Page 89 of Mine to Keep

Bryn satin the rocking chair and stared out the picture window.

Mark stood by the sofa and did the same thing. “How far away does this chick live?”

“About twenty minutes.” Bryn lied. “But it takes a few minutes to pack up all Jamie’s things.” It felt so weird to call her daughter by a different name, but she needed to go along with the fib for as long as she could. She hoped Rebecca understood that something was wrong. Considering that she’d texted back saying she’d be along shortly, it seemed like she’d gotten the hint.

But she had no idea what she was walking into, and Bryn had no way of telling her that.

She could only assume that Rebecca had contacted Jamison, but that didn’t mean he’d been able to shed any light on the situation because she hadn’t been honest with him. That could end up costing her or someone else their life.

No. That couldn’t happen.

Hers. Yes. She could live with that. But not anyone else’s.

“How did you find me?”

“It was a combination of things. A reporter named Jon Kaplan and a private investigator looking into your death. The fact that they were both from this area made me want to take a look, and it wasn’t hard to find you after that. I got on the first plane I could this morning, and here I am. I have to admit, you faked your death damn well.”

She sucked in a deep breath.

He laughed. “Don’t worry. They don’t know I’m here, and they still think you’re dead. We’ll keep it that way since, in a few hours, that will be the—”

The front door flew open.

Rebecca jumped into the family room with her gun drawn. “Drop your weapon and put your hands where I can see them.”

Emmerson stood two feet behind her with his weapon pointed right at Mark.

Boots stomping across the kitchen caught Bryn’s attention. She turned her head.

Nathan and Seth appeared in the hallway.

“I’d do what my mother says,” Seth said. “Or I’ll shoot.”

“What the fuck?” Mark dropped his gun and raised his hands over his head. “I’m going to get you for this, you little bitch.”

“Is that a threat?” Rebecca said. “Because my other son, the one pacing in the street outside, won’t take too kindly to you talking to his girlfriend that way.” She smiled. “Will one of you cuff this piece of shit and get him out of my sight?”

“Gladly, Ma,” Emmerson said.

Rebecca holstered her weapon. She stretched out her hand and helped Bryn to a standing position. “Jamison is freaking out. Why don’t we go find him and let him know that you’re okay?”

“Zadie? How is she?”

“Fine,” Rebecca said, palming Bryn’s cheek. “She’s still at Jamison’s place with Nancy. We’ll get you home to your little girl as quickly as we can. But I am going to need a statement from you. Oh. And your father and sister have been notified. Yes, we know the whole story. They will be here tomorrow.”

Just then, Jamison came barreling through the door.

“Bryn,” he said. “Are you okay?”

She leapt into his arms and couldn’t contain the tears. “You called my sister and dad?”

“We did. I didn’t think you’d want them to believe you were dead for a second longer.”

“I love you,” she whispered. “Thank you. I have no idea how I’m going to repay—”

He pressed his finger to her lips. “Allowing me to love you is repayment enough.”

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