Page 36 of The Truth

She was seriously trying not to have a total meltdown here. She just wasn’t going todo that.She just wasn’t.

She’d spent so many hours, so many nights crying and waiting to be with her sister again. To get out of that stupid place they’d just warehoused her because she hadn’t mattered.

Ayla hated waiting. And she hated being afraid.

She just wanted to know that her sister really was okay.

That was all.

He parked the truck. “Stay there. I’ll come help you out.”

His voice was so calm, so… strong. Ayla pulled in a breath. He had been told Aubrey would be okay, and the last thing she thought he would do waslie.He just wouldn’t. “I’m sorry. I’m starting to freak out a little here, I think.”

“It’s okay to freak out when you’re afraid for someone you love. That’s a lesson I’ve learned long ago.”

She thought about his words while he rounded the front of the truck.

Then he was lifting her down. And she was crying. His arms went around her and he just held her. And promised her that it would be okay.

No matter what. It was going to be okay.

And… the part of her that believedlifewould never truly beokayactually started to believe him.

They justwaited.Then, Dr. Alvaro was there. The man, not the woman. He was big, and tall, and beautiful, and Aubrey respected him a great deal. He came right to Ayla. He explained to her what had happened to her sister, and why. Then he’d apologized for not keeping Aubrey safe. Ayla hadn’t known what tosay,so she had just nodded and looked at him.

Then, not even half an hour later, they let her—and Guthrie, no one was shaking him, that was for sure—back there to sit with her sister.

Aubrey was so still, so quiet. Ayla just sat there and cried some more.

Until Guthrie wiped her cheeks. “She’ll be okay. I promise. I’m notevergoing to let anything or anyone hurt her again.”

“Are you in love with my sister?”

“I love your sister more than I have ever loved a woman in my life. Nothing will ever change that. And when she wakes, I’m going to be right here to tell her that.”

28

The barbecue had been a reprieve,and then what had happened to Aubrey had distracted everyone in the family for days. Emerson had missed his meeting with Adrian and the church elders, but they had understood. He’d been with Gunn when the call about Aubrey had come in. Gunn knew Adrian and the rest would understand.

But now… Emerson had to do what he had come to Texas to do in the first place.

It was time for them to do this. For their church. And for Emerson’s own well-being. Gunn was worried.

Today was going to behard.He knew Emerson was dreading it. Gunn was dreading it, too. They’d thought everything with JD Rei’s cult wasover.That the denomination was moving forward now.

Both Gunn and Emerson knew it was going to be a tough meeting. Emerson was even quieter than normal. He’d been that way since he had driven Greer and Hala home the night Aubrey had been attacked.

He’d told Gunn that Gunn’s sister had told him what had happened to Aubrey and Ayla as children. Gunn was gettingthe feeling his best friend was having a real crisis of faith right now. Gunn just didn’t know how to help him through it. He just didn’t.

Adrian Barratt had taught them both at the seminary. Emerson knew him well, too. Adrian and Gunn had flown up to Nebraska after Emerson’s church had been set on fire, to help with the fall-out. After what had happened, the church had suffered.

They had lost more than forty-five percent of their active membership, after what had happened. Some of the smaller churches had been forced to fold. Gunn had been in serious fear for his own, but his board of deacons had voted to stay under the Hope Life name. He’d been told his congregation wasn’t goinganywhere.That they trusted Gunn and believed in him, and that they knew he had their best interests at heart, that Gunn was a man of faith.

Their support had touched Gunn completely. He was not going to ever do anything to endanger that trust.

Emerson had lost seventy-five percent of his congregation that day. More than fifty men—and ten women—had faced charges with abductions, human trafficking, assault, and murder. Men and women Emerson had cared about and wanted to lead under God. Another ninety or so had left the church. Some had moved to other churches, others… had just disappeared… after the federal authorities had questioned them all.

Emerson had let it slip that he still suffered nightmares about that day. About the two little girls locked in his church, with it burning around them. The girls had been rescued, as had their baby brother. They were being raised by their aunt and her husband—they were safe and happy and well cared for.

---