And then Gideon had walked through the door of the foster home, looking handsome and healthy and strong and so excited to see her. But she hadn’t wanted to see him. She’d wanted to scream at him and claw her hatred into his skin. She’d wanted her brother to pay for every time Ephraim had hurt her. For every time the monster had hurt Mama. She’d wanted Gideon to pay for Mama’s death at DJ’s hand. She’d wanted Gideon to drop to his knees and beg her forgiveness, but he hadn’t and she’d hated him for that, too. Everything in her life that was bad was because Gideon had run from Eden. Abandoning them. Abandoning me.

Or so she’d thought. Now she’d be begging his forgiveness.

“Hey, it’s me,” Rafe said softly when his call had connected.

With Gideon. God. He should hate me. He still might before all this is over.

“Well . . .” Rafe cleared his throat. “Yes, something’s happened. First, I need you not to freak out. Everyone is okay.” Rafe winced and Mercy could hear Gideon’s voice from where she sat, even though Rafe had not put his phone on speaker. “Mercy is here.” Another wince. “Yes, here in Sacramento. Here with me and Sasha. Plus a friend who came with her.” A pause and more wincing. “I don’t know exactly why she’s come back or how long she’s going to stay, but, Gid, I need you to listen.” He blew out a breath and continued. “I’m not sure how to say it, so I’ll just say it. Ephraim Burton was in the airport, waiting for her.” A pause, then, “You still there?”

Apparently Gideon was still there, because for the next two minutes Rafe nodded, listening. “I understand,” he finally said. “I was shocked, too.” Rafe glanced at Mercy with a slight grimace. “She’s physically okay. Burton sliced her side, a cut about two inches long.” He massaged his temples. “He tried to drag her away. I . . . stopped him, but he got away.” He rolled his eyes. “Of course I reported it. I called it in to SacPD dispatch and I called your boss, too. They’ve got airport police pulling surveillance tapes to figure out where he went. Then I called you because I didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else.” He listened again, his expression softening. “No apologies necessary. I knew you’d be upset. You have every right to be. But she really is okay. We’re just on our way to Mom and Dad’s house for a little bit of first aid.” He offered the phone to Mercy, then mouthed, He wants to talk to you.

It’s time. Mercy swallowed hard and forced her hand to reach for the phone. “Hello?” she said, barely able to hear her own voice over her beating heart. The phone was warm and it smelled like Rafe. She drew the scent in, letting it calm her as she’d done weeks ago when she’d sat by his bedside after he’d saved her life. He smelled like citrus and clean wood smoke and it was the best scent ever.