#Chapter 164 – War Room

“What is it?” Victor asks, a little breathless, suddenly horribly worried. Had something happened, someone gotten hurt?

“Mommy’s really mad at us,” Alvin says, his lower lip starting to tremble.

“What?” Victor says, confused. “Who? About what?”

“At me and Ian, for telling you where they went,” Alvin says, clearly feeling guilty. “He said she said that they ran for a reason, and that meant they didn’t want to be found. And that Ian had broken her trust by going behind her back to tell you.”

Alvin slumps down in the chair, clearly feeling very bad. “We didn’t mean to break her trust,” he murmurs. “We were just trying to help. And we miss each other.”

Victor’s heart goes out to his son and he puts a hand on his shoulder. “Aw, kid,” Victor says. “Don’t feel so bad. You didn’t know how she’d feel about it, and you talk to your brother every day like this, right? So, it was just natural for you.”

Alvin nods, but Victor can tell that he doesn’t really feel better yet. Still, he needs more information.

“Did Ian tell you where they are now?”

“No,” Alvin says, shaking his head. “He says he wasn’t going to tell me for two reasons. One, because he didn’t want to betray mom. And two, he didn’t know, because they weren’t telling him things now. He just knows that they drove a long time, and they’re on a highway. But that’s all he knows.”

Alvin shrugs, looking up at his dad.

Victor grits his teeth, looking out the windshield and working hard to control his frustration. He doesn’t want Alvin to feel any worse. Then, thinking over Alvin’s words, he turns back to him. “Wait,” he says, “who is ‘they.’ Are they still with Delia?”

Alvin nods. “And aunt Emma. She’s there too.”

Emma?! Victor is shocked by this. How the hell did she get involved?

“I’m sorry, papa,” Alvin says, looking down at his hands. “We came all this way for nothing.”

him. “You did great. You really tried to help

ruefully, frustrated with himself for his rash words yesterday. “She probably thinks I’m chasing after her to

I told Ian that,” Alvin says, equally frustrated. “He tried to

there’s nothing else we can do. We tried, and we’ll try again. But now, we have to go home and regroup.

his attention to the road. This pursuit of Evelyn had consumed his

still has a burned house he has to address, an ex who has promised to destroy his house on the

to do and no real plan for how to address it all.

you think, Alvin,” Victor asks. “Should we get a couple of crab legs for the road? A little seafood

instead?” Alvin asks, wrinkling his

Evelyn is still livid with Ian. She can’t help it. She does her best to bury her anger deep inside her, but it’s hard. She’s already scolded him – yelled, really – and made her thoughts on the matter clear, but a big part of her wants to yell

take it out on

him

probably had a four-hour lead on Victor, Evelyn knew, but

the beach, figuring out their next steps. Now, they were forced to run

of information. That Alvin had reported that Victor came in peace, an apology on his lips, wanting to make amends – not just to retrieve his

true. But, as incredibly smart and complicated as Alvin and Ian are, they’re still sweet,

long enough to find her. And then, the control would be out of her

idea, knowing that Victor has never not been a man of his word. If he says he

control, to make her own decisions, build her own life. And now she had Delia and Emma as part of her team as well – she couldn’t just abandon them, when Emma had put her faith into her like this. Evelyn had said they would run together, and so run they

at a roadside motel that looked a little nicer than some of the other

asks as they all climb

the right balance – anonymous enough to take the cash and not ask questions, but nice enough that their

up at her. “Free

taking him in with her to book the room. Half an hour later, they’ve all changed into their pajamas and are seated on the double beds of the simple but clean motel

pound cake isn’t half bad,” Delia says, eyebrows raised, as she takes a

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255