Page 117 of Emerald

“I appreciate the compliment.” I smirk.

“Urgh. That smile. I get why you fell for him. You don’t happen to have a single brother, do you?” she asks.

“I do,” which makes Mackenzie light up, “back in the States.” Her face falls.

“Just my luck.” She sighs.

41

ELENA

“You brought my daughter home, you found her, I can’t believe you found her,” Sergei says, wrapping me in his arms and hugging me as his tears flow freely. “She is home, home!” Emotions well in my eyes at Sergei’s thanks.

“I told you I would find her.”

Anna comes over and hugs me as if I haven’t just been ignoring her for the past twenty-four hours. “Thank you for bringing me home.” I give her a smile, pretending everything is okay. I don’t know why I feel like this, I should be happy, years I have waited to bring my best friend home, and now that she is … I’m having mixed emotions about it.

“You’re home,” Elizabeth Clark cries as she pulls me into her arms and hugs me tightly. “I’ve been so worried about you. Zoe told me I didn’t need to worry but I will always worry about my girls.” I hug her tightly because the love that Zoe’s mom is giving me is something I’ve never felt before. “You saved Pearl and those girls. You saved them.” She cries as she continues to hug me.

“Sweetheart, you’re strangling her,” Frank Clark tells his wife.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry,” she says, wiping the tears from her eyes as she takes a step back. “I’m just happy you are home. Can you believe she brought Sergei his daughter home, too? I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks,” I answer quietly. I don’t think my own parents have ever told me they were proud of me.

“Oh, and who is this?” Elizabeth asks, looking over my shoulder. I don’t have to turn to know it’s Nash, his strong presence at my back is all I need to know it’s him.

“This is Nash Madden, he helped me bring Pearl home. He’s one of Brooks’ old military friends.”

“Oh, really nice to meet you, son,” Frank says, holding out his hand to Nash who shakes it.

“Thanks for having me, sir,” he says.

“Brooks has offered him a job because I basically blew up his life in Mexico. He can’t go back,” I explain.

Elizabeth’s brows pull together. “Well, we are more than happy to have you here. Thank you for helping save those girls, sorry that it was at the expense of your life there.”

Nash shakes his head. “It’s all good, ma’am, I would do it again in a heartbeat, especially as it brought me Elena.”

Elizabeth and Frank still at the use of my real name and the fact that Nash used it.

“Oh, yeah, I may have come back with more than just the girls,” I say, biting my bottom lip.

“You two …” Elizabeth looks between us.

“I don’t deserve her, I know that, but I’m going to make sure she knows that she’s deserved,” Nash states. Elizabeth melts at Nash’s kind words.

“That’s rather unexpected, but I guess as long as you treat Ellie right then you and I won’t have a problem,” Frank tells him, instantly turning into papa mode which I appreciate.

“Understood, sir,” Nash says.

“You know, she can kill you in your sleep,” Elizabeth adds in warning.

Oh my gosh, is this what it’s like bringing home a boy to your parents, and they interrogate him? This is so embarrassing.

“I know. That’s why I sleep with one eye open.” Nash chuckles.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting the third degree from our parents,” Mackenzie says, bouncing over.

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