“How did they make Evangeline disappear?”
It took Dalton kneeling down next to T.A., gathering her close to his side, to give T.A. the strength to answer.
“A plane crash. We went down in a plane crash in the ocean. I survived, and Evangeline died that day.”
Chapter Four
“Jesus,” Lucky muttered, breaking the silence.
Reaper looked to Shade’s father, Will, and Jonas. “Why did the FBI fly you two into Treepoint and have you brought to the courthouse?”
Jonas gave voice to the fury that had been brewing on his face since he’d walked into the courtroom. “I was brought in because fucking Hammer knew I would have stopped him if I knew he was going with Ginny without me. I was leaving our house to get a client released on bond when I was waylaid by the FBI. I’m in the dark just as much as you.”
Reaper then looked to Will, who made no effort to hide his concern for Ginny.
“I had just gotten out of bed when they came knocking on my door.” Will paused as if he was thinking before answering the question. “My guess is Hammer made that part of the bargain for Jonas and myself to be there at the courthouse so we’d be able help if you need us.”
“The FBI bringing Jonas into the loop is understandable, but why you?” Rider questioned what was on everyone’s mind.
“I was the one who asked Freddy to take Ginny in and raise her as his own.” The former sheriff and retired officer had to clear his several throat times as he spoke. “Twenty-one years ago, Hammer called and asked me to meet him—told me to be on the down-low and make sure no one followed me or knew where I was going. When I met him, he had Ginny, who was a little spot of nothing, and told me to find a safe place to hide her. And before you ask, that’s pretty much all he told me, other than Allerton would kill her and anyone who knew about her if she was found.”
Reaper felt his phone vibrate with a text message. Time was running out.
“Viper, go to the club and pack me a duffle bag with clothes and what you think I’ll need,” Reaper ordered. “I’ll meet you at the airport in ten minutes.”
Viper strode over to his bike.
Reaper turned back to Will. “Hammer asked you to hide a child and you didn’t ask him any fucking questions?” Reaper asked harshly, his stomach churning at what Ginny had gone through as a child.
When Shade made a move toward Reaper, Will reached out to touch his son’s arm. “It’s okay.” Will shook his head at Shade before turning back to Reaper.
“Hammer wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t a matter of life or death for Ginny. How she ended up in Hammer’s hands showed me two things: someone important trusted her with him, and they knew him well enough to know that Hammer would give his life to protect her. Hammer pulled my fat ass out of the fire enough times for me to trust him implicitly if shit hit the fan.”
Reaper admitted he did too.
“In the years since then, you never discussed Ginny with Hammer again?” Reaper couldn’t believe the two men had never connected again.
“Twice. Once when I called to try to convince him to let Rachel and me keep her before I gave her to Freddy.”
Shade’s usually impassive face turned into one of surprise at his father’s answer.
“And the second was when Ginny called me, begging me to make Hammer let her stay with the Colemans. Our conversations were short, and he never gave me any more information than he did the first time I took her, and his answer was the same both times—no.”
Shade moved closer to his father. “If you wanted to keep her, to raise her yourself, why did you listen to Hammer and give her to Freddy?”
“If it was only me, I would have,” Will admitted. “But there was a connection that could be traced between me and Hammer. I had to put Rachel, you, and Penni’s safety first.”
“Why did you pick Freddy Coleman?”
Reaper was glad Shade had asked the question and not him. The Coleman brothers were glaring at Shade as if he’d insulted their father.
“You ever have the opportunity to see Freddy with his kids when he came to town?” Will asked his son.
“No,” Shade answered. He had never met the man.
“Exactly. If you had, you wouldn’t ask me that question. Freddy loved his kids, and they loved him back. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body; he homeschooled his children and had promised to let me see Ginny once a week.”
“You love Ginny,” Reaper stated out loud.
Will’s face broke, and he had to lift a shaky hand to cover his expression. It took a full minute for him to gather himself before he told them, “She begged to stay with me; called me Papa Will when I took her to live with the Wests. Yes, I love her. She’s as much as a daughter to me as Shade is a son. Whatever plan you have, include me. I’m going with you.”