“Uncle Brick,” Hadley said, stomping her foot. “Aunt Remi knew I was here. She knew I was watching. I think she was giving me a message.”

“What did she say, Hadley?” Darlene asked, her voice calm. But her hands were shaking.

“First she said Uncle Brick was going to kick the man’s ass.”

“That’s true,” Brick promised her.

“He told her if she didn’t come quietly, he’d go through every bedroom upstairs and murder us one by one.”

“We’re all going to need therapy,” Kimber murmured into her husband’s chest.

“I’ll foot the bill,” Darlene volunteered.

“Then she asked him where he was going to take them,” Hadley continued.

“Where did he take them, Had?”

“We’ll tear this island from top to bottom to find them,” Darlene promised.

“They’re not on the island. He said he was going to take them to the mainland.”

“Jesus,” Darlene, looking pale, yanked her phone out of its holster again. “I’ll call St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.”

“Aunt Remi told him she had a friend with a boat she could borrow,” Hadley said.

Brick’s attention zeroed in on the little girl. “What friend, Hadley?” he asked.

“Eleanora Reedbottom,” she recited.

“I know where they’re going,” he said, standing up as he heard the wail of the siren. “I need the Marine Rescue.”

“Take it,” Darlene snapped. “I’ll make the calls. They’ll be ready for you.”

Brick paused and pointed at his father. “Don’t die on me, old man. I want you at the wedding.”

William’s pale face lit up. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Without another word, Brick sprinted for the door.

54

Icy water misted over her, soaking her sweatshirt. The dark was losing its battle to dawn, and once there was enough light, he’d know that she’d double-crossed him.

The cold barrel of the gun jabbed at her neck. “Go faster,” Warren snarled.

“You got a death wish, jackass? These are the Straits of Mackinac. If I don’t pilot us carefully, we’ll end up dead on the rocks.”

“I don’t care. If you don’t want me to put a hole in your useless little friend here, you’ll go faster.”

Grimly, Remi gunned the engine and enjoyed watching him stumble back as the boat picked up speed. The barrel of the gun no longer pressed against the base of her skull.

She’d taken Duncan Firth’s boat. The only one she knew for sure that would have a tracking device on it. The entire island knew he kept the key under a life preserver.

Camille had come to just before Warren dropped her unceremoniously in the bottom of the boat. She now sat huddled on the floor of the boat. Barely visible under the orange life jacket Remi had shoved her into as Warren cast off the lines.

Dawn was breaking. She had to time this right. She couldn’t get Camille to safety without knowing Brick could get to her fast.

There was a hand in her hair, yanking her head back sharply. She let go of the accelerator, and the boat slowed, knocking his body into hers.