The sound of Phil’s determined steps claimed everyone’s attention. He spoke as soon as he entered the room, “Change of plans—it seems that John and Emily caught an earlier flight. Eric said he just dropped them off at the estate. He didn’t know about the change of plans until Catherine informed him they were going to the airport. This was his first chance to call.” Tony stood, but before he could speak, Phil continued, “There’s something else. Sophia Burke is at the estate.”

“Why?” Tony asked. “Has Catherine told her the truth?”

“Eric said that Sophia doesn’t know who Catherine is. The two of them have become friends, and since Derek is out of town with work, Sophia is staying with her friend Catherine.”

Courtney interjected, “Yes, Derek Burke is with Brent. Remember that meeting in Chicago? Another member of the Rawlings legal team was supposed to go instead of Brent, but she had a conflict, so last night, Brent volunteered to go, but they left early this morning and are coming home this afternoon. Why would Sophia need someplace to stay?”

Phil shrugged. “We can’t get you to Catherine before the Vandersols arrive.”

Tony stood straighter. “We need to go now. I don’t trust her alone with them any longer than necessary. Besides, it’s a big house. With the security monitored I should be able to avoid encountering”—he looked toward Claire—“your family. It would be nice if I could get in and out without additional conflict.”

Phil answered, “I’ll text Eric, and we’ll confirm our meeting point.”

Claire summoned every mask from her past. She wasn’t trying to hide her feelings—she wanted to be strong for Tony. Hoping that her voice didn’t reveal her insecurities, she said, “Good.”

He raised a questioning eyebrow.

Claire continued, “The sooner you get this done, the sooner we can get back. Once you’ve secured Emily and John’s safety, if there’s any threat of them calling the authorities, call me. I’ll convince them to give us our year as a family.”

“No! Claire, you’re not getting close to the estate—you’re not getting involved. We discussed that.” Authority filled every word. He had no intentions of his directive being disobeyed.

“I know that. I still might be able to help.” Tony’s eyes spoke volumes. It was a look she’d seen too many times. Claire didn’t want to distract him from his objective. She softened her voice. “If you need me—call. I won’t come unless you assure me it’s safe.”

Gripping her shoulders, he said, “I love you. Your safety isn’t debatable. Do not disappoint me.”

She stared for only a moment, knowing Tony and Phil needed to leave. The vast darkness pulled her in. His tone sounded like the man from years ago; however, behind the darkness—within the black holes—she saw love—possession—and protection. She wouldn’t look away—she never could. For a split second, she marveled at how warm and secure his gaze made her feel; such a contrast to the memories of coldness. Lifting her face, she brushed her lips on his and replied, “I won’t Tony”—then with a knowing grin, she added—“Don’t disappoint me, either.”

He hugged her and paused a moment to kiss Nichol, who was laying in Courtney’s arms. His lips lingered on her fine hair, as he seemed to be inhaling her fresh baby scent. Claire fought the lump in her throat as she watched him close his eyes, savoring their daughter. Seconds later, he walked away, saying, “We’ll call when it’s done.”

They were gone.

Claire stared at the hallway in silence. Staying strong was no longer necessary. When the empty corridor became blurry, she turned toward Courtney. The tears continued to flow as her anguish came out with each word. Claire wasn’t looking for validation. She knew her statement was correct. Instead, she took comfort in the ability to relay her thoughts honestly and audibly. “Our lives are so fucked up!”

Courtney’s laughter filled the room. “You certainly do know how to sum it up!”

“Well, you said you wanted honesty.”

Sophia excused herself from the dining room, once again marveling at Marie’s home. It didn’t matter how many times she visited, she always found something new. Although she rarely watched television, Sophia enjoyed a good movie—especially the classics. Quietly, she made her way to the lower level and the movie room. As she searched the menu of hundreds—if not thousands of titles—she thought about the couple upstairs, the Vandersols. Marie explained that they were Ms. Nichols’ family, and since her disappearance was still unsolved, they wanted to retrieve some of her things. Truthfully, they were polite enough during lunch, but Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something happening below the surface. For one thing, they didn’t refer to Marie as Marie; instead, they called her Catherine. Spending a few hours in the theater would allow the Vandersols and Marie, or Catherine, some privacy. It was the least she could do for Marie after all she’d done for her.

Tony never thought much about Eric. He just was—he always had been. From Tony’s first million, Eric was by his side. In all those years, they’d never sat down and had a heart to heart. He’d never asked Eric about his personal life. Did he even have one? Yet Eric knew Tony’s deepest darkest secrets. Not only did he know, he’d participated, without question, without hesitation—just like a good trustworthy employee. It was true, Eric was paid exceptionally well for his loyalty; however, as Tony and Phil waited in the shadows of an old country church, with the van safely stashed along a side road, Tony wondered if Eric’s devotion had a price—one that could be bought by someone else.

Phil had made his price known from the beginning. Yes, Tony understood Phil changed allegiances from Catherine for more than money. Tony would be an idiot not to see the man’s devotion to Claire; however, Tony acknowledged that while Phil was unsuccessful at stopping Patrick Chester in California—for weeks on end, he’d kept Claire safe in Europe. Tony also knew that if this were a trap with the FBI waiting—Phil would continue to devote himself to keeping Claire free from harm. Anyone capable of doing that was worth their weight in gold.

Things with Eric were different. Over the years, his responsibilities morphed and grew with Tony’s expectations. Not once, no matter the directive, could Tony remember Eric disappointing him. Had he ever told Eric he appreciated all he did? Tony couldn’t remember that either. After all, men don’t discuss their feelings regarding one another. More than that—Tony had never given gratitude much thought. Eric had a job—he did it. When everything goes down and Tony turns states evidence, he would not take Eric with him. Most of his activities were done without Eric’s knowledge, and when he was required to participate—it was coerced and done under duress. If asked—that was the story Tony planned to maintain.

Now, as he watched the dark limousine come into view, Tony wondered if his devotion was truly reciprocated. Could Eric have been bought out? Could Tony and Phil be walking into a trap? They needed to be prepared. Tony leaned toward Phil and whispered, “I’ve changed my mind.”

Phil’s normal facade cracked. “You came all this way, and you’re not going through with this?”

“No,” Tony corrected. “When we get to the estate, I want you to go with Eric to the command center of the house. I want you to verify what cameras are working and that the house is free of feds. I also want you to stay with Eric to be sure my encounter is being recorded. Maybe I can get Catherine to talk.”