While we waited outside, my tender stomach grumbled.

“Hungry?” Emmitt asked.

“More homesick than hungry.  Can we just go straight to the airport and see if we can get an earlier flight?”

“Of course.”

The cab pulled up, and he opened the door for me.  I carefully slid in, trying not to strain my bruised stomach.

Emmitt waited until I was settled before climbing in next to me.  Both he and Carlos tried not to crowd me.

The complete contentment I’d felt this morning was still there, but something else was creeping in.  It wasn’t quite worry but close.  That, on top of Emmitt’s continued reserved behavior, worried me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as we drove toward the airport.

For the most part, the cab driver ignored us.  Grey, however, swiveled in his seat to look back at us, a mischievous glint in his eyes.  I ignored him and focused on Emmitt, pretending we were alone.

Emmitt glanced at me and shrugged.

I slipped my hand into his and leaned against him.  “Is this something I have to figure out for myself?  Because, if it is, I have to say it will be awhile.  I’m fried.  I just want to get home and be with you, my brothers, and...well, my family.”

I felt him smile as he leaned down to kiss the top of my head.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

I looked up at him.  “Are you feeling neglected?  Like it was a bite and run?”

Grey howled with laughter in the front seat.  Carlos calmly told him to turn around or else.  It was the most I heard Carlos say the whole trip.  Carlos acted more like I thought an Elder should act than Grey.

Meanwhile, Emmitt rolled his eyes and gave a slightly pained grin.

“No.”  He ran thumb over the back of my hand.  “I’m just worried about you.”

I gave him a reassuring smile.  “I’m here.  I’m fine.”

I pulled his head down and gave him a long kiss to show him.  When I pulled back, I noticed his teeth were starting to extend.

“Enough of that, I think,” I said.

He nodded reluctantly, flicking a glance at the driver and the quietly grinning Grey.

*    *    *    *

The airport hadn’t yet fully come to life.  Inquiring at the desk, we found a flight leaving in an hour that had four open seats.  We booked the flight and checked in so we could look for somewhere to eat within the terminal.

We found a restaurant by following our noses.  Both Emmitt and Grey were practically drooling as we crowded into a booth.  Grey slid in first and patted the seat next to him while looking at Carlos.

“Come here, honey,” he said with a laugh.

Carlos sighed tolerantly and sat down.

I wondered about their story.  Though Grey teased about being a couple, I didn’t think they were.  It seemed like he enjoyed tormenting Carlos, and Carlos put up with it.

I sat across from Grey and shook my head as he and Emmitt both reached for a menu.  This was probably the longest I’d seen Emmitt go without eating.

Looking over the menu, I debated what to try.  With the ache in my middle, I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to eat.  I settled for a BLT with fries.  Emmitt, as usual, went big and ordered two half-pound burgers.  The server thought he was kidding until Grey and Carlos asked for the same.

I waited until the server walked away then asked something I had been wondering since Emmitt burst into Frank’s hotel room.

“So how did you find me?”

“Your blood,” Emmitt said softly.  His gaze turned troubled again, and I squeezed his hand.

Grey took up the story.  “It was on your room’s door.  We followed the scent trail out the side door.  From there, we picked up the scent of the car.  They had eyes watching the route, and we ran into a bit of trouble that slowed us down.”

“How many?”  If Blake had taken men to the Compound, how many had he left here?

“Enough,” Grey answered vaguely.  “Not too much for Carlos here to handle.”  Grey nudged the other man with a grin.  Carlos didn’t answer.  Instead, he turned to look at the baseball game on the television.

“Thank you,” I said to both of them.  Carlos surprised me by meeting my eyes and nodding.

The server brought us our bill just in time for us to pay and walk back for boarding.  I sat between Carlos and Emmitt again.  In addition to feeling squished, I felt safe.

The flight was short, but the layover at the connecting airport made up for it.  Needing to kill three hours, Emmitt suggested we find somewhere to eat, again.  Grey agreed and Carlos gave a shrug.

“That’s fine with me, but I want to check in with Liam and Aden first.”

They waited in a quiet area with me while I made the call.  My brothers were having a blast with Henry and Paul and didn’t sound like they’d been aware of any attempts.

Content they were safe, I told my brothers I would see them soon.

Chapter 21

Four hours later, we were back in the car Carlos had driven to the airport.  Emmitt and I had the backseat to ourselves.  We didn’t say much.  He sat next to me with an arm around my shoulder.  I relaxed into him and watched the trees and fields zip by.

I was excited to be going back home.  Well, to the Compound, anyway.

When we finally pulled into the long driveway, I leaned forward to watch for the break in the trees.  The sight of my brothers, waiting at the door for us, made my throat tight.  I’d missed them more than I realized.  Mary, George, Henry, and Paul stood just behind them, hands on their shoulders to keep them from running toward us as Carlos parked.

I rushed from the car, ignoring Emmitt’s soft laugh, and squatted down in front of the boys to hug them tightly.  They clasped me in return and started to tell me about their adventures.  I encouraged them to head inside as I listened.  I didn’t like standing out in the open when I didn’t know Blake’s whereabouts.

Thomas and Charlene waited just inside for us.  Emmitt moved to the side to speak to them.  I didn’t hear everything but did catch Thomas say something about scenting my Claim, and I started to blush.  Liam noticed but didn’t say anything.

I smiled at Aden as he continued to tell me about the water balloon fight they had with Paul and Henry.  He was quick to add that the water fight had been before Mary told them they had to pick inside games.  Poor guys.

When the boys stopped to breathe, Paul and Henry asked if Liam and Aden could have another sleepover.  All four looked at me with puppy eyes.  I was in no shape to disagree.  Aden’s energetic hug had pulled my hair and tugged at my wound.  I did miss them and knew they missed me, too, but another sleepover was a good idea.  My still sore stomach needed rest, and I had a lot to discuss with Charlene and Thomas.  So I nodded, and my brothers immediately started to tug Paul and Henry away.

As soon as the boys left, both Charlene and Thomas moved toward me with huge smiles on their faces.

“Welcome to the family,” Charlene said, excitement lacing her voice.  I was glad she refrained from hugging me.  I didn’t need a visit to the white room at the moment.

“Thank you.  Can we talk?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest first?” Charlene asked.  She knew what I’d been through.

“No, there’s a lot I need to share, and I don’t know how much time...”  I didn’t want to say too much more in the open but they needed to know what Blake said and that there was a potential he could return.

“All right,” Thomas said.  “Nana Wini is already waiting.”

As we made our way to the meeting room, Emmitt ran ahead to drop off our bags.  When he returned, he had a sweatshirt for me.  I didn’t know how he’d known I was getting cold but appreciated that he did.  He claimed a quick kiss when he handed it to me.  Holding hands, we walked into the meeting room.