“The only suspect we’re missing is Giada. We can’t connect her directly … yet … but we will.”
“Giada Carlisi?” Val asked. “So we’re not done. Because Giada has her own people, and the Bureau killed her husband and sons. She’s a crazy bitch.”
“We’re done,” Travis said.
“What about Giulia? Vittoria? Her bodyguard Chiara? What about Angelo’s new wife?” Val said, her tone bordering accusatory.
“Angelo got married? When?” I asked. He was an uncompromising bachelor, married to the family. He was known to assault his girlfriends, and only one had stuck around more than a year. We had so many pictures of her battered body; I wondered how long she would stay. Then she disappeared. I wasn’t sure if I should fear the woman who had finally tamed him or fear for her.
“We’re currently unable to locate Coco,” Travis said.
“Since when?” Val asked, seeming concerned.
“Since yesterday.”
“Coco is Angelo’s wife?” I asked.
Travis nodded, but he didn’t look at me, a telltale sign he wasn’t being completely honest.
“Then we’re not finished,” Val snapped. “Any loose ends equals unfinished. They are the wives of the Carlisis, and Chiara is a known hitman for Giada. What? They aren’t dangerous because they’re women? Tell me you’re not that stupid.”
Travis bristled. “We have it covered, Val.”
“It’s all or nothing,” Val said, pointing at him. “Those words came from your mouth, Maddox.”
“I know what I said.”
“Then why are you being so careless now? Why would you … oh.” Recognition flashed in her eyes, and she realized the rush. Thomas was in a hurry to get home, and no one could argue with that. Not even the director.
Liis covered her mouth, her eyes glossing over.
Agent Hyde put her hand on her holster, inching back from the kitchen window curtain with two fingers. “Incoming,” she said.
Liis tried to run for the door, but Travis stopped her.
“Just wait,” he said.
Agent Hyde relaxed. “It’s not us.”
Travis’s brows pulled together. “Who is it?”
Hyde nodded toward the door. After two knocks, Trenton pushed through, leading Camille in by the hand. They instantly knew something was up, gazing around to the strange positions of everyone in the room.
“Fuck,” Travis said, glancing out the window, and then tried to herd his brother out the door. “You have to go.”
“What the hell?” Trenton said, slinking away from Travis’s grasp. “Hi to you, too, spunk trumpet.”
“Seriously, Trent,” Travis said. “You can’t be here right now.”
“Why not?” Camille asked.
“We’re having a family meeting,” I said.
“We’re not family?” Trenton asked, offended.
Travis sighed, and then raised both arms, pointing eight fingers at the door. “You have to leave, Trent! Now! We’ll explain later, but for now ….”
Something outside caught Hyde’s attention, and she held up a finger. “Everyone quiet. Incoming.”
Travis rolled his eyes and pulled Trenton to the side. “Whatever you see in a few seconds, just … try not to freak out. Let Liis have her moment.”
“What do you mean?” Trenton asked.
“Just keep your fucking mouth shut for once,” Travis growled.
“What’s going on?” Camille asked me.
“You keep it together, too. This was supposed to be for Liis.”
We waited behind the sofa, staring toward the door. Liis stood in the middle of the room holding the baby monitor in her trembling hand. The door opened, and Thomas stood in a white button-down shirt and navy slacks, freshly showered and shaven. He was breathing hard from running up our long drive. He stepped through the threshold, a wide grin on his face. Liis ran, throwing her arms around him, sobbing.
Trenton’s knees buckled. Camille and Travis held him up for a few seconds before letting him fall to his knees.
Camille kneeled next to her husband. “I knew it, baby!” she said with a smile on her face. She kissed his cheek, rubbing his arm with her hand with excitement.
Trenton shook his head slowly, his mouth hanging open. “What the hell is going on, Travis?”
“We’ll explain later,” Travis said, watching his oldest brother with a smile.
Trenton looked up at Travis. “There’s an explanation?” He stood and took a breath, preparing to throw a tantrum. Before a sound came from his mouth, Travis grabbed Trenton’s shirt with both fists, dragging him into the kitchen. Camille and I followed, trying to calm them both in hushed tones.
Travis shoved Trenton’s back against the refrigerator.
“Don’t you fucking start,” Travis said. “I know this was hard on you and unbelievably unfair, but Liis has sacrificed the most in all of this, and you’re not going to ruin this for her. Do you understand me?”
Trenton tensed as if he might make a move but then took a deep breath. His eyes filled with tears, and betrayal replaced the anger. “You lied to us? He was alive this whole time, and you lied to us? Dad’s health has gone down the shitter. How could you do that?”
Travis clenched his jaw and then released Trenton. “I didn’t want to. If there were any other way, we wouldn’t have done it. We had no choice, Trenton. The Carlisis left us alone long enough to form a plan, and it worked. We set a trap and staged a raid. We’ve brought them all in. Whoever’s not in jail without bail is dead. Our family is safe.”
Trenton shook his head, and then he walked out to the living room, waiting for Thomas and Liis to finish their moment.
Thomas looked at Trenton. “I hope one of these days you’ll forgive me. Forgive us. I’m truly sorry for what I’ve put you through.”
Trenton stomped over to his brother and squeezed him tight. Once they let go, he stormed out of the house to his truck. Camille was still standing still, stunned. She walked over to him, gently touched his cheek, and then reared back, slapping him hard. Thomas closed his eyes tight for a second and then met her eyes.
“I deserve that,” he said.
“Yes, you do,” she said, walking over to Travis.
I stood between them. “I don’t care if he deserves it. If you hit my husband, I will slap you into next week.”
Camille glared at me, then at Travis, and then followed her husband outside, slamming the door behind her. Stella wailed, and just as Liis turned to get her, Thomas held up his hand. “I’ll do it.” We followed him to the nursery, watching him from the doorway. Liis stood in front of us just a few steps, still wiping tears from her cheeks.
“Hi,” Thomas said, his voice soothing and hushed.
Stella immediately stopped crying, looking up at her dad.
“Do you remember me?” Thomas asked. “Can I pick you up?” He reached in and lifted her into the air, taking a look at her while she stared at him. “You’ve grown so much. Practically a young lady now,” he said, hugging her to him. He sniffed once, and Liis hugged them both.
Travis closed the door, kissing my forehead.
“Should we follow Trenton?” Val asked. “Make sure he doesn’t tell the family?”
Travis shook his head, hugging me to his side. “He won’t. He knows he wasn’t supposed to be here.”