#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.”

putting a finger under Alvin’s chin so he looks up at him. “You did great. You really tried

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

that,” Alvin says, equally frustrated. “He tried to tell her, but she didn’t

else we can do. We tried, and we’ll try again. But now, we have to go home and regroup. We’ll

the car and turning his attention to the road. This pursuit of Evelyn had consumed his mind completely, but his other

burned house he has to address, an ex who has promised to destroy his house on the loose. Not to mention

of the lot and hitting the road. So much to do and no real plan for how to address it all. It’s time to

“Should we get a couple of crab legs for

cheeseburgers instead?” Alvin asks, wrinkling his nose

it’s hard. She’s already scolded him – yelled, really – and made her thoughts

out on him.

point, of course, when he noted that she never expressly forbade him from mind-linking with his twin. So, that one’s on me,

the beach town, with everyone packing hastily and piling into the cars, heading out as fast as they could. They probably had a four-hour lead on Victor, Evelyn knew, but still. She had felt better when she had complete control and was sure

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

other piece of information. That Alvin had reported that Victor came in peace, an

and complicated as Alvin and Ian are, they’re still sweet, trusting six-year-olds. There’s no reason that Alvin should mistrust his father if he

to keep Evelyn in one place long enough to find her. And then, the control would be out of her hands again. That, she

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

she had Delia and Emma as part of her team as well – she couldn’t just abandon them, when

a few hours later, at a roadside motel that looked a little nicer than some of the other ones they had

asks as they all climb

place seemed to strike the right balance – anonymous enough to take the cash and not ask questions,

holding her hand, reads the sign carefully and then looks up at her. “Free breakfast in the morning.

a smile and his hand a squeeze, 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

bad,” Delia says, eyebrows raised, as she takes

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