Her Wilde Marines (Wilde, Nevada 4)

“Are you sure there isn’t something else we need to do for you, baby?” Adam asked with a yawn.

“I’m sure. Every box is unpacked. Everything is put away. All my furniture is in place. You’ve even helped me put up photos of my girls and grandparents on the hallway wall, making sure their frames are all level. You both are wonderful and I appreciate all you’ve done for me. But like I’ve been saying since breakfast, you need to get some sleep. You are meeting with your new FBI boss in the morning. You need to be fresh.”

“What about you?” Adam asked. “I heard you talking on the phone with Mac. You told her you were going to come in tomorrow instead of taking the whole week.”

“Why not? There’s nothing left to do here.”

Bane wrapped his arms around her. “We all need some rest, sweetheart. I could use a shower, some clean clothes, and a few hours of shut-eye.” He kissed her tenderly. “We’ll be back to take you to dinner tonight and maybe we can rent a movie.”

“That sounds great.” She didn’t want to be away from them for too long. “I think we could all use a very low-key evening.”

“Maybe so.” Adam stroked her hair. “Or maybe we could pick up where we left off at the hotel in Casper? What do you say, sub?”

“That depends on if you two Doms get some much-needed rest or not.” She grinned. “Or it’s ‘pancakes’ for both of you.”

Adam smiled and pressed his lips to hers. “You better rest up, too, sweetheart. I’ve got some things I want to introduce you to tonight.”

He and Bane left, and she shut the door.

Emma looked around her new home and smiled. “It’s perfect.”

“No, Sis. It’s not.” Lily’s voice rang out throughout the house.

Emma brought her hands up, covering her ears. “God, no. Not again.”

“Yes, again, Emma.” Samantha’s tone echoed off the walls. “Again and again and again. You will never be free of us. Never.”

“Stop it. Why won’t you leave me alone?”

“We will never leave you alone. You are our sister. You are just like us.”

Her heart raced violently in her chest. “I’m nothing like you. Go away. Please. Just leave me alone.”

Her cell rang and she jumped, feeling completely panicked.

She glanced at the caller ID. Larry? Is something wrong with Autumn and Andrea? “Larry. Are the girls okay?”

“Of course they’re okay. Emma, what’s wrong?”

Horrified that her worst nightmare was coming true, she blurted out, “Voices. Larry, I’m hearing voices.” Her eyes welled up. “I am losing my mind just like my sisters.”

“I don’t quite understand what’s going on, sweetheart, but I am here for you. I’ll make sure you’re okay, Em.”

Larry had never called her “Em” before. Only Bane and Adam had. Somehow, being called by that nickname made her feel a little bit better, a little bit safer. “I need you to be there for our girls. You can’t screw up anymore.” She choked back her tears as she imagined herself living without her daughters, but what other choice did she have?

“Whatever you need me to be, I swear I will be.”

“You better.” She would have to say good-bye to her girls. They deserved a life free of insanity, a life of happiness and possibilities. Not a mother like me who is about to go off the deep end completely.

Samantha and Lily had seemed normal for years and had ended up killing people close to them. Emma couldn’t imagine herself capable of harming anyone, especially Autumn or Andrea. But what if I’m wrong? What if the madness overtakes me?

I can’t trust myself. I must say good-bye to my precious girls.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. God help me. Being without them is going to kill me.

“I know you and I had our rough times, but I never stopped loving you and our girls.”

“Don’t, Larry. It’s been over for years. You and I will never be together again.”