He shook his head. "Interpol is working on it. Don't you have a friend at Interpol?"
"I wouldn’t want to overstep our friendship."
"Of course. Well, we're working on it. Sooner or later Price is going to get her back. I'm sure of it."
I frowned as I watched him walk through the door. "How can you be so sure?"
"I have a good sense about these things. Make sure you get Barcelona cleared with your husband."
And just like that, he had my hackles up. "Bridge understands how important my work is to me."
"Of course he does. And well, he is one of my brothers, so he can reassure you that I'm perfectly harmless. And the team will benefit from you being there. So, win-win."
Except the way that he said win sent a chill down my back, and something told me that Barcelona with my boss was the last place on earth I wanted to be.
Nine
Emma
That evening, on the threshold of Covington House, I hesitated. Usually, I hesitated for nobody. I'd been in and out of this house a lot in the last year. Whether they were angry or not, this was my family.
At first, I stayed behind Bridge like I was guilty of something, but then realized what I was doing and straightened my shoulders. I was not guilty. I’d made a mistake. One I was sure I could fix if my husband would just talk to me. I changed my posture and walked in like I belonged. But then a familiar woman welcomed us at the entrance, and I was a bit taken aback. Bridge hesitated as well. "Mum? I didn't expect you to be here."
"Uh-huh. Where the hell have you been keeping my new daughter-in-law hidden? I went by your house, but you weren't there. I went by the hotel, and still you weren't there. But then when I ran into Livy and she said everyone was coming over tonight, I decided to invite myself."
He shifted on his feet and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Oh, um, Mum, it's complicated. You see—"
I stepped around Bridge and his mother gave me a wide smile. "There you are, love. I have been dying to feed you. I know how it is when you first get married and the last thing you want to do is cook or eat out. So come eat."
And that was that. She took my hand and tugged me through the great room straight to the kitchen. All I managed was a quick hello to everyone in the room. There was no stopping for scrutiny or judgment. She’d done me a kindness even though I’d hurt her son. There were called-out hellos, but no one sounded enthused to see me.
What did you expect?
I didn't even get to ask them. Belinda laid her towel onto a stool, which I assumed indicated I was meant to sit there. "I'm making a roux. While you're there, love, chop the meat, would you?"
"Yes, ma’am." I knew to pay attention and listen.
She paused with her back turned to me. "Okay, sweetheart, I'm only going to say this once."
My stomach sank. Oh, she knew. She knew I’d fucked up and this was meant to be a lecture. "Ma’am, I'm so sorry. I mean, I'm sort of new at this, and I didn't know the extent. I would never, ever—"
She turned around, a grin plastered on her face. " I am so sorry my son is a twat. I raised him better."
I sputtered and then laughed. "Oh, okay. I hadn't expected that, but yes, he can be.”
“He is mule-headed. He thinks he knows everything. Swears he's right about everything. He can be judgmental, and good God, that man will make you contemplate murder at least three times a day. And that's usually a good day, mind you."
I nodded in agreement. "Yes, that is, in fact, accurate."
"And I'm sorry because I did raise him well, honestly. He just… Sometimes he just defies logic and reason. And sometimes, well, sometimes I have had the urge to slap him. Not much can be done about that. But with a little patience, you will learn to love him."
It was too late for that, because I already loved him. But I wasn't going to say that.
"I-I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, love. You just need to start eating." She shoved the first plate of tapas my way, and I started eating. My taste buds reveled in the home-cooked appetizer.
And before I knew it, another plate of something delicious was placed in front of me. Were those dates stuffed with goat cheese? And the sauce on top of what smelled like a freshly made garlic roll made my mouth water and my stomach grumble. I knew better than to argue with his mother, so I dug in. Of course, I started to moan, probably in a very undignified fashion. But goddamn, the way she could cook.
"I feel like I've tasted the sauce before. What is it?"
She turned and grinned at me. "Family recipe. Now, I'm just going to get the other heathens fed because they asked for more sauce. I'll be right back."
I wasted no time in approaching Livy. After all, this was her house. She was trying to grab a tray out of the container pantry, nearly bringing down one of the carefully stacked and organized containers on her head. “Oops, be careful.”
Livy turned around slowly. “I'm torn between tugging you to my chest and hugging you so tight that you can't breathe and using an open palm to slap you.”
“How about that hug, and then maybe a light tap on my ass?”
She lifted a brow. “Your arse isn't where I was going to slap you.”
“Kinky.” I joked but my heart tripped. If I didn't have these guys, I didn't have anyone. At least not here. Sure, I had mum and all the aunties and distant cousins, but these guys were my family. And I may play tough, but I needed them. The girls hadn't been part of my bargain in the beginning, but I'd grown to love them. All of them. “I deserve that.”
Livy shook her head then tugged me into a tight embrace. “I love you, Emma, but you are a moron. Full stropping cow. His father? Really, Emma?”
A flush crept up my neck. “I know. I know Liv. And I’ve wished I could take it back a thousand times. I just felt like I had to. I was trying to protect him, and I made a mistake. As you know I can be impulsive, but I never meant to hurt him. I'm not Mina.”
Livy gripped both my shoulders. “Of course, you're not Mina. We actually love you.”
“All that time they were together, and you never warmed to her?”
Livy shrugged. “I'm pretty sure she didn't even know my name. Or she did and she didn’t care. You are here now, but you're going to have to fight for his heart. And as much as I love you, I'm annoyed, so you’re going to have to maybe show all of us that we weren't wrong to trust you.”
“I get that. Just don't give up on me. Okay?”
Livy rolled her eyes. “Family doesn't give up on family. That's not how it works. Family can be mad. Family can apparently kidnap you. But family doesn't give up on family.”
Tears still brimming, I returned to the living room and the girls found me. Nyla plopped herself down first. "Oh, so you fucked up, huh?"
I blushed and slouched in my seat. "Yes, it seems that I did."
She nodded and planted a drink next to me, something with mint that looked mildly fizzy. Was it a mojito? She held out her arm and took a long sip of her own cocktail and then smacked her lips. "God, Drew might be a burgeoning alcoholic, but man, he can make a drink. You look like you need one."