13. Silas
Chapter 13
Silas
“ B e good for Lance and Eliza, okay, Nugget?”
“Okay.” Eloise squeezes my neck. “I love you, Uncle Lassy!”
My throat tightens as I fight back every bit of fear and sadness as I say goodbye to the single most important person in the world to me. “I love you, too, Nugget. You be good and have fun, okay?”
“Okay!” She straightens, then skips away and takes a seat at the table to work on the coloring book Eliza bought her.
“We’re going to be just fine,” Lance’s wife assures me. Eliza’s gaze is soft, and she reaches out to gently squeeze my arm.
“Just keep her safe.” My throat constricts, tears threatening to fall. What if this is the last time I see Eloise?
“With my life,” Eliza says. “I promise you, Eloise will be safe with us.”
“I know she will be.” Because if I’d had any doubts, we’d be on the first flight out of this place and somewhere River and his organization couldn’t find us. “We’ll be back later tonight, but I’ll be by to get her first thing in the morning if that’s okay.”
“Totally fine.” Eliza smiles. “She’s a doll, and I know Mable loves having her around, too.” She glances over her shoulder at the infant currently enamored with the mobile hanging over her swing.
I can’t tear my gaze away from my niece. I could die tonight. That realization hit home at about two this morning while I was lying on Bianca’s couch, staring up at the ceiling fan above my head. Reaching into my back pocket, I withdraw the rolled-up manila envelope I’d brought just in case, and hand it over to Eliza.
“This is all of Eloise’s information. Her birth certificate, insurance card, social security card, and a will that names you and Lance as her legal guardians should anything happen to me.”
Eliza’s eyes fill as Lance puts his hand on her shoulder, his expression hardening. Up to this point, he’s been standing silently beside his wife.
“I needed to make sure the bases were covered. Just in case. The will was made up a few months ago when I moved here. I do have family in Texas, I’d like you to still take her to visit them from time to time, but my cousins travel a lot and my aunt and uncle are up there in age.”
“Silas—” Eliza steps forward and wraps her arms around me. “You’re going to be just fine.” She steps back. “But we are honored that you chose us.”
“You’re the best people I know,” I reply. “And I know that you’ll treat Eloise as your own should anything go wrong.”
“We will,” Lance says. “But it won’t.”
“It might. And I needed to make sure I’m ready for it just in case it does.” My gaze lands on Eloise once more. Please don’t let this be the last time I see her. It’s not a prayer…exactly…but the words come into my mind and I send them out anyway.
Lance’s phone beeps, so he withdraws it and checks the readout. “Time to go, Bianca is ready and they’re pulling up any minute.” He kisses Eliza. “I love you. Be careful tonight.”
“We’ll be just fine,” she replies. “Andie, Reyna, Margot, Matty, Lilly, and Alex are coming over for dinner and games. We’ll be safe.”
I know they called Alex, the diner owner and a former Army Sergeant, so he could be here with everyone just in case River decides to strike out while the rest of us are occupied. Sheriff Vick is on high alert, too, everyone standing by just in case this is all one big distraction.
My guess is he wants nothing to do with this town or anyone who will be staying behind though. His fight is with Bianca and me. And it’s been a long time coming.
With one final look at Eloise as she laughs at something on the television, I make my way out of the house and down the front steps. A black limousine is parked out front, compliments of Michael, who’s acting as our driver tonight.
The door opens, and I lose the ability to think straight.
Bianca is stunning in an emerald gown the same shade as her eyes. Her dark hair is curled and loosely braided back, leaving her elegant neck on full display. She’s swapped out her tan sling for a black one that matches the elbow-length black gloves adorning both hands.
She’s done something smoky with her eyes, and her lips are painted a deep red.
Gorgeous.
She’s absolutely gorgeous.
“We’ll be behind you most of the way,” Lance tells me, then gets into a black SUV parked behind us, Jaxson at the wheel.
“You clean up nice, Williamson,” she says as she scoots over so I can climb in.
I take my seat across the inside from her, trying to put some distance between us now that the interior feels beyond stifling.
“How is Eloise handling the sleepovers?”
“Fine.”
“How are you handling the sleepovers?”
I glare at her. “Can we focus on what the plan is tonight?”
“Sure. No personal talk. Got it.” She looks annoyed, though. “We go in and keep an eye out for anything that might prove what River and the entire organization is up to in Boston. If we can get enough proof, we can shove him in a cell and throw away the key.”
“Weapons? What if there’s a fight?”
“I have a nail file in my purse. If they let me keep it, that’s the closest thing I have.”
Given her arm is in a sling, the bulk of the fight will be on my shoulders. I’m responsible for not just my life, but hers as well. Who am I kidding, I would have considered myself responsible even if she hadn’t been shot yesterday.
The weight of tonight is crushing, and I lean back to close my eyes, hoping to alleviate even a bit of the pressure. The last time I was face-to-face with River Culvers, he was driving a dagger into my shoulder.
A sharp blade that had been heated so it cauterized as he ripped it out. And it wasn’t the first time.
“‘Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand,’” Bianca says.
I open my eyes, surprised to find her reading from the open Bible on her lap.
“‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ I’m sorry, I needed it, and I thought you might, too.”
The words she read aloud settle in my mind with a warmth I hadn’t expected to feel. “Feel free to keep reading,” I reply.
She smiles, and a vise tightens around my heart.
And as she continues reading aloud, saying words that I’ve never heard before, I realize just how desperately I’m craving the same peace she seems to have found.
The drive to Boston takes hours, but in my mind, it’s mere minutes. I’ve managed to talk myself out of making Michael turn the limo around at least three times, but I remind myself that whether we go or remain in Hope Springs, River’s still coming for us.
The difference is, at least if we’re here, he has no reason to be there.
“We’re here,” Michael calls back.
Bianca’s pale complexion shows just how afraid she is, but as she bows her head, I’m fascinated to watch a total calm settle over her. Color returns to her cheeks, and when she opens her eyes and raises her head, she looks like a woman ready for battle.
Her emerald expression lands on mine. “You ready for this?”
“No,” I reply. “But let’s do it anyway.”
Michael climbs out and opens the door, then offers us a brief nod as I hand him a twenty I’d brought with me. A tip to keep up appearances. He closes the door behind us, and I offer Bianca my arm. She slips her uninjured arm into mine, then takes a deep breath.
We start walking, heading into the hotel lobby where a man dressed like a butler awaits. “Miss Culvers and Mr. Williamson?” he asks.
“Yes,” Bianca replies, stiffening beside me.
“Right this way.” The man doesn’t show any expression, just turns and begins walking down the hall toward the elevators. He presses the call button. As we wait, I check the surroundings.
Armed men at both ends of the hallway.
Likely more outside the hotel.
So much for no weapons.
Bianca leans her head against my shoulder. “I see them,” she whispers.
I don’t respond.
The elevator arrives and we climb on. The man who’d greeted us scans a white plastic badge against a reader inside, and the doors close. Confined, I start to feel a familiar panic. I hate small spaces.
They all feel like cages. Bianca leans against me again, and I know she’s trying to soothe my fear. So even as I desire to keep at least some walls up between us, I rest my head against the top of hers, breathing in the feminine scent of her shampoo.
It eases my frayed nerves and helps me recenter.
Then the doors open, and elegant orchestra music fills my ears. The aroma of food drifts toward us, filling my lungs and making my stomach churn. Food is the absolute last thing on my mind as we step off the elevator and into a ballroom that has been decorated with one long table, a dance floor, and an orchestra.
Guests mingle, most of them men and women I don’t recognize.
Until I see him. River Culvers stands just a few yards from us, dressed in a tuxedo, laughing alongside a smiling woman.
Every muscle in my body goes rigid, and my desire to rip him apart where he stands nearly obliterates all rational thought.
“We’re in,” Bianca says softly. I know it’s more for the team’s benefit than mine, but it grounds me.
“Good. Stick to the plan. Alert us of any changes,” Lance says.
River’s gaze finds mine and he smiles, an animalistic grin that’s branded in my nightmares for so long, I can no longer recall a time he didn’t haunt me.
“You okay?” Bianca asks, looking up at me.
I grunt, unsure I can trust what might come out of my mouth should I choose to speak at this moment.
River excuses himself and crosses toward us, the woman no longer on his arm. “Selena and Silas. What a beautiful couple you make.”
“No need to check us for weapons?” Bianca asks.
“You’re far too smart to bring one in here after I explicitly told you not to. But not to worry, should one appear at any point this evening, I have an entire team of people on standby just outside of your sleepy little coastal town.” His words are murderous, but his tone remains pleasant. Sadistic man.
“You hurt anyone, and you’ll suffer greatly,” Bianca tells him with a smile.
River’s own spreads. “I doubt that very much.” He turns to me. Standing about six inches shorter than me, he has to tilt his head to look up at me. “How have you been, Silas? I have to admit, I’ve missed our little chats.”
I growl.
His amusement is plain as day. “There’s the murderous SEAL I remember. How’s fatherhood treating you? Real shame about your sister.”
I lunge forward, but Bianca pulls me back. “Are we here so you can taunt Silas? Or is there a purpose to this? Because I can assure you, in a fight with no weapons, you still don’t stand a chance.”
River’s gaze doesn’t leave mine. “Last I remember, I did.”
“You had me chained,” I growl. “Let’s see if the outcome is the same while I’m free.”
River laughs. “You always amused me. More so now, though, I have to say.” He leans in. “You’ve never been free, Silas. I merely loosened the leash.” He turns to Bianca. “We’ll get to the reason soon enough. For now, though, I expect you to be pleasant to my guests, dance at least once, then join us for dinner. Once everyone is excused, we’ll move onto the business portion of this meeting.”
“Dance? You expect us to dance?” she asks.
River looks at her, then at me and grins. “I do. Both of you.”
“You do realize I just got shot, right?”
He looks annoyed. “You have one good arm. Make it work.”
“Why?”
“Because this is a party, Selena, and you need to act as such.” He looks past us and nods. “Excuse me for a moment.” Moving away from us, he heads over to greet a couple who just came in.
“This is—I don’t even know what this is,” she mutters.
“Sounds to me like you two should hit the dance floor,” Michael quips through the earpiece.
My stomach churns. I’m a good dancer. Great even, thanks to the lessons my mother forced me to take when I was young. But the idea of holding Bianca close, of breathing in her scent and feeling her body move with mine—how am I supposed to keep my head with her so near?
Is that his point? Does River somehow know what she means to me and he’s using her to distract me?
“Shall we?”
“It seems we have no choice,” I all but growl.
“Don’t be so grumpy,” Michael says. “Could be worse.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be silent?” I ask quietly.
Michael chuckles. “It’s okay to make the most out of a situation, Williamson.”
I guide Bianca over to the dance floor and she snakes her good arm up over my neck. Given I can’t hold her other hand, I keep both on her waist and we begin to move slowly to the music.
She moves in closer, leaning her head against my chest so she can keep her gaze on River without seeming suspicious. I close my eyes, taking just a moment to appreciate the way she feels against me. The way we fit.
How many nights did I dream of her?
There were moments I craved running for my life, because I’d been blissfully unaware of who she was, and focused on doing just what Michael said—making the most out of a bad situation.
When did I stop doing that? When did I stop being so positive?
Because even after everything I’d suffered through, I’d retreated, sure, but I’d still been relatively positive about life.
And then Sierra’s death changed everything.
I take a deep breath.
“You okay?” she asks, pulling away to look up at me. I’m captivated by the golden flecks in her emerald eyes, and the way the light makes the green of her dress shimmer.
Despite the danger we’re in, the risk if this plan goes sideways, I find myself relaxing just slightly here in her presence. Because with Bianca in my arms, the darkness surrounding us feels a bit lighter.
“I am,” I reply, sincerely hoping it stays that way.