“They’re all going to be okay.”
“I hope so,” I manage to say over the lump in my throat.
An hour ago, the news broke that there was a shoot-out in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in an apparent rescue of the Governor’s missing family. The gang had been identified and several deaths confirmed, including one of the rescuers. There are also reports of injuries on both sides. So far, we know the DeSantis family is alive and were not among those injured.
The reporters on all channels keep repeating the same thing they were saying when I was at Dad’s. Apparently, the authorities tried to negotiate the release of the family and the nanny, but the kidnappers wouldn’t budge. We don’t know much more.
My mind spins with possibilities,
but last I knew, Finn was still in the surveillance group. I try to think he’d be far away from the action. But what about Robbie, or James, or any of the Hayes Security team? The thought of them being hurt, or worse, sends a chill down my spine. Ember, Raven, and Jenna’s faces show me they are thinking the same thing.
I don’t sit; it seems too invading. Instead, I lean into Reese and hold on to Johnny’s elbow. No one speaks as all our eyes are glued to the television.
The shrill ring of a cell phone breaks the silence, and Jenna jumps up, yanking her phone from the coffee table.
“James.” Her voice is low and full of fear. She grips the phone, then looks at Raven and Ember with a small cry of relief. “They’re okay.”
Ember drops her head to her chest, cradles her stomach, and starts to tremble. I go to her, hunching down, and hug her. She cries softly in my arms, and I soothe her gently, feeling the fear radiate from her body. We rock back and forth until she starts to hiccup and whispers words of thanks in my ear.
There’s a hand on my shoulder, and I look up to see my brother’s face, pale and shadowed in worry. Every eye in the room is on us, and I sense a familiar fear start to strangle me. I curl away from Johnny and Ember and crawl backwards until my back hits the fireplace.
“No,” I croak, my throat suddenly bone dry.
“Presley, honey—” Jenna starts to talk, but I shake my head violently, drowning out her voice.
“No! He’s in surveillance. He wasn’t in the line of fire. He promised me he’d be safe. There’s a mistake! It has to be a mistake!” My voice starts to crack, and the rest of the words get lost.
It can’t be…
He promised me…
“Presley, look at me.” Johnny gets on his knees and leans into my line of sight. “He’s alive.”
Alive! Alive! Alive!
The words bounce around my head, and I breathe deeply, launching myself into my brother’s arms.
“Sweetie, he’s been shot and is in surgery.”
“H-h-how?”
“We don’t know any details. James will call back soon.” Jenna’s voice is controlled, too controlled.
“Evelyn? Tim?”
“I’m going over there now. James has already talked to them.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Of course.”
“Johnny, can you call Dad? Ask him to meet us?”
“Sure.”
“Tell him to bring Whitney here. She can stay with me,” Ember offers, and I shoot her an appreciative glance.
Johnny helps me to my feet, and I lean into him for support as he takes me to the sofa and goes to the kitchen to make the call. Raven cries quietly on Declan’s shoulder, and I place a hand on her knee. She covers it with her hand and squeezes tight.