Page 91 of One of Six

Atilio pulls me away from his uncle. "This is Bea... Essex's girlfriend."

Jesus rolls his eyes. "I know." He looks around. "You said the FBI was here?"

"We are." Ed pulls himself up from where he is casually leaning against the doorjamb and walks toward us. He nods at Jesus. "Ed Carter. My colleagues are around."

"What are you doing to get my nephew back?"

"Follow me and we'll talk." Ed turns and goes into the office he's been using.

Jesus winks at me and follows Ed. I lean against Atilio as soon as his uncle is out of sight with mine. "I can't believe I said that."

Nico giggles. "I can't wait to tell Essex."

Maggie pats my hand. "Don't worry, Bea. Every woman reacts like that to my brother."

"I wonder how Violet will react to him," Boone grins.

The mention of my girlfriend reminds me that I haven't heard from her. The last message I got said she was coming to see me. Then I fell asleep. "Where is she?"

"Who?" Atilio asks.

"Violet? She was on her way here." I watch the brothers look at each other and my stomach sinks. "She's not here, is she?"

"Um," Galen says from his seat on the stairs, "she arrived. I saw her leave after Ridge."

A terrible feeling comes over me as I look at each of the brothers. "He wouldn't go after Essex, would he?"

Curses fly from their mouths, and as one they drag me into the office. Ed and Jesus look up as Atilio says, "We think they have Ridge and Violet too."

Ed sighs. "How the hell did that happen?"

"They think Ridge went after Essex and Violet followed him." I shrug. "It's too late to worry about how and why. We have to do something.”

"Let me and my boys snoop around." Jesus grins. "I promise to stay out of trouble. Scout's honor!"

I burst out laughing as he winks in my direction. "You don't look like a scout."

Jesus barks with laughter. "It's too bad you're already spoken for, I would take you home for my son." To Ed, "We'll look into what we talked about. Be in touch." He walks away with a swagger, leaving me amused but worried.

I look at Ed. "He knows what he's doing, doesn't he?"

"I hope so." Ed winces.

"I've got to do something." I pad over to look over Harding's shoulder. He gives me the eye. "You're done?"

"I am." He glances at Ed before focusing on me. "We need to wait until Jesus is in place, then call Lincoln."

Then it clicks. "You want to distract them so Jesus and his men can get Essex and probably Ridge and Violet.”

"That's right." Harding smiles. "Why don't you go get something to eat? Maggie said she was making a pot of stew."

As the words come out of his mouth, my stomach grumbles. I step into the kitchen and find myself in Nico's arms. He kisses me on the head and pushes me into a chair at the table. Maggie pushes a small bowl of stew in front of me. "Eat," she says. "There's plenty more where that came from."

Nico hands me a bottle of water. "My brothers are a pain in the ass, but I know them, and I can assure you they are fine. Violet too." He smiles. "Ridge will keep her safe."

"I hope so," I mutter, taking a spoonful of stew and munching on it. My eyes widen as the flavors hit my taste buds. "This is good." I take another bite and smile at Maggie. "Thank you for this and for not shouting at me for getting your family involved in this mess."

Maggie sits down at the table. "My family got involved the second my husband was killed, Beatrice. Things have accelerated exponentially since Essex, and you got involved. My son loves you and I can see that you return the feeling. That is something to cherish." She pats my hand. "I'll be relieved when this is over, and we can settle down."