“We haven’t heard from Cherry, and things have been quiet. I don’t want to lose my sister before I have had the chance to meet and get to know her.” He drops his head and braces himself on the island where he stands next to me. I soothingly run my hand on his back.
“Mattie…” Emotion clogs my throat and I clear it away. “I genuinely believe that we will all be together again.”
He raises his head, meeting my eyes once again. When he looks at me, the sadness there is heartbreaking. “I just want my family, Evie.”
My heart breaks for the boy who didn’t have one. I at least knew what it was like to have a family and be brought up with loving parents, but he didn’t.
“You’ll have us always, Mattie, and once Emma and I are reunited, we will always beyourfamily.”
He turns around and pulls me into a hug. I gulp down the emotions threatening to leak from my eyes, and I hold my brother, determined more than ever to reunite us and get our revenge against the monster that took it from us.
The event is held in Galveston along the seawall, and the historic-looking hotel is breathtaking. The decorations are nothing short of elaborate. I wish we could arrive and valet park, but that would draw too much attention to us, so we park a short distance away and walk in through the outside area where a small group of people are congregated.
It gives us access to anyone who is pulling up as well.
I am sipping on my tonic and lime when I see Eduardo stepping out of his SUV, holding his hand out for Emma to be assisted out of the back seat. He holds her arm lovingly, she looks at him as if he has hung the moon and stars just for her. I almost audibly sigh because it’s just so fucking cute, and then I realize where I am.
“Okay,” Mateo explains the plan. “So we know they are here, so let’s just stay out of their line of sight. If they see me, it doesn’treally matter, butyouneed to remain hidden, and when I tell you, make sure to keep your head down.”
I pick at my hair and feel the weird texture assaulting my fingers. “Do you really think they will notice me with my short hair in this wig?”
He stops to take a look at me. “No, it looks good on you though. I was more concerned about your eyes, but with the contacts in, it’s not too much of a problem now.”
We walk past another couple, and they smile at us, clearly thinking we are together.
“I look like shit.”
He takes my arm, guiding me around another couple of people stopped in conversation regarding the hospital.
“You do not. You look beautiful as always.” As he says this, a tall woman in a red dress with long blonde hair makes eye contact with him, licking her lips. He winks at her, and I snort.
“Great, now that’s not awkward as fuck.”
He huffs. “Why do you say that?”
I throw my hand out as we reach the other side of the bar, hidden away from the larger crowds gathered inside. “It looks like my date is cheating on me.”
He laughs. “You’re my sister.”
“That’s not the point!”
He shakes his head. “I don’t get it.”
“Of course, you don’t. The point is that she has no respect for me. She doesn’t know that I am your sister.”
He turns to face me. “I swear you always try to pick a fight with me.”
“I do not,” I counter, pouting at him for calling me out. “Forget it, let’s focus here, Mattie.”
He stares a minute longer at me and then looks over my head at something that caught his eye. I know the moment he spots Emma and Eduardo because he stiffens.
“Let’s move to our seats. I think the speaker is walking up to the stage, and I see people returning to their tables.” He leads me to the table we are assigned to in the back corner.
Thank goodness. I notice Liv, who is noticeably pregnant now, and Dax walking over to my sister. Dax walks beside Liv with a hand around her lower waist, guiding her possessively to their table. Emma shoots up from her seat, embracing Liv.
The speaker announces herself as Isabella, and everyone turns their attention to her. I keep an eye on Emma and her friend. Something is going on over there, and I see Liv put the phone up to her ear. She draws the attention of a few others as she does the same thing a few minutes later, except this time, she leaves the table, heading toward the bathroom.
Mateo and I excuse ourselves, keeping my head down as Mateo instructed as I walk out in the same direction Liv went.
