ChapterEighteen
Greer held Emery until the police came. She selfishly clung to him, knowing soon she’d have to break away from the perfect cocoon of his strong arms and chest. As the police asked them to separate for questioning, she reluctantly pulled back. It hurt. Greer’s blue eyes studied her, asking questions she had no answers to.
The questions from the police went fairly quick as she gave one-word answers in the living room and heard Greer doing the same in the kitchen. The police seemed frustrated, and the similarity of their responses almost made her smile. But she wasn’t much for smiling right now.
A rap came at the door. A policeman answered and three people walked in. Two tall men with Greer’s blue eyes—Greer’s dad and grandfather?—and a gorgeous blonde woman standing between them. They each smiled kindly at Emery. She tried to smile back, but her eyes landed on the blonde woman and immediately it registered who she was. Alivia Delta.
She sucked in a breath and put a hand to her throat. The woman from her dream. The one she’d seen Travis gouge with a knife over and over. Her hand slid to her stomach, and she was certain she’d be sick.
“Emery?” Greer’s voice came from the kitchen.
She looked at him and he rushed to her side. He gathered her close, and she was so grateful. She cuddled into him as his family slowly approached.
“You’re quick,” Greer said to them.
“We followed you last night, at a much slower pace, not ticking off highway patrol from Colorado to Utah.”
Greer gave a brief smile at that.
Emery couldn’t stop staring at the blonde woman. The woman was looking at her too. Her blue eyes were cautious and concerned.
“I’m Papa Delta,” the man who’d spoken said to Emery. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
Emery had no idea what to say. She was so confused. She shouldn’t be clinging to Greer and giving him and his family the wrong idea, but she couldn’t help herself. “You too,” she said in a small voice.
“Keith Delta,” the other man said. “Greer’s father.”
“Nice to meet you,” she mumbled. Thankfully, neither of them tried to shake her hand or remove her from Greer’s arms. It was her only sanctuary at the moment.
“Excuse me, sir,” one of the policemen said to Papa.
His dad and grandpa exchanged a smile and excused themselves to speak with the police.
Emery looked at the woman. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Alivia.”
Alivia nodded, biting at her lip. “I felt prompted to come. I’m so sorry about your brother.”
“Thank you.” But she had to know. “Did he try to murder you and your boyfriend?”
Alivia cautiously bobbed her head.
Emery’s stomach turned over, and she dug her fingers into Greer’s back. Thankfully, he didn’t push her away or so much as grunt. He held her patiently and sweetly like she’d known he would. She tried to relax her hands.
“I don’t think he wanted to kill us,” Alivia said as if trying to convince herself and Emery.
“But he yelled at you ‘it’s time to die’?” She had to hear it from the source.
“He did, but even when he kidnapped us, he said several times he didn’t want to kill a gorgeous blonde.” She blushed a little at that. “And at one point, he threatened to kill Klein and I called him on it. He admitted that I was right and he wouldn’t outright kill him, but he’d shoot him in the shoulder and leave him behind.” She studied Emery. “He wanted the secret, but he didn’t try to kill us until we escaped and then had the gunfight at the end. It was like being in battle made him flip out and lose his humanity. If that makes any sense.”
It did make sense. She’d seen it after Travis’s last deployment. Battle did something to him—hardened him, made him cold. He’d been a great brother to her, but he had changed.
“Sometimes the military life does that to a man,” Greer said quietly.
Alivia raised her eyebrows as if shocked Greer had spoken so much.
Emery knew Greer’s words were true, and it hit her so hard. Greer had shot Travis to save Alivia’s life just like he’d shot the Voice to save Emery’s. He’d instinctively reacted both times. How could she be so grateful he’d protected her and protected his cousin, yet so sad and conflicted that he’d killed Travis?
“I’m sorry for your brother’s loss,” Alivia said again.