Page 96 of In Hiding

No doubt muscles gained in prison. “He’ll come in good time, William. Until then, we need to protect ourselves. I have something for you.”

Releasing him, she took him by the hand down to the ground floor and led him into the kitchen. At one of the drawers, she pulled out a new mobile phone and handed it to him. He frowned and blinked.

“You don’t go anywhere without this. Do you hear me?”

He nodded, his face blank. “Why?”

“In case you need to call the police. Or me. Or Jake. It was his idea. His number is in there.”

A small beep alerted them to a visitor and they both turned toward the front door. The arrival of an unexpected guest sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins but when she peered through the window beside the front door, her heart overrode the anxiety. Releasing the locks, she pulled open the door to find her brother standing on the veranda. Dressed in a full-length coat, he pushed his hood back and smiled.

“Uncle Erik.” William rushed past her and threw himself into the arms of his kin. Erik caught him with ease and kissed the top of his head. “I knew you’d come.”

Erik slapped him heartily on the back, all the while gazing on her with apologetic eyes. She took in his enormous size, his partially shaved head, and his tattoos, and felt a tremor of fear pass through her. Physically, he didn’t resemble the brother she’d known.

Twice the size she remembered him, he wore his hair in a traditional Viking style and the markings on his scalp paid homage to their heritage. Their father had had similar ones during his youth though when she and Erik were teens, he’d let his hair grow out to cover them. It seemed her brother had followed in his footsteps.

William stepped aside and Erik closed the distance tentatively.

“Kat?”

Her old name blew away all her reservations and broke through the shock. He held out a hand. When she took it, he pulled her into his arms. Huge biceps cradled her as his solid chest offered her somewhere to rest. His warmth enveloped her and the steady thrum of his heartbeat soothed her.

“I should’ve come earlier,” he whispered.

The sound of his voice slipped into her veins and hurled her back through time, to the moments when he would comfort her after the deaths of their parents. She couldn’t count how many times those soothing tones helped her drift off to sleep. The vibration deep in his throat rumbled through her as he tugged William into their embrace.

Time fell away and the rain grew heavier, drowning out anything any of them had to say. Sarah wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way, but it didn’t matter.

“We should go inside.”

Stepping out of their group hug, she took a steadying breath and looked her brother up and down. “You got big.”

He chortled softly and ruffled William’s hair. “As did my nephew.”

Her hands went to her hips. “You can cut the act. I know you two have seen each other. William told me.”

Erik bit his lip. “About that...”

Sarah moved aside. “We talk inside. You are staying, aren’t you?”

Her brother waggled his eyebrows at William. “I think we’re in trouble.”

“No,” she winked at her son, “only you, brother. You have some explaining to do.”

He groaned though she knew the playful sound as he lumbered inside. She secured the door while he removed his coat to reveal a duffel bag underneath. Seeing it settled her fears that he would disappear again. When he lifted it off his shoulder, she nodded to William.

“Take that upstairs.”

“No,” Erik held the bag as William reached for it. “I’ll take a room down here. The closest to the door.”

Uneasy silence blanketed them for a moment before she nodded her acceptance. Watching William carry the bag away, she punched Erik in the shoulder. He barely flinched while her hand stung.

“What was that for?”

She glared at him. “You know why. Making a sixteen-year-old boy promise to keep secrets from his mother? What’s gotten into you?”

He squared his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t have him tell anyone.”

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