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She lifted her head off Ivy’s shoulder and stared at him. “No,” she whispered.
Both men nodded. “It took two reconnaissance missions to get him back. If he can endure that, he can make it through this.”
Her stomach rolled. Was it possible that those men hadn’t killed him and dumped his body?
“What would Smythe want with Carver?” She tugged the blanket tighter around her chilled body.
“Leverage against the Gracey.”
Saying that, Sean turned his head to look at them. She saw the struggle on his face.
While everyone probably thought he was an irresponsible asshole for getting in deep with the loan shark, she also saw the remorse in him. He was a weak man, but he was only human. Many people made mistakes in life, and while losing his wife and son were not excuses for what he’d done, she could understand how he came to this place in life.
He pushed back his chair quietly and stood.
“Dad!” Ivy called to his retreating back.
The men watched him go without comment. When a door closed somewhere in the house, Colton met Livia’s stare once more.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the back door leading into the kitchen banged off the inner wall, and Hunter stomped toward them with Webb at his side.
He looked right at Livia. “The cops found your phone.”
She straightened. “Where?”
“It was tossed out along a road. A jogger picked it up and turned it in to the police.”
“Where is it?”
A red flush crawled up Hunter’s neck. “The cops are searching for a number that called your phone about an hour ago.”
She jerked to her feet. Until hands reached out to steady her, she didn’t realize she was wavering. Her mind spun.
“Wh-what was the phone number?”
Hunter swept his gaze from her to Colton and then Ledger. “It was a sat phone.”
Ledger shut his eyes and bowed his head. She wouldn’t be shocked to learn he was saying a prayer of thanksgiving, but she wasn’t ready to hold out that much hope yet.
She gripped the blanket so tightly, her fingers chilled. “How do we know it’s him? It could be anyone. The supplier I use for sugar cane to make my rum. A spam caller.”
Hunter shook his head. “We don’t think so, Livia. We’re going to head to the police department now and see if we can get a bead on a location.”
She lifted her brows. “And then?”
They traded a look. “Then the reconnaissance mission. We go and find him…and bring him back where he belongs.”
Livia’s knees buckled, and she sat down hard on the floor, the blanket swirling around her. If it was true and Carver really was alive—and coming back to her—then she would be the happiest woman alive.
But now more than ever, she knew there could be nothing between them. What was the point in giving her heart to someone who could be ripped away from her so easily?
* * * * *
Carver sat on the edge of the table in the doctor’s clinic, every muscle in him straining to leave.
He threw Colton a warning look so his brother knew exactly where he stood on the guys forcing him to make a stop and have his wounds seen to.
“I don’t need medical attention.” He growled this for the third time since they dragged him into the building. “I need to get back to Livia.”
