“Ramses. Where is she? Your man is telling the truth, we’re not armed. Come meet me like a man.”
My fingers flew to my lips as I pulled away from Miss Guidry. I knew that voice. I’d grown up with that voice. For eighteen years we’d lived under the same roof until he left for college.
“He’s really alive.”
“Emma, go,” Rett commanded.
“No. Kyle said he isn’t armed. You won’t let him hurt me.” I didn’t even consider he was now going by a different name or what his men had done. He was my brother, Kyle O’Brien.
Rett seized my arm. “Not like this, Emma. Go.”
I pulled my arm away. “I may be your wife, but I can make my own decision.”
We both pivoted near the end of the staircase. In the large foyer staring back at us were two men. No introduction was necessary for either. One was the man I’d thought was my brother. The other was the brother of the man in the picture Rett showed me when I first arrived. While his brother Greyson had died, by the evidence before us, Liam Ingalls was very much alive.
I sucked in my breath as my eyes opened wide.
“Fuck, Emma,” Kyle said, “tell me you didn’t marry him.”
My tongue faltered, forgetting how to speak as I stared at my brother. This was New Orleans; maybe he was a ghost or one of Miss Guidry’s spirits. However, I knew he wasn’t, and neither was the boy-turned-man beside him who’d taken my heart. Liam Ingalls had taken more than that. It was then I realized Rett had a pistol in his hand pointed at the two men.
With the large light shining down in the foyer, I scanned them both. With the same color hair and eyes as me, I again questioned if Kyle and I were biologically related. Liam was Kyle’s polar opposite. Where Kyle was golden blond like me, Liam’s hair was dark like Rett’s. Kyle’s eyes and mine were both blue. Liam’s were a mesmerizing green. I’d seen those eyes in my dreams and nightmares. After my family’s death, images of his eyes brought on tears with the memory of how Liam told me he was leaving and that there was no future for us.
“Emma, go the fuck upstairs,” Rett growled as he lifted his pistol.
He wasn’t the only one holding a gun. Ian and Henri both had barrels pointed at Kyle and Liam and in the distance, I heard others coming.
Kyle lifted his hands above his head. “I told your man I’m not armed, Ramses, and neither is Ingalls. There’s no need to kill us like you did Greyson.”
Rett took a step forward. “Unarmed, it will make it easier to kill you both.”
“No.” I had found my voice.
“Emma, upstairs.”
“You married him?” Liam asked.
“Why are you here?” I asked as memories of my abduction came back. “Leave. Listen to Rett and get out.”
Kyle spoke with his hands now on top of his head. “Em, I came to tell you what’s happening and to free you from...him.”
Free.
“I’m not captive, Kyle. I live here.” The lies I’d lived with for too long gave me strength. “Furthermore, why would I go with you? I’m Rett’s wife. You lied to me. God, Kyle, you’re alive. You let me think...let me mourn....”
The male image of me took a step closer, but stilled his steps as all the guns lifted, still pointed his direction.
Kyle shook his head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before now. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Em. I meant to include you. That’s why I hired Underwood to watch you and get you here to New Orleans.”
My gaze went to Rett and back to Kyle. “You hired Ross?” I lifted my hands to the side of my head. “I can’t believe you, Kyle.” I looked to Rett and shook my head. “I’ll ask Ross.”
“Sis, he’s dead,” Kyle said. “Your husband had Underwood killed. Ramses not only had him killed, he had Underwood’s death ruled a suicide.”
“What?”
“He’s lying, Emma,” Rett replied. The volume of his voice rose. “Now get the fuck out of this house.”
“Are you going to slaughter me in front of my sister?”