“What does that mean?” Dad asked.
“Men will be here soon to scrub your house of blood.”
We were silent for a second as that sank in.
“I know this is a lot to handle,” he said, “but there’s one last thing. Tara, we have to leave town.”
“What?”
“There’s a safe house in Indianapolis. It used to be run by the CIA. My CO tells me that we can use it.”
“I can’t leave my parents,” I said.
“They’re safe here. The Network doesn’t want or care about them. Plus, Cooper and a few others will stay here to watch over them.”
“No, Emory,” I said firmly. “They come or I stay.”
“Honey,” Dad said gently, putting his hand on my arm. “Honey, listen to me. You have to do what he says.”
“Emory knows what he’s doing,” Mom said.
“But I can’t just leave you here.”
“You can and you will,” Dad said. “You’re the one in danger. When the men first came inside, the only thing they wanted to know was where you were.”
“It’s true,” Mom said. “He said they wouldn’t hurt us if they could have you.”
“We didn’t tell them,” Dad added.
“You two did amazing,” Emory said. “But, Tara, we need to leave.”
“When?”
“Right now.”
I stood there, unmoving, staring at my parents.
How could I just turn away and run? After what had happened? I felt responsible for this. I had brought these terrorists into their house. It was my fault for insisting that Emory bring me back to the house to check up on them.
But if they were right, I would be doing more harm than good by staying. If we left, the terrorists would follow us.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Only because I think it would be worse if I stayed.”
“Thank you,” Dad said.
“Come on. We need to get moving.” Emory turned to leave.
“Wait. We need to get Mason’s things.”
Mom and Dad went into motion. They quickly packed what I’d need while Emory watched, his eyes intense. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he radiated a calmness that made me feel more secure.
He knew what he was doing. Even if this situation seemed absolutely insane, Emory was in control. He’d taken those men out when they broke into the house. He was going to keep us safe. I just had to trust him.
The four of us went back downstairs and packed the car. This time, I didn’t make any jokes about it.
“Are you sure they’re going to be okay?” I asked Emory as my dad finished putting Mason into his car seat.
“I promise,” he said. “Cooper or someone else will be here twenty-four seven until this is over.”
“Where was Cooper this time?”
“He was sweeping the area. He would have been here if I hadn’t been.”
I nodded. “I’m afraid, Emory.”
“I know, but you’re with me.” He grinned. “No terrorist motherfucker is going to touch you while I’m around.”
My parents finished getting us packed and turned toward us. I could feel tears pressing at my throat, so I just threw my arms around my dad and hugged him.
“I’ll see you soon, sweetie,” he said.
I nodded and moved to my mom, hugging her.
When I was finished, they moved away from the car. I could see the fear in their eyes, but I couldn’t let it get to me. I couldn’t stop, couldn’t slow down.
I’d seen what could happen to us. I’d seen what Emory had had to do as he ran the knife across that man’s throat.
We got into the car, he roared the engine to life, and we sped off.
Chapter 14
Emory
As I drove back toward the hotel, my adrenaline seethed through my veins, lighting me on fire.
I kept seeing my blade running across that fucking scumbag’s throat in my mind’s eye again and again. He could have done some serious fucking damage with that rifle, but I was better, faster. The men had training—I was sure of that now—but not enough.
I wasn’t sure how they got in. But as soon as I heard the distinctive click of an ammo clip being shoved into a rifle’s body, I knew what was happening. I’d moved downstairs fast, sneaking through their sight lines, and taken them off one by one.
And the damn girl didn’t stay in the nursery like I told her to. That made me angry that she’d put herself in danger. She almost got herself killed, but fortunately I got the drop on that guy.
She saw the truth though. She saw what was really happening, and she couldn’t deny it anymore.
The Network was here, and they were fucking serious.