A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers 5)

“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.”

Val was unhappy. “You think Giada won’t do something drastic when she finds out Thomas isn’t dead, after all? She’s going to come for him. She’s going to come for all of you.”

“We’ll be ready,” Travis said.

Val narrowed her eyes. “You insane son of a bitch. You put your family through all that, and now, you’re using Thomas as bait?”

I glared at Val. “That’s one hell of an accusation.” I looked at my husband, waiting for him to deny it. He didn’t. “Travis. Tell me it’s not true.”

“You couldn’t get a direct connection with Giada or the wives, so you’re luring them in. You’re hoping they take another shot at Thomas? Or Liis? Are you out of your damn mind?” Val seethed.

“Travis,” I said, unable to say anything else.

“I—” he began, but I turned on my heels to find something to clean in the kitchen. The decision had already been made. I could hear him following closely behind. “Baby,” he said. I stopped at the sink, and he grabbed my arm.

“Faking Thomas’s death was enough, don’t you think? Now, you’re intentionally putting us all at risk? What if they don’t go for Thomas? Or Liis? What if they come for you? What if they come for James or Jess?” I seethed.

“They won’t.”

“How do you know, Travis?”

“I … Pidge, please just trust me.”