“Baby, that’s definitely not it.” He took her hand in his. “I don’t want you anywhere near Quinn and his madness. He’s in the hospital because he hasn’t grown up yet or handled his business. He owes the wrong people some long cash. And I don’t want them to lay eyes on you.”

  Quinn had already been sniffing around, trying to pump Zach for details. The man would use any information about Jordan to his advantage.

  Jordan had been grateful Lani wasn’t by his side when Quinn showed up at the Castle and he and Lani had spent the remainder of the event in the VIP area where his brother’s date didn’t have access. Evidently, he was aiming for rich, but his date wasn’t that rich.

  Now that Hector hadn’t been repaid, he’d made good on having Quinn pay the cost. At least the man let him have his life. Not that Jordan wanted his brother to take up residence six feet under; but if Quinn was on fire, Jordan would hesitate a few moments to let him get a good crisp on all sides before pissing on him to put out the flames.

  Besides, Jordan wasn’t sure that Lani’s incident in Flossmoor wasn’t tied to the men Quinn was involved with. That could have been a tactic to force Jordan to pay on Quinn’s behalf. Maybe another conversation with Hector was in order. Maybe he’d have Daron and Zach in on this to get the message across.

  She gently caressed his face, searching his gaze. “Are you sure you’re not still holding on to some childhood stuff?”

  “I most certainly am holding on,” Jordan admitted. “Kind of hard not to when your brother has tried to kill you at least twice.”

  He hadn’t been able to convince his father that Quinn tampered with the medical equipment while he was in a coma. However, he couldn’t mistake Quinn’s intentions the day he swerved his bike into Jordan’s, forcing him into oncoming traffic.

  Lani blinked as though shocked he was so blunt.

  Jordan leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m going to check things out, be there with my mom. But this right here is something he set in motion.”

  “Jordan, I can’t believe you’re so cold.” Frowning. Lani crossed her arms over those luscious breasts, shielding them from sight.

  “Not cold.” Jordan felt the sting of her disappointment in his heart. “Indifferent. For the family members I love, I’ll go balls to the wall. Him? I’m keeping my balls, my woman, my money, and everything else close to the chest.” He kissed her lips this time, and she reluctantly returned the gesture. “I’m sorry I have to go to the hospital instead of being with you, but I’ll see you later.”

  She nodded, and Jordan couldn’t help wishing Hector had better timing as he made his way over to the sedan with Daron’s security personnel to request they stay with Lani an hour or two longer.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Jordan followed security’s directions to the fifth-floor patient rooms. His aunts hovered around the door to Quinn’s room, conversing.

  “Hector grew up with them,” Bethany fumed, pointing into the room. “How could he do something like this? I’m going to have a talk with him to figure this thing out.”

  “Stay out of it,” Jordan warned. “This is Quinn’s mess. Let him clean it up. He’s into Hector for three hundred large, and unless you’re opening up your bank account to fix it, then it’s going to roll like this until Quinn gets it handled.”

  “Three hundred large?” Bethany and Shelah asked in unison.

  Jordan nodded and shifted to allow a nurse to continue down the corridor.

  “Drugs?” Shelah inquired.

  Jordan nodded again.

  “But how did Hector even get into that?” Shelah asked, her lips pursed in disapproval. “His family was into the art industry … exports, right?”

  “Evidently, Hector thought arts and crafts weren’t paying the kind of cash he needed to live like a baller and high roller.” He peered into the room where Quinn lay in the hospital bed with Sarah praying by his side. “I believe he’s thinking of making a change, but he still has a rep to uphold. If Quinn doesn’t pay his debt, then everyone else will feel they can do the same thing. Hector is serious about his paper, and the only reason Quinn’s not pushing up daisies is because Hector came to see me.”

  “You paid him?” Shelah frowned as she waited for a response.

  Jordan raised an eyebrow.

  Shelah’s shoulders relaxed. “I didn’t think so.”

  “I just don’t understand,” Bethany said, with a grimace. “Eric left all of his children a fair share of his money. Quinn shouldn’t be struggling.”

  “It’s like that when you blow everything on women and bad investments, and then try to recoup your losses by taking a walk on the dark side.”

  Both women gawked at Jordan, as Shelah said, “He lost all of it?”

  “He’s been riding me for over a month.” Jordan moved out of the way again for another nurse, this one pushing a medicine cart. “Pissed that I won’t hand over the money from my trust to wipe away his problems.”

  Shelah frowned up, asked, “And you haven’t touched it? That’s what Quinn is always complaining about.”

  “Not a dime,” he replied as Shelah’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Don’t intend to either.”

  “So why wouldn’t you—”Bethany’s and Jordan’s head snapped toward Shelah, who held up both hands in mock surrender. “Forget what I was about to say.”

  “How long has my mother been in there?” Jordan asked, worried about the dejected air around her.

  “A while,” Bethany said, glancing at Sarah. “We thought you weren’t coming.”

  “I wasn’t going to let him use guilt to sink his claws into Mom again.” His jaw tightened at the thought of Quinn pulling his mother into this dangerous situation. “Seems like ever since Dad died, she’s let Quinn inch his way back into her life. It’s like she’s forgotten the reason she didn’t want him around in the first place.”

  Shelah peered into the room once more. “Your mother has a forgiving heart.”

  “Doesn’t mean she needs to have a forgetting one,” Jordan shot back. “That’s where people get things messed up.”

  Jordan knew some members of his family viewed his actions as cold, but time and time again, Quinn had shown him who he was. He had to accept it, or risk losing another person he loved to Quinn’s carelessness. “I forgive him for what he’s done, and what he’s still trying to do, but when a person shows me that all they can give me are the crumbs of their life, then I have no problem showing them that I’m not that hungry.”

  Bethany whipped out her phone. “That was pretty damn good,” she said typing into the cell. “I’m going to say that to Mercury when he starts acting special.”

  Chuckling, Jordan remarked, “If that ends up in one of his songs, I want royalties.”

  Bethany laughed as she typed.

  “Are you going in to see him?” Shelah gestured toward where Quinn lay.

  “After Mom’s done praying for him. Hopefully, he’ll find salvation while he’s at it. Because Hector coming for him a second time might mean he’ll see his Maker a lot faster than he intended.”

  Bethany took his hand in hers. “Jordan, you’re in the best position to help him out this time.”

  “Not at all. That trust fund is going to pass by me and go straight to my children. Last time I checked, Quinn Spears isn’t my child. The problem is, everyone has been enabling him all this time, and now that he’s knee high in some bullshit, he still expects everyone to wipe his ass.” Jordan wanted to be around to have a family and keep them safe. He couldn’t afford to have Quinn steal that from him. “Sorry, but I’m all out of Charmin. Especially if he’s expecting the green and white kind.”

  Shelah pressed her lips together trying not to laugh, then said, “The man does have a point.”

  “But we can’t let Hector kill him either,” Bethany argued, sighing her frustration.

  “Trust me, we’d be in a different part of the hospital if Hector was planning to kill him.”

  Jordan hoped Quinn would heed Hector’s warning and clean up his life. “Hector is going to give him a chance to come up with the money over time. Brother man will have to get a job like everyone else. He has a degree and doesn’t use it. He might have to sell some of his jewelry, get an equity loan, and stop acting like he has a never-ending source of money.”

  Bethany shrugged and said, “Good points.”

  “Why are you all out here instead of in there?” Sarah snapped, glaring at the three of them.

  “Didn’t want to interrupt your time with him,” Jordan said.

  “You’re the reason he’s in that bed.” Sarah turned steely eyes on him.

  “You’re wrong, Quinn is to blame for him being here.”

  “You have to forgive him at some point.”

  “Oh, I’ve forgiven plenty. I just have a longer memory and don’t forget a damn thing. You know, the same way you forgot when he tried to kill me. The same way you forgot when he actually managed to kill your daughters.” Jordan took a breath and reminded himself he was speaking to his mother.

  “He was a child,” she said through her teeth, but flinched at his glare. “It was an accident.”

  “Was it?” Jordan hadn’t told his mother about the bike incident which happened when he was a teen. “He didn’t want anyone taking Dad’s attention away from him. And what he did meant he got exactly what he wanted. He lived in our house, and I went to live with Aunt Shelah. He had you and dad all to himself.”

  “That was your choice,” she snapped, gripping the rosary in her hands.

  “And a good one,” he countered. “I love you, Mom, but I didn’t trust you or Dad to keep me safe. So, I went to someone who would.”

  Sarah glanced at a young couple headed down the hallway. “We don’t need to talk about any of this right now.”

  “No, we don’t,” Jordan said with a sweep of his gaze to his aunts, who were oddly silent. “You want to help him? Stop protecting Quinn and let him pay his debts the honest way—on his feet doing something productive, instead of sticking out his hand for you to drop some cash into it.”

  “You’re being childish and selfish.” Sarah pulled the hospital door closed as though she didn’t want Quinn to hear. “You can’t—”

  “If it’s selfish of me not to allow Quinn’s toxicity to destroy my life like it did my sisters’, so be it.”

  “Wait Jordan.” Sarah grabbed his hand to keep him from walking away. “I should’ve been on your side but that’s my guilt speaking. Eric asked me to take Quinn in earlier and I didn’t want to. I always wondered if I’d done what he asked and been able to deal with Quinn without any hint of disparity, would he have been a different man.”

  “Mom, Quinn is responsible for who he is. He, Zach, and I were afforded the same opportunities but only Quinn continues to be the childish and selfish person you are accusing me of being. So you need to accept that you can’t change or help anyone who only wants handouts not hand ups to change their circumstances.”

  With that, Jordan brushed past his aunts, walked out of the hospital, and made it to the comfort of his car. He drove to The Point at Lake Michigan that offered the best view of the sunset, then he drove around the city until he ended up at Lani’s house.

  When she opened the door, worry was etched in her features.

  “He’s all right.”

  “Then why aren’t you with him?” Lani stepped back, allowing him to step inside.

  Jordan was angry knowing that Quinn could bring killers to his mother’s doorstep. Sarah was so busy trying to save Quinn, again, that she didn’t realize she was risking her own well-being to do it. “Trust me, my mother’s all the support he’s ever needed.”

  Lani pulled him close and held him until his anger subsided. “You’ll have to forgive him at some point, Jordan.”

  Jordan pulled away to look in her eyes. “My mother said the same thing. I did forgive him.”

  “Then—”

  “No, it doesn’t mean forgetting and putting myself back into a place where he can hurt me all over again. It doesn’t require that I provide other people an outward show that I have forgiven him by smiling and acting as if nothing happened.”

  “If you don’t forget, then you haven’t forgiven.”

  “I’ve forgiven everything,” Jordan whispered. “But after he almost put me six feet under twice, I’m not forgetting a damn thing. Forgiveness does not equal reconciliation.”

  “Understood.”

  “Enough of that.” Jordan took her hand in his. “How are you holding up?”

  Lani shrugged and lowered her gaze to the floor. “I’m still shaken and stunned that someone hates me enough to attempt to kill me.”

  Was Quinn’s trip to the hospital connected to Lani’s near death experience?

  Jordan wondered if the incident was a failed kidnap attempt. Had they planned to leverage Lani to force him to pay Quinn’s debt?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Lani barely listened as Dr. Gervais wrapped up their impromptu meeting.

  Her mind was on reviewing what had occurred over the last few months. Daron had informed her that he’d tracked down the men in the SUV at the fake Dr. Langston event. She was shocked to find out the SUV and Audi were there for two different reasons. The guy she tased was part of a team hoping to use her as a pawn to convince Jordan to pay Quinn’s debt, but they ended up saving her life by scaring off the shooter.

  After attending Dr. Barton’s Fourth of July event, she was starting to suspect that Sandra may be the woman he was seeing even though she came with another guy. Lani thought back and she did remember seeing them together at a local café, then the image of the two of them huddled up together on the day she got suspended flashed in her mind. Lani couldn’t believe she’d missed the obvious sign.

  Sandra had been acting squirrely all day, which made Lani wonder was it because she was trying to hide her relationship with Dr. Barton? What was up the woman’s sleeve? Was Sandra working with someone to bring her down?

  Lani wasn’t sure anymore as she attempted to refocus on her conversation with Dr. Gervais. Dr. Risden had received the updated robotic proposal and was making a big stink about it. For the last hour, she and Dr. Gervais had been brainstorming strategies to get the approval pushed through by the board. The only good thing was that she’d finally purchased a new Tesla, though she was kind of getting used to the feel of Jordan’s Mustang. That puppy had some serious horse power.

  Alaina knocked on the door and peeked inside, allowing Lani an opening to make an exit.

  “I almost forgot,” Dr. Gervais called, “Happy birthday, Lani.”

  With her hand on the door, she smiled, and it hit her that she’d forgotten. Birthdays were never a special occasion in her household.

  “Happy birthday, Dr. Jamison.” Alaina’s smile seemed a bit false as she stepped out of Lani’s way.

  “Thank you.” Lani grabbed her trench coat, patted her pocket to make sure she had her wallet, then headed for the parking lot to meet the man she loved.

  Minutes later, Jordan greeted her with a kiss as he held the car door open. She slid into the passenger seat of the Jag. The troubles of the day slipped away almost immediately.

  “How was today?” Jordan asked as he drove out of the hospital lot.

  “Great, now that I’m with you.” She smiled at him, slipping out of her coat. While the weather was chilly this morning, it felt more like summer than fall right now. Chicago had two seasons—summer and winter and couldn’t decide which one it wanted. “Where are we heading?”

  “Just sit back, relax, and you’ll find out soon enough.” Jordan turned to a station playing smooth jazz.

  Jordan made life enjoyable, despite everything happening at the hospital. True to his word, they toured Chicago and neighboring cities in the Midwest. They also took a weekend trip to St. Louis and made a point to visit Washington University, the home of the infamous sex study pioneered by the now world-renowned medical research team of Masters and Johnson.

  Jordan had mentioned that during his training for the Agency, Masters and Johnson’s Human Sexual Response was required reading. The company wanted him to have physical talent as well as an academic knowledge of what happens to the human body during sex. Lani was sure he’d graduated at the top of his class. Because here she was, seriously contemplating sharing a life with him.

  As much as she hated to admit it, that original plan to keep sex out of the exploration was killing her. Jordan could give her a look that creamed her panties. That’s when she knew she had made a turning point. All the caution signs she had posted around her life were falling down. Being with Jordan had liberated her from the chains of her past hurts, her old vulnerabilities, and some of her fears. He had become the anchor to her happiness.

  “This is different,” Lani said as Jordan pulled up to an unfamiliar house.

  He helped her out of the car. “I wanted to do something on your birthday that you’d never forget.”

  “You remembered,” she whispered.

  Instead of taking her directly inside, he guided her to a small park across the street.

  Lani looked back at the house and noticed a few people crammed in the front window watching them walk away. “Who are those people?” she asked, suddenly alarmed. “Why are they watching us?”

  “That’s part of the surprise.” Jordan continued guiding her down the path. “I’ll get to that. But first things first.”

  He led her to one of the wooden tables near the oak trees and helped her sit. Oddly, he remained standing, his brow furrowed in thought. He appeared nervous and excited at the same time.

  “Baby, what’s going on?” she asked.

  Jordan stepped closer but didn’t touch her. “When we started down this road, I only had one thing on my mind … to convince you that we belonged together. What I didn’t realize was that I had some growing up to do, too. The visits with my clients to say goodbye made me see this. After hearing your story, I’ve been thinking some more. My attempt to win your heart was not enough.”