Yeah. Maybe.

  But something was nagging at me. I couldn’t get rid of it, and I looked around again. “You’d think Tanner would’ve come in here by now.”

  She shrugged, moving across the kitchen to claim her wine glass again. “Yeah, but it’s Tanner. He’s either getting orders from Kai or—I don’t know. Got anyone in the lock room? He likes to check that stuff out right away.”

  Dread hit my gut hard.

  The lock room.

  Carson.

  She’d watched me put the code in. I hadn’t cared because she wasn’t a captive anymore, but this was a big house, and if Tanner wasn’t in here… Fuck.

  I took off.

  Brooke yelped. “Where are you going?”

  “The security room!” I yelled back, tearing through the south end of the house. There was a shortcut this way, past the pool and into the back hallways, but then I saw them.

  He had her in the gym, and he was barring the door.

  I loved my brother. Loved him.

  I loved all of my siblings, almost idolized them, but right now, watching Tanner keep Carson in a room it was obvious she did not want to be in, I saw red with someone I never thought I’d see red with.

  I was there in two steps, hauling the door open.

  Tanner jerked, starting to turn around, but I shoved him aside as I met Carson’s gaze.

  Relief flooded her face, right before the tears came, and she bit her lip.

  “Come here.”

  If there’d been an argument, there wasn’t anymore. I heard even Brooke’s startled gasp behind me at my tone. It wasn’t hard or angry. It was gentle, almost tender, and Carson blinked more tears away before she met me. Her hand took the one I held out. I gave Tanner a warning look before I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to my chest, as we left the room.

  “Jonah,” he called after me.

  I raised my voice, holding her firmly next to me. “Do not follow me, Tanner.”

  “Jonah—”

  “Don’t!”

  I was taking her to the garage. If I couldn’t trust my family to wait and get my input before handling Carson, I was taking matters into my own hands. I glanced down, cursing because she only had socks on. Fine. I veered down a different hallway, going to the wing Kai liked to use when he and Riley were here.

  Riley would have clothes and shoes that Carson could use. Riley wouldn’t care.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  Lacing our fingers, I pulled her inside their bedroom. “We’re getting out of here.”

  Kai’s room was the grand room. Brooke always went on about how Kai kept all the biggest rooms/suites/wings/floors/houses for himself, so I wasn’t surprised when Carson took two steps inside and gaped.

  I let her go, moving to the closet where I knew Riley had her things.

  I pulled out shoes and a sweatshirt. I tossed both toward Carson before going to Kai’s desk. “Put the shoes on. Keep the sweatshirt just in case.”

  “Right.” I heard her awed tone.

  I had my things on me, but cash and a burner phone sometimes weren’t a bad idea. I found some money in the stash Kai kept on hand and nabbed a phone, passing it to Carson as I took her hand again, leading her back out of the room.

  “What’s this for?”

  “Call your sister. Let her know you’re okay, and then we’re going to get you to safety. I’ll come back for your phone when I know you’re fine.”

  “Uh…what?”

  But I wasn’t explaining any more.

  Tanner and Brooke wouldn’t fight us leaving, but there was a sense of urgency in my gut.

  If we were going, we had to go now. Otherwise Carson would get thrown into the wolves’ den, and I didn’t want that to happen. At least, not any more than it already had.

  We reached the garage, and I heard the sounds before I registered what they might’ve meant. I kept going anyway, pulling open the door and then stopping. The vehicle lights came first, then I could make out the SUV that eased inside. I had only a second to squeeze Carson’s hand in warning before the engine shut off.

  She was screwed.

  A door opened. My brother got out, strolling around the back of his SUV.

  The guards weren’t in the house because Kai was coming. That’s why I hadn’t seen them earlier. There’d been an incident one time with his woman. He liked having that privacy, but not Tanner. Tanner never minded which guards were around, and neither did Brooke.

  I should’ve remembered.

  Now Kai was here. He eyed me, his gaze dropping to my fingers laced with Carson’s, but he didn’t show a thing.

  He looked back up. “Brother.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  CARSON

  I recognized this guy as he rounded the corner of the SUV. He was the first hottie from the morgue, and he was in charge. That much was obvious. Jonah had squeezed my hand. That could mean a few things, but all of them were bad in this scenario.

  I gulped.

  Tanner was terrifying, but in a whole different way. This guy could order my death, and eyeing him, I knew he would do it. He’d do it coldly and without a second thought, if he thought he needed to. For now, after giving me a curious perusal, he seemed more fixated on Jonah.

  “I’m taking her to her place,” Jonah said as if heading off an argument. He said it with authority, and this guy gave me a whole different look, as if I were a new species to him. I held my breath until he turned back to Jonah.

  “You might want to have her stay, considering we’re fairly certain her being at Bresko’s wasn’t an accident after all.”

  “What?” My voice hitched high, and I flinched. What?! I stepped around Jonah. “What are you talking about? My sister—”

  This brother of Jonah’s focused back on me, and there was a shift in his demeanor—a subtle one, but it was ominous, a warning. I almost stepped back, feeling it, but I couldn’t see it. I’d started wondering if I was imagining it when he responded, again so casually…

  “Your sister received free tickets and a free VIP pass to the nightclub. It wasn’t a coincidence you were at both places.”

  “But…” I shook my head. “My sister said it was a friend who worked there. She said she won the hockey tickets.”

  “There was no friend. There was no contest. Those tickets were sent to her.”

  I wished the floor would open up and swallow me, because what?!

  I couldn’t comprehend any of that. My sister wasn’t a liar.

  What were they saying?

  The door opened behind us, and Tanner’s voice filled the garage. “Took you long enough.”

  I tensed. I really didn’t like this brother of Jonah’s. He moved past me to the back of the SUV. He opened it and grabbed a bag before closing it. Pausing as he turned to us, his gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Jonah and me.

  Tanner spoke again. “Pretty sure there’s been a new development, Kai.”

  Kai. That was the first brother’s name. Jonah had mentioned him.

  Kai. Tanner. Brooke. Jonah. Four of them.

  “I’m seeing that,” he responded.

  “Also, Brooke’s making dinner.” There was a slight laugh in Tanner’s voice. “So if we don’t want to die, we might want to get someone else in there. Normally she’s the one we want in there, but considering she’s a little unhinged tonight…”

  Jonah groaned. “I got it.” He took my hand again, turning to me. “You need answers. Stay. We’ll get some for you, and then I’ll get your phone. I can take you back wherever you want to go.”

  My throat felt scratchy. “Promise?”

  My head whirled. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked that, but I needed some reassurance I’d be taken home.

  I wanted Jonah, but I also wanted nothing more than to curl up in my bed at my parents’ house, where I’d grown up.

  His eyes darkened. “Promise.”

  I nodded, feeling a little steadier, but not much.

  Jonah led me back inside, and I glanced over my shoulder as we went.

  The older brother hadn’t moved, and his eyes hadn’t left us either. As I looked, our gazes caught and held. I felt it deep inside—a warning—and I gripped Jonah’s hand more firmly before steeling myself and forcing myself to turn back around.

  I didn’t like giving him my backside, but in this moment, there was no way around it.

  I also felt like he was aware of every emotion and thought running through my head, and he found them amusing.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  JONAH

  I didn’t like the way any of them were watching Carson.

  She was a new enigma to Kai. She was a new toy for Tanner. And Brooke… I spared a look up from the counter. I had no idea.

  I’d expected some reaction from her when I came in holding hands with Carson, when I informed Brooke I’d be making the dinner.

  There was none. Normal Brooke would’ve been throwing attitude. She tended to come off as spoiled, though she wasn’t. It was mostly a wall to manage strangers. Instead, she barely gave Carson a look, stepping to the side and refilling her wine glass.

  She and Tanner were at the kitchen island now, working on their second bottle. Both were quiet. Kai leaned against the counter, on his phone. He’d been on it since I’d started cooking. I’d taken whatever Brooke had been making off the stovetop—I had no clue what it was—drained the water and tossed it in the garbage.

  Carson stood next to me, helping. Head down. Quiet. She stuck close to my side.

  She was smart.

  “So…” Tanner refilled his wine as he broke the silence in the room. “Carson.”

  I felt her tense, straightening next to me where she’d been cutting vegetables for the sub sandwiches. She glanced at me, still staying close.

  He finished pouring and put the glass back down, with a little extra thump.

  I flicked the burner to simmer, covered the dish, and turned to face him as well.

  Brooke looked away, her eyes glazed and her fingers clenched tight around the glass.

  Kai’s gaze was firmly on Brooke.

  Tanner smiled at Carson, looking a bit predatory. “When I left, you and Jonah weren’t getting along.” He picked his glass up, motioning between us. “Now I’m noticing a closeness that wasn’t there before. Care to elaborate?”

  Carson stiffened and took a breath.

  “I’m sorry, but I hated Melissa,” Brooke cut in.

  My heart dipped, and I whirled to look at her.

  Carson gripped my arm, and I frowned at her, but she looked only at Brooke.

  Tanner snorted. “Tell us how you really feel.”

  “I don’t mean to talk bad about her, since she’s dead, but—”

  “No,” Tanner said. “Please do. I didn’t care for her either. I’m riveted.”

  I gave him a look. “I didn’t know that.”

  He shrugged. “You were banging. I didn’t think it’d be serious. Then you broke up how many times? The engaged part—that threw me—but you were mourning. You still are, so I was quiet. But since Brooke is letting it out…” He gave another shrug.

  Kai frowned, but he didn’t say anything.

  Brooke’s eyes didn’t seem entirely focused. The alcohol was taking its toll. A tear slipped down her cheek. “You loved her, Jonah, but I didn’t like her. And I feel shitty saying that. I’m just…relieved, and how awful of a person does that make me? She would’ve been terrible for you. A girl knows. You and she were on and off, then back on, and I just had this dread about it. I know you, Jonah. You were feeling restless, looking for your place to fit in—but you fit in with us. You’re one of us. We—”

  She broke off, turning to look out the window. Another tear trickled down her cheek. “She didn’t like not knowing your family, and I get that. That’s normal, but when I overheard your call with her, I had this horrible, horrible feeling, and now she’s dead, and I’m grateful and that makes me the worst. And if anyone felt that way about my little girl, I’d want to murder them. Melissa has a mom, and I’m trying to think of her, but…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “All I can feel is that my little brother won’t be lost to us anymore.”

  “Brooke.” I started to go to her, but again, Carson held me back, still watching Brooke.

  “I’m sorry she’s gone,” Brooke continued. “I really am, and I know it’s because of our family, but I’m still so relieved. I had a feeling she was going to take you away from us, maybe turn you against us, and I didn’t know how I was going to handle that.” She began to cry in earnest.

  Tanner was right next to her. My eyes urged him to hug her, comfort her, do something.

  He just grinned and took a drink of his wine.

  Then, after a moment, Brooke seemed more focused. She looked at me, her eyes softening, and turned to Carson next to me. I expected her to harden. She didn’t. The two of them watched each other, sizing each other up, but there was no hostility.

  I was confused.

  “He never fought for her,” Brooke said after a moment.

  I felt that, a direct hit to my chest. But she was right. I hadn’t.

  “He kept her separate, but he shoved his brother out of the way for you.”

  Kai shook his head. “It’s not the same situation.”

  Brooke turned to him, raising her chin, a little unsteady. “You’re right. Maybe. I have no idea the situation with this one, but he never brought Melissa around. Whatever the situation, I know she wouldn’t have been in the same room with all of us. He’d have kept her somewhere else, locked away. But this one, she’s here. She’s at his side. That says something.”

  Tanner finished his wine and stood, picking up the now-empty bottle. “Why are we cooking dinner? It’s ten at night.” He looked around. “I ate. Brooke ate on the plane. Kai, you probably ate on your flight down, too.”

  Brooke finished her wine. “I needed to do something.”

  As if on cue, Carson’s stomach grumbled.

  Everyone heard, turning to us.

  “Sorry.” Carson’s hand went to her stomach. “Didn’t eat all day.”

  “See!” Brooke snapped her fingers, surging to her feet. “There. I knew there was a reason I started cooking. Someone always needs to eat, no matter what time of day.”

  Tanner snorted. “Saved by the hostage.”

  Brooke’s face went flat. “What? She’s a hostage?”

  Tanner cringed.

  Kai shot him a look. “No, Brooke. She’s not, but on that note, the rest of us are going to my office. It’s business. You’ve stated you don't want to know.”

  Brooke’s eyebrows went up, and she looked ready to fight, but her shoulders soon deflated. She nodded, wrapping her sweater tighter around herself. “You’re right. I don’t want to know until the day I have to know. On that note, I should call my husband.”

  She crossed to the door and stopped to look at me. “I’m sorry for your loss, Jonah. I’m sorry you have to go through this.”

  My throat swelled up, but I nodded. “It’s getting better. Every day.”

  She probably didn’t believe me, but it was the truth. And I felt sort of wrong about it, because that shouldn’t have been the case. I should’ve still been devastated, and a part of me was, but…a part of me wasn’t.

  I didn’t know how to wrap my head around that.

  “Office,” Kai said. “Now.”

  Carson gave me a look.

  Right. She needed answers.

  So did I.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  CARSON

  These people were terrifying, but also fascinating.

  The sister? I had no idea what I thought of her now. Emotional at first. Hurt. In pain. Then there was a glimmer of depth, but she was in shock. That much was obvious. As for Tanner, I felt like he’d love to string me up and gut me one organ at a time, telling me jokes as he did. There was no way to read him. He had a firm wall up to everyone, even his family…or so I thought.

  As for the oldest, my first impressions were the same: cold, ruthless, cunning. But he loved his family—and they all loved Jonah.

  As we went to yet another part of the house (not a shock at this point), I pushed aside the fear and started observing them. The two brothers kept glancing at Jonah, measuring him.

  It was almost as if he had surprised them?

  Jonah had a good heart. I couldn’t explain how I knew, but I did. I’d known it the first moment I saw him, almost like something clicked for me. It was new.

  Yet as we went inside this massive, dark office, I knew Jonah would try to get answers for me. I lo—liked. Liked. I liked him even more for that.

  “You said Carson’s sister got free tickets and a VIP pass from a contest?” Jonah asked.

  Kai had moved to his desk and was going through some papers. He looked up and gave his brother another one of those measuring looks before he gave Tanner a nod.

  Tanner moved forward, taking out his phone. He also pulled out my phone and tossed it to Jonah, then pushed a button on his phone.

  He placed it in the middle of the desk on speaker. “Go ahead,” he barked.

  “We looked through Carson’s phone and found nothing there,” came a voice from the phone. “She’s legit, but researching her story, we found some items. The older sister, the one getting married, received an email about a contest for Mustangs tickets. She responded to the email, but it was a fake. It looks like she entered the contest, but that data doesn’t exist. It was a dummy database. We found the email congratulating her, and a number for her to call to claim the tickets. That number is also a dummy number. It no longer exists, but we think when she got the tickets, she was also given the VIP pass for Bresko’s.”

  “You’re unable to trace where the email originated from?” Kai frowned.

  “We’re working on it, but we’re jumping from Russia and hitting walls. She was set up. That much is true.”

  My sister.

  They—whoever they were—had targeted her.

  My knees buckled.