Chaos (Phoenix Undercover #2) by C.A. Harms Page A

heart began to race. I was happy to see Will’s BMW in the driveway.
    Grey was the first to climb out of the car, and after a couple deep breaths I followed. Before we could even knock, the door flew open and there stood Will with my sister at his side, both of them staring back at me as if they thought they were dreaming. Will’s face was ghostly pale, and Libby held on to his arm as if it was the only thing keeping her standing.
    “Hey, sis,” I said, and she leaped into my arms and wrapped her arms around my neck, almost suffocating me.
    “It’s really you,” she whispered as a sob ripped through her.
    “Yeah, it’s really me,” I assured her as I squeezed her tightly and lifted her so her feet were no longer touching the ground.
    I could hear Greyson and Will talking, yet I focused on my sister instead. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, and she only cried harder. “It wasn’t safe. I had to.”
    She struggled to break free of my hold, and I knew then that the quiet reunion was now over. I slowly let go as she stepped back and stared at me in confusion. “What do you mean you had to? What wasn’t safe, Josh?”
    I looked over her shoulder to find Will attempting to calm his wife, but it was useless. I knew Grey was going to be no help when he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the doorframe.
    When my line of vision reconnected with Libby, I saw the anger in her eyes. “Please don’t tell me this was just all a ploy, a way to solve a case and catch another one of your bad guys.” When I didn’t answer her, she knew. “Oh my God, Josh, how could you?” She shoved my chest. I took a step back to allow her, I hoped, the space to calm down. Only she followed me, shoving me again. “We buried you!” she screamed. “I had to watch our father break as they handed him an urn that was supposed to be filled with your ashes. How could you let this all play out and let us suffer through this for months? How could you be so fucking selfish?”
    She came at me then, pounding her fists against my chest. “Do you have any idea what this has done to our father? To me? To Gabby?” Her punches faltered, and she stood frozen in front of me as I placed my hands on her shoulders. When she lifted her head and looked up at me, tears were falling down her cheeks. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Gabby. Does she know?”
    “Not yet,” I replied, hoping she remained calmer than she was five seconds ago. “I plan to go to her place tonight.” I could tell Libby was struggling with what to say. I knew she and my father knew about the baby.
    “Has anyone—do you—?”
    “I know,” I said. Her eyes filled with tears once more, and she smiled. “Grey told me.”
    “You’re gonna be a father,” she whispered, and I nodded, smiling back at her. Without another wasted moment, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her against my chest.
    “The hardest part about what I was forced to do was leaving you all behind. But you have to know I wouldn’t have agreed if I didn’t think it was protecting you all.” She nodded against my chest, and her body shook as she cried. “It still isn’t completely safe, but I couldn’t stay away any longer.”
    I looked up to see Will and Grey smiling back at us. My brother-in-law nodded, and I twisted my sister in my arms and led her toward the house.
    One reunion had been completed. Two more to go.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 16
     
     
    Gabriella
     
    I had never been happier to leave the office than I was today. I had two cancellations and one very bitchy client. It was either the hormones or the fact I had a hard time holding on to my calm anymore, and it took everything in me not to punch Mrs. Kinley in the face. She never had anything nice to say, and she was by far the most heartless person I had ever met. My tolerance for people like her was nonexistent anymore. But by some miracle, I had made it through our appointment without