“I’ll be right here.”
Sam went back into the room and gestured for Tracy to come to her. “Nick is here and gives his love to all of you. They’re asking me to brief the media, and I want to make sure you have no objections. I’ll keep it high-level and say the boys have been found safe and that we’re still looking for Luna as well as the perpetrators of this crime.”
Tracy had her arms crossed in a protective pose that tugged at Sam’s heart. “That’s fine. Please thank everyone who helped to look for them.”
“I will. Are you… I mean…”
“I don’t know what I am other than thankful he’s back and seemingly okay, but I’m terrified of what it all means.”
“Take it one step at a time. Let’s see where the evidence leads. From what he said, it sounds as if he and Tomas were used to perpetrate a scheme that had nothing to do with them.”
“I guess that’d be better than people thinking he lured that poor girl to whatever fate was waiting for her.”
“Even if he helped to lure her, he had no idea what they had planned.”
“So he says.”
“He didn’t know, Trace.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Can I hug you?”
“Um, sure.”
Sam wrapped her arms around her sister and held on tight for a long moment. “Whatever’s next, Nick and I will be right here to get you all through it. I promise.”
“Thanks for everything.”
“I’ll keep you posted.”
Tracy nodded and went back to her spot next to Ethan’s bed, close enough to stroke his hair. Mike stood on the other side, staring at Ethan as if afraid he might suddenly disappear again. Brooke had her arm around Mike.
Sam left them and stepped into the hallway, where Nick was talking to Nate.
“How is he?” Nate asked.
“He seems okay, all things considered. A lot to unpack, though.”
“It’s a huge relief they were found alive,” Nate said.
That he thought they wouldn’t be had Sam’s anxiety spiking all over again, until she reminded herself her nephew was alive and mostly well in the room behind her. To Nick, she said, “I need to make a call to update Luna’s parents and brief the media. Then we can go home.”
“I’m here for whatever you need.”
“Stay close. That’s what I need.”
“Nothing I’d rather do, as you know.”
Sam released the clip she’d put in her hair hours ago, ran her fingers through it to bring some order and twisted it up again to keep it out of her way. She was sure her face looked haggard after the ordeal of Ethan’s disappearance, but she couldn’t be bothered to care about that right now.
Captain Malone was in the waiting room and got up when he saw her coming. “How is he?”
“A little beat up but mostly okay. Ruiz said Tomas is the same.”
“Thank goodness they’re alive.”
Sam nodded as she tried not to break down—again. “Ruiz asked me to brief the media. Nick said they followed us over here.”
