Page 51 of Maddox: Wild Alaska
"I'll be right there with her." Branson turns to Hunter. "You'll stand directly outside for added protection."
Hunter nods.
"We need answers," he says to me. “If there were another way, I’d take it. You know I don't want to hurt your woman."
“I don't like the idea of her being anywhere near him." I rub my tense neck. "I'll be glad when all this is over."
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Sofie. As though she senses my gaze, she turns and meets my eyes. I slowly make my way to her and explain what Branson wants. She loses some color in her face but nods her head.
"I'm still having trouble believing he killed her. They were always close. They defended each other. It doesn't make sense." Sofie winces as she stands up. "In the eight months I've known him, he hasn't shown any signs of anger or violence." She pauses. “Although, he was angry when I gave him his ring back. I thought he might hit me.”
I clench my jaw when I hear that and watch as Sofie glances toward Judean. "What about you? You've known him longer than I have."
Judean replies, "He's always been the good guy. Protective of Samantha." She winces. "Occasionally, I've found them a bit creepy when they're together. If they weren't related, I'd think they were a couple." She shrugs. "At least that was before Sofie came into the picture."
"Go find the answers and then find your brother, Branson," says Dad.
"Wait?" Sofie glances around the room, a frown appearing on her face. "Gabe is missing?" The question is directed at Branson, who nods.
"You need to find him. He hasn't done anything wrong."
"We'll find him," Garrett says. "Then I'm going to knock his head off for hiding out."
Sofie worries at her lip as she heads out the front door, not looking back at anyone. I frown, catching Judean's worried gaze, before rushing outside after her.
Once we're in my truck, I see Branson and Hunter getting into their cars and leaving.
I brush her tears away and press a kiss to her lips. "Let's get this over with, and then we're going to have a soak in the tub in absolute privacy."
"I'd really like that."
I've beennervous since leaving Maddox in his brother's office. I have a feeling that if the feds weren't here, he would have been allowed back. It helps knowing that Branson is beside me.
My hands are trembling, so I shove them into my jacket pocket.
"Are you ready?"
"I don't think I'll ever be ready." I swallow hard. "Let's get this over with."
The door opens, and there is Richard. He looks rough sitting behind the desk. Dark circles under his eyes betray his exhaustion. His wrists are handcuffed to the table.
My legs quiver as I sit down across from him. Branson takes the chair beside me.
"I want to talk to Sofie alone," Richard drawls.
"That's not happening," Branson states. "You asked to speak with Sofie. She is here. That's as far as I'm willing to go. Take it or leave it."
Richard reins in his temper before turning to me. His eyes rove over my face. He takes his time appraising me while I sit waiting. I don't want to be the first to speak.
After a few minutes, he sighs. "Thank you for coming to see me, Sofie. It pains me for you to see me in here."
“Did you really kill your sister?"
"You don't believe I did it, do you?" He sits back as best he can with his hands cuffed. "All this time, my dear sister has done everything to get you to walk away from me. And you did in the end. She was never happy. She always wanted to be with me."
My brows pull tight as I hear things I've noticed and only vaguely wondered about. "You loved her. I know you did. She was your sister! How could you?"
"Do you want to know why I lashed out at her?" He winces. "I didn't mean to kill her, though. I couldn't stop once I started."
