Hey guys,

So I recommend listening to Stone Walls by We The Kings when reading this chapter. That's the song that I listened to while writing this emotional chapter.

Thank you

Enjoy!

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"Than I was escorted to the airport by two government officials" Thomas explains as I change out of my wet clothes in the next room. "Before I knew it I was on a plane to New Hampshire sitting next to Brandon"

Thomas's home is nice. He lives in a small house in the Chicago suburbs. He's done well for himself. He's been with my kid brother all these years.

I sighed "why New Hampshire?"

"Close to New York so he could keep an eye on us I guess" he tells me from the next room.

"How did you end up in Chicago?" I ask as entering the living room with a white t-shirt and black leggings that belonged to one of Thomas's ex girlfriends.

"Johnathan left New York to join the Chicago HQ" Thomas sat on his sofa. "We had to come along"

So they were placed directly under Johnathan's supervision till he died, meaning that they were automatically released from the program six months ago.

"So you haven't been in the program for six months?" I take a seat beside him.

"Since his funeral" he tells me "we're safe Isla...He was never after us. They were after dad, to stop him from giving out the names of the dirty cops" Thomas explains. "That's why they made sure we disappeared."

So what happened to the hitman that killed Liam?

I furrow my brows "What happened to Ned?"

"Probably hiding out in Mexico somewhere"

I sigh in frustration "So these twelve years have been for nothing?"

All the pain and torment that the last twelve years have brought upon us because of Johnathan Banks and Ned - all for nothing. All could have been avoided. Johnathan had to keep us all quiet so he sent us away to cover his tracks, after the hitman killed Liam instead of Hank.

I knew he was dirty. I just wished Hank listened to me all those years ago. Things could be so different.

"Yeah pretty much" he leans back. "...I can't believe you're married...to Ross out of all people" he smirks.

Ross has always been pretty great. He survived my past and already knew me so well. Nothing felt unnatural in a relationship. Too bad I'm going to lose him.

"Yeah" I smirk.

"I'm glad you got to have some sense of normalcy." He admits. "I feel like I've lived a hundred different lives since I was Thomas Sanders. I would have given anything to have settled down somewhere."

"I've found you now" I take his hand, "you don't need to pretend anymore, or adapt to a new life. Alright. This ends now. You, Hank and Brandon will come back with me and that'll be it."

Thomas glances at me blankly "what?"

Suddenly my heart stops as I witness Thomas's blank response. Time freezes for that moment as we exchange the same terrified look.

"No" I gasp as shaking my head violently "They're with you right?"

Thomas gulps as his eyes begin to water, like mine. Oh no.

"Isla" he squeezes my hands, looking me straight in the eye. "after that agent drove away with you, I was escorted to the airport by two government officials-"

"No-" I pull away with tears falling from my cheeks.

"Than I was on a plane to New Hampshire sitting next to Brandon" he repeats. "I haven't seen my father since graduation ten years ago"

"No! he was supposed to be with you" I cry frantically. "We need to find him" I stand up and begin walking through the room hysterically.

"Isla, I've been looking for my dad for ten years" he sits on the sofa glaring at me.

I glare at Thomas "I'm a detective! My husband's a P.I! Tommy can search the medical records and Kyle can search the FBI data base! And if we break the law a long the way than Laura and Ely can get us out-" I pace through the room back and forth frantically.

"Isla" he begs.

"It's fine we got this" I run my fingers through my hair. "We're going to be fine"

"Isla" Thomas stands up and places both his hands on my shoulders "calm down"

"I can't!" I glare at him as I stood only a few inches away from him. "How can you be?"

"Because I've learned my lesson" He lets go of me and sighs "you don't think I've tried finding him? believe me I've tried" he sighs as placing his hands behind his head "people end up dead in our world Isla"

"I know" I struggle to contain my tears.

"Than you should know that no matter how much we love dad it's not worth it" he sighs.

Only then is when I process what he said.

My heart begins beating at over a hundred miles per hour as I look over to Thomas, only to find an immense amount of guilt in his eyes.

"Who's dead?" I ask, but he only responds with a sigh. I raise my voice "Thomas who's dead?"

Time freezes as me and Thomas exchange the same look. It's then when tears surface for Thomas.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

"I'm so so sorry" Tears rolls down his cheeks.

Brandon?

"No no no" Tears roll hysterically down my cheeks causing me to bend down and slap my right hand over my mouth, and my left hand over my stomach.

Thomas immediately wraps his arms around me. "I'm sorry"

"No not my Brandon!" I cry as slamming my palms against Thomas chest multiple times, attempting to push him away from me. "Not my Brandon!"

Pictures of my brother flashes through my mind. His first day of school. The times we shared - both good and bad. The hours we spent talking about cars. His laugh, he had a great laugh. Then Johnathan took him away from me.

Thomas just stands there taking all my hits as I cry out in grief.

"It's just me here" his eyes well up. "It's been just me for a long time. Im sorry."

"Not Brandon." I collapse in his arms. My tears soaking his shirt.