A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers #5) - Jamie McGuire Page 0,80

the trigger.

Lying was the hardest habit to break, especially when we believed we were protecting those we loved.

Now, he was standing in our kitchen, skirting around the questions Liis and Agent Hyde were asking. I watched him speak half-truths without blinking an eye, and I wondered just how much he knew that I didn’t. How many times he’d been able to keep secrets because I didn’t want to believe he had any.

“Congratulate you for the trip?” Liis asked. “So it’s done, then?”

“The only suspect we’re missing is Giada. We can’t connect her directly … yet … but we will.”

“Giada Carlisi?” Val asked. “So we’re not done. Because Giada has her own people, and the Bureau killed her husband and sons. She’s a crazy bitch.”

“We’re done,” Travis said.

“What about Giulia? Vittoria? Her bodyguard Chiara? What about Angelo’s new wife?” Val said, her tone bordering accusatory.

“Angelo got married? When?” I asked. He was an uncompromising bachelor, married to the family. He was known to assault his girlfriends, and only one had stuck around more than a year. We had so many pictures of her battered body; I wondered how long she would stay. Then she disappeared. I wasn’t sure if I should fear the woman who had finally tamed him or fear for her.

“We’re currently unable to locate Coco,” Travis said.

“Since when?” Val asked, seeming concerned.

“Since yesterday.”

“Coco is Angelo’s wife?” I asked.

Travis nodded, but he didn’t look at me, a telltale sign he wasn’t being completely honest.

“Then we’re not finished,” Val snapped. “Any loose ends equals unfinished. They are the wives of the Carlisis, and Chiara is a known hitman for Giada. What? They aren’t dangerous because they’re women? Tell me you’re not that stupid.”

Travis bristled. “We have it covered, Val.”

“It’s all or nothing,” Val said, pointing at him. “Those words came from your mouth, Maddox.”

“I know what I said.”

“Then why are you being so careless now? Why would you … oh.” Recognition flashed in her eyes, and she realized the rush. Thomas was in a hurry to get home, and no one could argue with that. Not even the director.

Liis covered her mouth, her eyes glossing over.

Agent Hyde put her hand on her holster, inching back from the kitchen window curtain with two fingers. “Incoming,” she said.

Liis tried to run for the door, but Travis stopped her.

“Just wait,” he said.

Agent Hyde relaxed. “It’s not us.”

Travis’s brows pulled together. “Who is it?”

Hyde nodded toward the door. After two knocks, Trenton pushed through, leading Camille in by the hand. They instantly knew something was up, gazing around to the strange positions of everyone in the room.

“Fuck,” Travis said, glancing out the window, and then tried to herd his brother out the door. “You have to go.”

“What the hell?” Trenton said, slinking away from Travis’s grasp. “Hi to you, too, spunk trumpet.”

“Seriously, Trent,” Travis said. “You can’t be here right now.”

“Why not?” Camille asked.

“We’re having a family meeting,” I said.

“We’re not family?” Trenton asked, offended.

Travis sighed, and then raised both arms, pointing eight fingers at the door. “You have to leave, Trent! Now! We’ll explain later, but for now ….”

Something outside caught Hyde’s attention, and she held up a finger. “Everyone quiet. Incoming.”

Travis rolled his eyes and pulled Trenton to the side. “Whatever you see in a few seconds, just … try not to freak out. Let Liis have her moment.”

“What do you mean?” Trenton asked.

“Just keep your fucking mouth shut for once,” Travis growled.

“What’s going on?” Camille asked me.

“You keep it together, too. This was supposed to be for Liis.”

We waited behind the sofa, staring toward the door. Liis stood in the middle of the room holding the baby monitor in her trembling hand. The door opened, and Thomas stood in a white button-down shirt and navy slacks, freshly showered and shaven. He was breathing hard from running up our long drive. He stepped through the threshold, a wide grin on his face. Liis ran, throwing her arms around him, sobbing.

Trenton’s knees buckled. Camille and Travis held him up for a few seconds before letting him fall to his knees.

Camille kneeled next to her husband. “I knew it, baby!” she said with a smile on her face. She kissed his cheek, rubbing his arm with her hand with excitement.

Trenton shook his head slowly, his mouth hanging open. “What the hell is going on, Travis?”

“We’ll explain later,” Travis said, watching his oldest brother with a smile.

Trenton looked up at Travis. “There’s an explanation?” He stood and took a breath, preparing to throw a tantrum.