“Talk to me,” he says.
Instead of talking to him about us, I tell him, “I’m worried about tomorrow. What if the Davenports win?”
He sounds so sure. “They’re not going to win. Lindsey, I promise you that they will not get Eli. I won’t let it happen.”
“But how do you know?”
He turns me and looks into my eyes. “Because Zach and Logan are interviewing a witnessright now. He was paid by the Davenports to cut your sister’s brake lines and to run her off the road.” He huffs out a breath. “They paid to have your sister murdered.”
I recoil and put a hand to my stomach. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I know he thought that could have been the case, but actually finding out it is true is another matter altogether. They murdered my sister. I’m hunched over, the spray hitting me in the back, and I have to take deep, even breaths to calm the roll of my stomach. When I'm able to pull myself together, Miller pulls me to him. “They’re going to pay for what they did. I promise you that they will pay.”
And then it comes to me. “They’ll be going to jail, right? They have to. They can’t get custody of Eli.”
Miller nods. “Yeah, Zach and Logan have built a solid case. There’s no denying it. They are presenting everything to the local PD and the FBI right now. They want them arrested before the proceedings tomorrow afternoon.”
I wrap my arms around Miller. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I wouldn’t have survived if I’d lost Eli too. You saved us.”
He doesn’t say anything, just holds me to him.
I press closer, memorizing the way it feels to be held like this, wishing time would just stop here… before tomorrow has the chance to change everything.
CHAPTER 22
MILLER
Lindsey’s sitting next to me in the courthouse while we wait to be called in. Skyler, Bree, Aria, and Ozzy walk through the doors. My mom and dad follow behind them, and Mom sits down on the other side of Lindsey and holds her hand, patting it. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Skyler pulls Lindsey and me into a quick hug.
“Zach and Logan will be here,” she says. “They’re just running late.”
“Have you heard anything?” I ask quietly. “Did they arrest the Davenports?”
She gives me a regretful look. “No. I haven’t heard anything. And Zach isn’t answering. That’s not like him.”
I squeeze Lindsey’s hand. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
She looks at me, almost too calm. “Are you trying to reassure me or yourself?”
I wrap an arm around her. “I made you a promise. I intend to keep it. Whatever happens in there… I have a backup plan.”
Before she can ask, the bailiff steps into the hall.
“Davenport, Brody, Casey—the court is ready for you.”
We file into the courtroom. Lindsey and I take our seats beside our attorney. The rest of our family settles quietly behind us. Across the aisle, Mr. Gable sits alone at the opposing table.
The judge looks down from the bench. “Mr. Gable, where are your clients? If they are seeking custody, I would expect them to be present.”
Mr. Gable rises. “Your Honor, I have been unable to reach my clients. Given the circumstances, I respectfully request a continuance until their whereabouts can be confirmed.”
I nudge our attorney.He stands.
“Your Honor, the minor child’s need for stability and safety should not be delayed. We ask that the court proceed based on the evidence already before it.”
Beside me, Lindsey goes still. I rest my hand on her knee, trying to steady her. She reaches for me, gripping tightly like I’m the only thing holding her together.
The courtroom doors open again. A uniformed officer steps inside and approaches the front.
