He nodded, though he was anything but ready. They crossed the red dirt between the shed and the house, Lee scanning all directions in case they’d missed someone. The blue heeler on the verandah wagged its tail once in greeting, but otherwise didn’t move.
Lee scratched Bennett’s head on his way past and then focused on the noise coming from inside the kitchen. Everyone was there.
Nhiari didn’t knock, she just walked in, and Lee kept close behind her.
Brandon was by the kitchen sink, Sherlock and Sam were seated at the table, Darcy spoke with his daughter Lara, Ed was over by the laundry and Matt… a hard body shoved into him, slamming him against the wall, an arm against his throat. Matt’s angry stare glared at him inches from his face. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kick your arse right now,” he snarled.
Instant silence. Every person in the room was watching them, but Lee kept his gaze on Nhiari’s brother. The pressure against his windpipe hurt, but he rasped, “Because your sister is alive and safe.”
“Matt, let go of him.” Nhiari tried to press between them, but there was no space.
Lee waited, not giving Matt any reason to punch him, but felt him shaking with rage.
“Matt, he’s been helping us,” Dot called, but Georgie was the only one who came over to help Nhiari separate them.
“Matt, he saved our lives,” Georgie reminded him.
With a curse, Matt stepped back and released him.
Lee took a shallow breath but didn’t allow his hand to go to his sore throat. He had expected no less. The others in the room watched him with varying levels of distrust. Lara tucked close to Darcy’s side, Jordan stepped protectively in front of her, and his mother, Gretchen, glared at Lee. But it was Amy’s steady gaze, full of hurt, which affected him the most.
“I know Lee has done a lot to this family,” Nhiari began. “But he’s here to help now.”
“Did you kill our parents?” Brandon demanded.
He met the man’s dark gaze. “No. I had no idea what Clark had planned.”
“Clark?” Matt asked. “The man who kidnapped me?”
Lee nodded.
“Why don’t we all sit, and Lee and I can bring you up to speed with everything?” Nhiari suggested.
The kitchen table was more than big enough for the eight couples and two children. It was one thing he’d loved about the Stokes and their family. Everyone was welcomed in the kitchen with a cup of tea and something to eat.
He ended up sitting next to Oliver, who was very slow in his movements and Dot hovered next to him as he sat. “I’m fine, Dot,” he said.
The look they exchanged spoke of love.
“Are you Lucas Fitton’s executive?” Oliver’s question drew Lee’s attention away from Nhiari.
“Executive?” Amy asked. “I thought you were a photographer.”
Yeah, he’d lied a lot to these people. “It’s a long story.”
“Is it worth hearing?” Darcy asked Nhiari.
She nodded.
“I have a question,” Lara said. The ten-year-old straightened from where she sat between Darcy and Faith and stared at him.
He’d always admired her strength. “Go ahead.”
“Did you tell Jay to kidnap me?”
Grief filled him at how close she’d come to dying. “No, but I knew he was going to. He was under orders not to hurt you, but I didn’t know about the cave flooding in the storm. It’s why I came over to the house to help when they were searching for you.”
She squinted at him as if trying to ascertain whether he was telling the truth.
