Aillise. Nice to meet you, Ari.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“And, do I understand correctly, you’re Caden’s sister?” Ari nods then Aillise looks over to Rebel. “Don’t you find that odd?” she asks.

“We’re not related, Mam,” Rebel says defensively.

“I know, but it still seems a little odd.”

“Not to us.”

“You don’t have to get so defensive, Balefire. I was only just saying.”

“Well, I don’t like people criticizing my relationship. I love Ari and she loves me. We’re not related and her brother has given us his blessing on the relationship.”

“Why would Caden need to approve your relationship?” she asks him.

“Ari’s father is deceased. Out of respect for her older brother and respect for my prez, I got his blessing.”

“Well, aren’t you a good boy.” Something in her tone sounds sarcastic; instead of her feeling proud that her son was respectful, it seems to me that she is taking it as a slight of some sort.

“Well, I think I’ll let you get some rest, Rebel. Aillise, why don’t we go back into the living room and relax. Rebel needs his rest,” I say.

She looks annoyed but agrees and follows me out of the room. Caden is at the door and a tall, rather handsome man is coming into the house. This must be Brewer, I think. He’s carrying a medical bag and now I know why he had to be called. He’s a doctor.

Honey is in the kitchen rustling about when I walk in. I ask, “Whatcha doing?”

“Oh, just making some coffee and getting some snacks together. It wasn’t like we flew commercial and were fed on the plane. I’m sure everyone is probably famished.”

“Good idea. Can I help?”

“Yeah, why don’t you get coffee cups, cream, and sugar? I’ll cut up some cheese and we can make a cold cut plate for folks to snack on.”

“Sounds good.” As we’re working on getting things together, Ari walks into the kitchen.

“How’s Rebel?” Honey asks.

“He’ll be ok, I think. The doctor is with him now.” She pauses and I clearly see the exhaustion on her face. It’s easy to see that she didn’t get any sleep on the flight. “Brewer says he’s really lucky. From what he can tell, the bullet exited through Rebel’s abdomen cleanly without hitting any major organs. He’s concerned about the blood loss, but says that it is manageable. He said he’ll give me a more accurate update once he fully examines him.”

She plops herself down onto one of the bar stools. “Is that coffee done yet?”

“Almost, sweetie,” Honey replies. Ari lays her head down on the counter.

“Ari, you really should go get some sleep,” I say.

“I know, I will. I just want to wait until Brewer is done examining Rebel. I won’t be able to sleep until I know for sure that he’s going to be ok.”

Well, I can’t argue with her there. I’d feel the same way if it were Caden.

Once the coffee is done and Ari gets her cup, Honey and I bring the serving pot, cups, and snacks into the family room. Aillise and Connor appear grateful as they both pour themselves a cup. I’m still not sure how I feel about those two. There is something about them that makes me leery. But I guess that time will tell. I’m sure we will be spending a lot of time with them in the near future.