“Any chance you could go away or at least stick your fingers in your ears?” Brad glared at his brother, but Ethan simply smiled back.
“Not a chance.”
“Why do you want me to stick my fingers in my ears, Brad?”
“Not you, honey. I'm talking to Ethan, who's trying to piss me off.”
“Oh now, that's not fair. Didn't I just come charging to your rescue?”
“It took you two weeks?”
“I got a stomach flu, it nearly took me out.”
Brad rolled his eyes, then got to his feet and made his way down the jet where he could have some privacy.
“I love you,” he said so fast, the words seemed to blend together. “I really do, honey, and I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner, but I need you to believe me, okay?”
“You love me?”
He heard a whoop in the background and guessed it came from Annabelle.
“Annabelle's smiling.”
“Are you?” Brad's fingers clenched around the cell phone.
“Yes. I'm smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. I love you too. And I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I booked a flight to Texas, Brad. I was coming to bring you home.”
“Really?” Brad wanted to smile, but he wouldn’t. Not until he was holding her and knew she was safe.
“Really.”
“And there’s my strong girl. I'm coming home, baby, I'll be with you soon, but you have to make me a promise to stay with people until I reach you.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Hug Billy for me, and tell him I'll be there soon.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too,” Brad said, wanting to say the words to her face.
“You're not smiling, so my guess is the call didn't go as planned.”
“No.” Brad handed Ethan his phone back. “It went as planned, but something's off. I can't explain it, but I just need to get to Howling.”
Ethan's cell phone rang as they landed in Brook. It was Cubby. There had been a sighting of Brian two days ago, and the distance to Howling was a three-day drive, unless you were travelling at speed and not stopping, and then maybe you could make it in two.
“Jesus, Ethan.”
“I know, Brad, but we have to keep our heads now and outsmart this animal, because you and I both know he's coming for her. He won't get her, we'll make sure of that, and when we find him, we get rid of him.”
“Permanently.”
“Agreed.”
