“Ever,” Blake said. “Now, what’s all this about ice cream? I'm hungry. Skyla left for Madigan’s early today, and she’s stuck there now waiting on a delivery.”
“Hello?” The door opened, and Hallie and Orly came in with Luke trailing behind them.
“Caden said something about ice cream at Garrett’s house,” Luke said, “and while I know it’s a weekday, I figured since I’m off, I’d bring my fishing gear in the hopes we might be able to catch dinner while we’re here.”
“Those fish are always biting,” Garrett said in greeting.
“Come on in.” Reese pulled more bowls out of the upper cabinet. Garrett went over and helped her with the ones on the top shelf as everyone settled down at the dining room table with Violet, or found a stool to perch on at the kitchen island.
April couldn’t help but be impressed with Garrett’s house. Even though she’d been here before, she hadn’t spent much timeinside that day, and the huge great room that consisted of the kitchen, dining room, and living room area was amazing. April could literally be anywhere in the room and see out the back and the front windows. It made it feel that much bigger, but with all the interesting artwork on the walls, the oversized leather sofa, and the stone fireplace, it still gave the space cozy and lived in vibes.
“So, what’s going on?” Blake asked. “Why did Caden call for an emergency meeting, and since when do we bring a kid to this kind of thing?”
“It’s because I got Aunt April in trouble,” Violet said, much to April’s and everyone else’s surprise.
“No, no, Sweetie, you didn’t do anything wrong,” April said.
“She’s right,” Tanner said. “You didn’t -”
“They found us.” Violet’s words were spoken with a deadly tone to her voice. Tears sprang to her eyes and April followed her gaze out the front window where a black SUV was coming down the street. She’d recognize that car anywhere. Ned had indeed found them.
“I don’t understand,” April said, trying not to hyperventilate. “We took out the damn tracker, how did he find us so fast?”
“Who?” Blake asked, already on high alert. “What is going on here?”
Instead of hiding or running in the opposite direction, Violet slid out of her chair and went straight for the front door that had been left open. “Violet, wait!” April called after her. But it was too late. Violet was out the door. April ran out behind her. Everyone else was following them out.
“Stay here,” Caden ordered Hallie, Reese and Orly, while the men followed April and gathered on Garrett’s front lawn. April tried to push Violet behind her, but the little girl wouldn’t budge. While April was thrilled to see her niece displaying strength and courage instead of cowering to Ned’s will, now was notthe time to exercise her stubbornness. Of course, Ned would never actually hurt her, but then again, he did have grown men attacking her, so who knew what he’d do to get her back?
Echo stepped out of the SUV and casually strolled toward them. Tanner and his friends had their weapons ready, but he seemed to only have eyes for Violet.
“Can I throw him?” Violet asked, not bothering to talk quietly anymore.
“What did she say?” Garrett asked, part confusion, part shock.
“April.” Echo never minced words, so April didn’t expect him to start now. “Look, I don’t want to make this any harder than it has to be, but I have to take Violet back to her dad.”
“No,” Violet said, stomping her little foot.
“You heard her, Echo. And besides, he’s not even her real dad,” April added for good measure.
“Violet,” Echo warned, his tone harsh and demanding. “You don’t want to fight me on this, Honey. It’s best if I just take you back.”
“No!” Violet shrieked and suddenly Echo was airborne, thrown at least ten feet in the air where Violet was keeping him suspended. “I won’t go back, and you can’t make me. I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!” Her shrieking grew increasingly louder with each word.
Ignoring the gasps of the men around her, April touched Violet’s shoulder. “Violet, put him down, Sweetie. Tanner and Caden won’t let anyone take you away from me. Put him down before someone else sees what you’re doing.”
Violet nibbled her bottom lip and looked up at Echo. He wasn’t struggling or injured or even uncomfortable. He was just suspended in mid-air. “I won’t go back.” She emphasized. “And you can’t make me.”
“Understood,” Echo said, defeated. “I won’t make you. But others will come. They’ll find you.They’llmake you, and they won’t be as nice as I am.”
April swallowed the knot in her throat, taking his threat for what it was. “Violet, put him down, right now.” When Violet didn’t budge, April insisted. “Now, Violet, and be gentle so he doesn’t get hurt.”
The little girl took in a ragged breath and blew it out, then nodded and Echo came down, not as gently as April would’ve liked, but he wouldn’t be anything more than bruised, if that. “Thank you, Violet,” April said.
Echo stood, straightened his jacket, and started to head back to his SUV.
“Not so fast,” April said. “How did you find us? We took out her tracker.”
