Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. Kristina McMorris
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on a rampage. If he finds out about us tonight, I don’t know what he’ll do. I tried to call your house, to warn you not to come over, but I couldn’t get through.”
Lane fixed his attention on her lips. Their movements shaped syllables that had become hard for him to grasp.
“Sweetheart,” she said. “Did you hear me?”
“They cut our lines,” he heard himself say.
“They what?”
“Cut our phone lines. The FBI arrested my father. Took boxes full of our things.”
She covered the base of her neck with her hand. “But—why?”
The image of his dad being driven away, handcuffed like a criminal, came charging back. The insanity of it all beat like a fist behind his forehead. “They said they needed him for more questioning. They’re wasting time. I’m telling you, he had nothing to do with it.”
“Of course he didn’t,” Maddie said in natural agreement.
Lane raked his hand through his hair. Why did he feel the need to present her with his case?
“Oh, honey, you’ll figure this out. You always do.” Her eyes shone with belief, a deepened trust that he could conquer any obstacle. But rather than it fortifying him, for the first time ever, he felt afraid of failing her.
“How is Emma?” she asked. “And your mom?”
“They’re all right. Or they will be, once my dad is back.” By morning. That’s what the agent had said. If not, Lane would find a way to bring him home. He had to. “I’ll come by as soon as I know more.”
“Why don’t I stop over instead? At your house sometime tomorrow?”
The house. Shredded to pieces.
“We’ll see.”
In the awkward silence, she glanced at the neighboring home. Was she nervous about their being seen together? Lane had grown accustomed to keeping their relationship under wraps, but he’d presumed that would change after their vows.
“I’ve gotta go.” He started to duck into the car.
“Just a minute.” She clutched his hand on the rim of the door. “I wanted to say that—no matter what—I hope you know that . . .” She trailed off, enwrapped him with her arms. Against his cheek, she finished in a heartfelt whisper, “I love you, Lane. I love you so much.”
His eyelids lowered, blocking out all but the warmth of her breath, the softness of her hair and body. They were again in that hotel suite, curled up under the oblivion of the sheets. A complimentary bowl of nuts and fruit adorned the bureau. It could have sustained them for at least another day. Why, in God’s name, did he ever let them leave that room?
Maddie yanked herself from his hold, and the illusion followed her.
“Tomo, you’re here,” TJ called to him, rounding the corner. “What’s going on?”
This was Lane’s cue for quick thinking—but nothing came. His excuses had run dry.
“Tomo?”
Maddie jumped in. “Where did you go, TJ? Where are the others?”
He looked at Lane curiously. “Just had a meeting. They drove back to their place afterward. I walked from there.”
She snuck Lane a glance, a plea for him to act natural. “So, the meeting. What was that about?”
TJ’s attention traveled between him and Maddie in calculating progression. “Shooting the enemy,” he replied, distracted. A struggle between denial and the obvious escalated in his eyes. His shoulders lifted an inch.
In light of all that was happening, Lane couldn’t do this anymore. They needed to protect one another. And that couldn’t happen until he fessed up.
“Lane was actually just leaving,” Maddie said. “He has to see about his family. Isn’t that right?”
A beat dragged past before Lane could push out the words. “TJ, I think we need to talk.”
“Lane,” Maddie breathed. “Please.”
TJ’s gaze lowered, sharply halting at the ring on Lane’s finger. His jaw visibly tightened. “What have you done?”
Something plummeted and landed hard in Lane’s chest. “We should go inside.”
“No,” he said. “You tell me now.”
Maddie’s arms closed over her chest, her neck drawn. She appeared ready for an earthquake. Clearly she had forgotten, as had Lane until this moment, that he and TJ were blood brothers. Two pricks of a sewing needle had sealed their bond in the storage room of Mr. Kern’s shop. They were eight, but their pact held no expiration. Nothing could divide them.
Not even this.
Lane closed the car door. He faced TJ before speaking. “Months ago, Maddie and I, we started dating. We were afraid how you might feel about that, really about her dating anyone. So, we thought it’d be better not to say anything—just at first, though.”
TJ broke in with a slow, raw voice: “Did. You. Marry her?”
No amount of padding would cushion the truth. Lane took a weary breath and answered. “Yes.”
Disappointment carved its way into TJ’s face. It was then that Lane imagined how it would feel, down the road, if some guy ran off and married Emma. Let alone his best pal.
Maddie attempted a voice of reason, which TJ shut down by trudging toward the house.
“Hold on.” Lane followed him. “I know it looks terrible. And I’m sorry, honest I am. But you have to let me explain.”
The air turned electric as TJ reached the stairs. A single spark could set off an explosion. Still, Lane couldn’t let him think the worst.
“Buddy, listen to me,” he said, catching TJ’s elbow.
In an instant, TJ swung around and grabbed him by the shirt, cinched it up under Lane’s chin. “I’m not listening to anything from you! I ought to kill you, you piece of shit!”
“Stop it,” Maddie shrieked. She worked to restrain her brother, his right arm poised for a punch.
“Go on,” Lane yelled back. “Hit me.” And he meant it, wanted the redemption found in a rightful punishment. “Do it!”
“That’s enough,” Maddie said.
TJ’s fist quavered, as did his reddened face. Releasing his grip, he shoved Lane back several feet. “You were supposed to be my friend.”
Lane’s hand rose to his gathered collar. “I am your friend.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a filthy liar,” he seethed. “Paul was right. You’re just another dirty yellow Jap.”
Maddie protectively held Lane’s arm. “TJ, you don’t mean that.”