Chapter 6

• Noah stood in the small yard and looked at the house. Inside the three women were looking after Emersyn. His mind was stuck on a loop, replaying six years ago when he’d first seen her, that part was nothing new, but now it had an extended play version adding seeing her chained to the wall. When he’d looked into her eyes in that basement, all his nightmares and dreams came true in one moment.
• This house was small, and he had no idea how long they were going to be there, but eight people inside were going to have the walls closing in on him. It had been three hours and Illias still hadn’t gotten back to them about her family. He didn’t know if she wanted to go back to her family if there were surviving members, but if that’s what she wanted, he’d make sure it happened.
• Family. He blew out a breath. He still hadn’t spoken to or seen any of his own. Shaking his head, he kicked at the ground with the toe of his boot. It was worse than that. Ed had told him to come to see him when he was ready, and that had never happened. He didn’t even know if his parents were both still alive. How could he ever face them? It had been his responsibility to watch over his little sister, Carlene and he’d failed. The last time he’d seen her sweet little face, she was four and it was when the men that had taken them pulled her from his arms.