“You know she isn’t your sister.”
“Is it true?” I asked Rett in disbelief. “Is Ross dead?”
More men had gathered, coming from where I wasn’t certain. In a mere matter of minutes, they outnumbered Kyle and Liam by at least eight to two and also eight firearms to none.
“Get them out of here,” Rett ordered.
As a large man I didn’t know gathered Kyle’s arms behind his back and my brother struggled, he said, “Em, you look just like her and so do I. There’s so much you need to know. Ramses is a liar and a murderer. Come with us.”
There were too many things going through my head. “Where have you been for four years?”
“It’s a long story.”
I took a step toward him. “You talk about Rett, what about you and your men? Did you know what your men did to me?” Tears infiltrated my words. “You let them hurt me. Get out of this house and out of New Orleans.”
“Get him out,” Rett yelled.
Kyle’s head shook back and forth as he was dragged toward the door. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been trying to find you. It was the court filing this afternoon for the marriage license that tipped us off.”
“Your men,” I said, explaining, “the ones who took me.”
“No, Em.” Kyle’s expression was puzzled. “My men would never touch you. I wouldn’t allow it.” His blue eyes went to Rett and back to me. “Listen to me, don’t stay here. Come with us and learn the truth.”
As I tried to grasp what Kyle was saying, Rett’s men surrounded him and Liam, pushing them through the double front doors out into the yard and driveway. As the volume rose, the air filled with Rett’s orders.
If Kyle’s men didn’t take me, who did those men work for?
My stomach lurched at the only other possibility—one I couldn’t bear to entertain.
Rett stood in the doorway. Turning, he looked back my direction. “Emma, remember what you said.”
My expression must have asked for clarification.
His dark stare bore down on me. “You said you’d trust me.”
There was too much.
I needed clarification.
I hurried past Rett and yelled to the outside for Kyle. “Who isus? Who should I listen to, you and Liam?”
Kyle turned my way.
“You’ve both lied to me.”
Kyle’s voice came over the dull roar of the commotion. “Em, I’m sorry. I’ll tell you the truth. Us doesn’t mean Liam. You should listen to our mother.”
“She died,” I reminded him.
He fought as he was being pushed into the back seat of an SUV.
“Kyle,” I called one last time.
“Jezebel, Em. She’s alive and I swear, she can explain.”
As Kyle disappeared into the SUV, I stepped back and back, into the foyer. My heart beat in overtime against my breastbone as the bodice of the dress grew tighter. Breathing became difficult as too many thoughts clouded my mind and I sank to the stairs, sitting on the bottom step. Beyond the double doors, Rett’s men disappeared, taking away my brother and my first love.
When Rett stepped back inside, he closed the double doors. With a deep breath, he ran his hand over his hair, pushing it back from where it had become disheveled. I looked up, wondering who was telling me the truth.