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?”
“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.”