Brian’s head poked out from behind Theresa, and he made a slicing motion.
Shit. “Uh…”
“What did you say?”
“I meant if you get married. What then? He’s your family. I’m not and—”
“Whatever.” Theresa rolled her eyes and opened her arms. “Get your ass over here. We know why you left. We’re not dumb, but don’t do it again.”
“What?”
“Ever,” Amanda piped in.
Were they serious? “It’s that easy? No pitchforks?”
Theresa waved her arms, beckoning for me again. “Come on. We’re not complete assholes. We know why you left. Brian—cop. Carter—not. We get it. We even understand, but you’re family. Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.”
More misting in my eyes. I blew out a breath and tried to fan myself. No more tears. I was so tired of crying.
“Emma,” Michael murmured behind me.
It was time to go. Again.
Theresa and Amanda didn’t argue. They understood his cue and came forward. All three of us stood there a moment, hugging each other.
“I love you guys,” I told them as our heads bent together.
Theresa sniffled. “I’m a blubbering idiot half the time I’ve been in New York. It’s your fault. I’m always worrying about you, and now crying because of this. I love you. We all love you.”
“Yeah.” Amanda had tears on her face. “No more leaving like that. Go and get whatever you need to finished, and then come back home. Okay?”
“We’ll make it work. Somehow,” I repeated.
“Somehow.” Amanda affirmed, wiping my tears from my face. “We lost one sister. I don’t want to lose another.”
I closed my eyes for a second and thought of Mallory. It was time to go. I could almost feel Michael’s insistence behind me. But I didn’t want to let them go.
“Okay. Enough of this gooey, girly blubbering we’re doing,” Theresa huffed and pulled from the hug.
But as Amanda stepped back, Theresa wrapped her arms around me again. “Go kick some ass, then come back,” she whispered in my ear. “We know you have to do what you have to do.”
“I will,” I promised, giving her one more squeeze.
“Be safe,” Amanda said.
“I will,” I told her.
As I pulled away, Michael had already started down the hallway. He held open the back stairwell door, and I gave the group a wave before darting after him. I didn’t look back over my shoulder, but when I heard their door click shut, I knew they’d gone back inside. I ducked under Michael’s arm holding the door and headed down the stairs with him right on my trail.
As we moved to the bottom floor, we were silent, moving in sync. I wasn’t the same Emma I used to be. As we reached the back exit, I knew what to do. I stepped to the side, Michael handed me a gun, and I took it, ready for him.
He opened the door and swept his gun around, making sure we were clear behind the door. I went right, my gun up and steady as I cleared the front of the door for us. With the pathway clear, we jogged for the car, side by side.
The house was empty.
As we checked the last room, Peter closed the door and grunted, “I just clipped that last guy, but Gene’s men are long gone by now.”
“They were in the back, you said?”