“What?” He looked and stared hard at me. “You do? The great and knowing Kashton Colello? So, tell me, brother. Tell me what Payton will do to hurt my sister. Huh?” His voice rose and carried.

  The whole room silenced.

  Eyes turned our way.

  I ignored Matt’s question for a second, finding the woman in question. My gaze fell on her and she blanched. Her hands trembled, so she stuffed them behind her.

  “I don’t know, Matt.” I spoke to him, my eyes on her. “I actually have no clue what Payton will do, but I would hope—”

  “Kash,” a low warning from Peter.

  I ignored him, too, continuing, “—that since she’s been brought into the fold, that since Seraphina and Cyclone love her so much and are so happy she’s here, that she won’t do anything to hurt anyone they love.”

  Payton closed her eyes, lowered her head. Her one hand came out, rested on the pool table, and then hit it. Her head came up. Her eyes opened and she had made a decision. “Like my own sister? What about her? She knows Calhoun. Did you forget that?”

  “So do you.”

  Matt stiffened.

  Peter swore under his breath.

  Bailey was standing up, at a slow rate. Her head swung my way, then swung Payton’s way. “You do? You know Calhoun? I knew Quinn did, but … Who else knows Kash’s grandfather?”

  “I—” The courage she had seconds ago looked like it was dwindling. She turned for Peter, but he was already shaking his head. She was on her own, and seeing that, Payton paled. “I would never do anything to harm Seraphina and Cyclone.” She looked hurt. “You know that, Kashton.”

  She sounded hurt, too, but then she went on the offense. “Haven’t you been gone?”

  Got it. What place did I have in questioning her? The whole “being hurt” was a ruse. That was her shot at me.

  I smirked at her, sliding off my barstool. “You’re right, Payton. I do know you.” My head went to the side. “I know that your father worked for my grandfather. He was in business with Griogos as well. And I know that before your father died, you and Quinn stayed at my grandfather’s home for a summer.”

  Payton’s pallor was getting noticeably whiter. “Everyone knows that.”

  Matt raised his hand. “Uh, I didn’t. You stayed there? With him?”

  She gave him a look. “He wasn’t there, and that was before everything.”

  “Dad? Did you know that?” Matt asked.

  Payton was looking at Peter, too, a deeper look being shared between the two. His hold tightened around his pool stick before he cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. It’s actually how Quinn and I got to know each other. She knew I was partners with Kashton’s parents by then, and said we had an acquaintance in common.”

  “An acquaintance,” Matt scoffed. “This is hilarious, and I mean that it’s not at all.” His words were biting. “What the hell, Dad?”

  “Matthew.” Peter indicated Cyclone and Seraphina.

  “Then maybe they should go to their rooms, because apparently there’s some real adult stuff that needs to be dealt with, like the fact that Payton and Quinn knew Calhoun Bastian?”

  “You knew that Quinn knew Kashton’s grandfather.”

  Matt scowled back at his father. “Not to that extent. What the hell, man? Quinn stayed at your grandfather’s house? You knew that?” The last questions were directed to me.

  I nodded, everything in me growing cold. “It was when they were younger. I was told about it before my parents were killed. And when Quinn married Peter, she swore that she had no contact with my grandfather since.” I turned to Payton. “Is that true? Is it the same for you as well?”

  Did they know about my brother?

  I looked at Bailey. Meeting her gaze, I felt punched by the look coming from her. I wasn’t sure if it was a good punch or not. She was looking at me with this sudden new understanding. Her head tilted the other way.

  “What is it?”

  “I—you see all of me, and sometimes I don’t want to feel all of me.”

  I suddenly knew exactly how she felt.

  I rubbed at my chest, feeling her in there. It was a different sensation.

  Whatever she saw in me, it got her moving. Whispering something to Cyclone and Seraphina before both ran upstairs, she began to walk my way. I ceased paying attention to the room. Payton was not my business to handle, but Matt and Bailey needed to know the extent of her connection. They did now. I hadn’t intended to put Payton on blast. She really was not a problem for me to handle, and I could’ve mentioned it to them behind closed doors, but I was glad it got handled this way. It was in front of Payton. It was in front of everyone, and Payton got the message.

  Stand on your own if you want to stay.

  For as long as I’d known Payton and Quinn, Payton came only a few times. She never stayed long. She talked to Peter a little, to Quinn a little, and to Cyclone and Seraphina most of the time. She doted on both of them. It’d been Cyclone who took to her the most in the beginning, but that seemed like it was changing since Bailey was in the picture and Seraphina was getting older.

  Then Bailey was in front of me, and she touched my chest. “You okay?”

  Oh yeah. She saw right through me.

  I moved away from the bar, ignoring anyone paying us attention, and drew her to me. An arm around her waist, I pulled her in. She fit perfectly, just how she was supposed to. I bent down, my lips resting just above hers. “Always.” I felt her heart speeding up, it was in sync with mine, and damn I loved this girl.

  Woman, I corrected myself.

  I loved this woman.

  She’d been through too much, dealt with too much. There was no more innocence in her. That’d been taken from her, and lifting my head, I peered at her. I touched her lip. “Could do with more time with you, though.”

  My hand slid around to the back of her neck.

  I felt her whole body shiver, and her lips parted. Her eyes were dilating, darkening with lust.

  “How about…” Two arms came around us both.

  Bailey and I went rigid, but then Matt’s head was forcing ours apart and he was smiling wide at both of us. Looking from one to the other. His arms tightened around us.

  “… we all have a night together? I think we’re due. How about it, Kash? A night at Naveah? It’s been a while since we all hung out together.”

  I frowned at him. “You’re interrupting some Kailey time.”

  He stiffened.

  Bailey tensed, and then a wide smile lit up her whole face. “I love it!” She moved even closer to me, almost letting me have her whole weight. “Yes, please.”

  “What? No. I want time with you both—” Cutting himself off, Matt took my hand from Bailey. He moved in, turning his back to me and put both his hands on Bailey’s shoulders. He began backing her up, walking with her. “I’m making the decision. You. Me. My sister here. We’re heading to Naveah. I’m making it happen.” He kept walking her out of the room, saying over his shoulders, “I don’t trust both of you being alone to get ready, so I’m walking her up there. She gets the bathroom first.”

  I was watching, counting exactly how long I’d give them before I followed, when I heard Payton behind me. “Why did you bring up my connection to your grandfather?”

  I turned.

  She was almost right behind me.

  Beyond her, Peter was observing us. He remained at the pool table, a pool stick in hand.

  Okay. Let’s have this talk.

  “Quinn employed a group of men to try and kidnap Bailey. There was one man on their team that’s never been accounted for. There were rumors that that group of men were hoping to get into Calhoun’s good graces by hurting Peter. Since then, I’ve also learned a girl I used to date was given a job to try and seduce me for my grandfather. That girl was brought into this house on a consistent basis by Quinn. Both are gone, and now who shows up? You. I don’t think I’m being paranoid to bring up the connection and at least let Bailey and Matthew become aware of your background.”

  Her mouth tightened. She was getting angry. “You know about the hotel, and you know what Bailey and Matt did to me. They blackmailed me.”

  “Were they wrong to do so?”

  She didn’t respond; that was her response.

  I looked over her head to Peter, lifting my chin up. “I need time with Bailey and Matt right now. You’ll notify me if anything happens?”

  He dipped his head down. “I will.” His eyes cut to Drake in the hallway. “But you’ve had that handled for a long time by now. For what it’s worth, Kash, you deserve a night off. Try and have fun tonight.”

  Have fun tonight.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I heard those words directed toward me.

  DREW BONHAM FOUND DEAD

  Wednesday morning, the body of Drew Bonham was discovered. Early findings suggest he died of a drug overdose. Bonham was charged, then took a plea for his part in the kidnapping of Bailey Hayes, Peter Francis’s daughter. Bonham was released on home probation, and was scheduled to testify for the prosecution against Quinn Callas, the former Quinn Francis.

  Sources say Drew Bonham had a history of being abusive and controlling of Quinn Callas.

  —Inside Daily Press

  THIRTY-THREE

  Bailey

  I was in front of the mirror.

  Dark pink dress on, halter straps that wrapped around and tied behind my neck. I was wearing simple ballet flats, a muted silver color. My makeup was bare. My hair was up in a twisting French braid. A matching silver clutch in my hand, and I knew Torie and Tamara would’ve been proud.

  Torie and Tamara.

  A hollow ache dug into the middle of my chest and remained.

  I hadn’t talked to either of them in so long—too long, now that I was thinking about it. I missed them. I’d been at school, but it was different. Hoda was there, and I couldn’t trust Hoda. Melissa was there, but she was such good friends with Torie and Tamara. I pulled away from them. I still had some study time with some of my classmates, mostly Melissa, but it wasn’t the same. I did what I needed to do. My classes. I talked with my professors. I attended my meetings with Ms. Wells. And my internship, I hadn’t even started. That got pushed off because of Chrissy’s death.

  I needed to start my internship, but looking at myself now, the desperation for work, for school, wasn’t there anymore. I would still do it. I would still love it. But it wasn’t the only me anymore. It did not define me anymore.

  I didn’t recognize who I was looking at. I used to be tank tops and jeans. Sweatshirts and jeans. Nothing dressy. Nothing flashy. Now the dress I was wearing was from a designer that sent me clothes. There was a whole closet of them. All items sent to the daughter of Peter Francis, and I knew the deal. They wanted me to wear it to get their name out there. I got it. I understood it, but this wasn’t me.

  Or it wasn’t me back then.

  I placed my hand on my stomach and realized how much weight I’d lost. Jesus.

  It was time. I felt something shift in me, something old reaching up, connecting with something new in me. They were intertwining.

  I was no longer the outcast I felt like this summer. I was no longer the novice in this new high-society world. Whatever I was, I was me. Just me. But I felt rooted. I was no longer just a Hayes. I was a Francis. I was half of Kash, too.

  Kash.

  I sucked in another breath and felt the emotions sweep through me, but these were good.

  I did not lose Chrissy, because he loved me.

  The universe would not take away someone if I dared to love more than one person. I would not give up Kash.

  I had not given Chrissy up.

  Calhoun Bastian took her from me.

  He alone was to blame.

  My fight was to love, and to know that I could love. I would not lose those that I loved because I loved them. I felt tears in my eyes and I swallowed a knot. I blinked back those tears and I raised my chin. I stared at myself in the mirror. Defiant. But more.

  I was more.

  I would be more.

  Knock, knock.

  The door opened. Kash looked inside. “Can I—” He stopped.

  One look and I was back there, in his villa. Torie and Tamara in the background. My mom there, too. He came to get me before Peter’s welcoming party. He had the same look in his eyes, but there was more now.

  I stepped back as Kash came in. He came right to me.

  We didn’t talk.

  I don’t think we needed to.

  He reached for me at the same time I was stepping into him. His hand came up around my neck, the other around my back, and he pulled me to him. I burrowed into his chest. He cradled my head and I felt his cheek resting on top of my head. He smoothed his other hand down my arm, and he lifted. His lips grazed my forehead, and he whispered, “You are so beautiful.”

  I couldn’t talk. My throat was clogged up, but I hugged him back hard.

  The hardest I could.

  “God.” Another whisper from him. “I love you. If anything, I hope you know just how much.”

  I did.

  I do.

  “I know,” he said. “Are you ready? Do you want to stay?”

  “I’m good. And I want to go. A night out will be fun. I think we’ve earned that.”

  His eyes darkened. “Definitely.” His head cocked to the side. “You haven’t seen your friends for a while. Are you sure you want myself and the guys there? We can do something else, or stay in the background? You can get your time with the girls.”

  “I’m good. Things have been different since my mom…” I still have a hard time saying it aloud. “You know, being with family has been more important to me. Besides, the friend group has sorta dispersed.”

  “If you want me to make myself scarce, give me a sign. I can always work.”

  “Sign? What kind of sign?”

  He shook his head. “You decide.” His mouth twitched up. “Any word you want to use.”

  “Raccoon.”

  His head moved back. “Raccoon?”

  “Yes. Raccoon.” I gave him a look. “Do you not know how obsessed I am about those animals? Have you looked at my Instagram? Do you know how many raccoon Instagram accounts there are? They are little, furry, adorable, curious creatures who are quiet but hilarious and I cannot take how freaking adorable they are. One rolls down the hallways. Rolls. Down. The. Hallway. And don’t get me started on the YouTube videos of them, where they pick up snow to take and eat, and it melts by the time they put it down and they look for it. Freaking. Hilarious.”

  “I had no idea.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t just hack, you know.”

  “Huh.” He grunted. “Raccoons.”

  “I’m also a big fan of octopuses. Do you know that if you save them, they will come and hug your leg as a thank you?”

  I was just getting started.

  Kash needed to know about all things wondrous and adorable.

  I had a photographic memory, so I had a lot to tell him.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Bailey

  Group text:

  Melissa: Sorry, sorry, sorry, but I don’t think we should invite Liam tonight.

  Tamara: Which one is Liam again?

  Torie: The athlete one right? Or the one that looks like he could be an athlete.

  Matt: Why am I included in this?

  Matt: I’m down with No-Liam.

  Matt: Is this supposed to be a chicks’ group chat? I don’t see any other guys included.

  Melissa: I would’ve included Liam, but since this is about him, I thought that’d be not good. Anyone heard from Bailey?

  Matt: Good luck. She’s with the Kashsters right now.

  Matt:;) if you know what I mean.

  Torie: He’s my boss, Matt. The wink wasn’t needed.

  Matt: But it got my point across.

  Bailey: I’m here! Hoda’s not invited as well.

  Matt: WE ARE NOT DOWN WITH THE HODASTERS!

  Melissa: I’m assuming. No one talks to her in class.

  Tamara: Why isn’t Liam invited? And what’s going on with Hodasters? Matt, can I get a nickname?

  Matt: You are now The Tam Tam.

  The Tam Tam: ** thumbs up ** ** hands in the air **

  Torie: I’m fine with no Liam, though if I remember right, he’s a cool guy.

  Melissa: He’s roommates with Hoda now. Hoda is, like, somewhat of an enemy, isn’t she?

  Matt: Hell yes she is! WE ARE NOT DOWN WITH THE HODASTERS!

  Melissa: That’s what I thought! Okay. Bailey, are you okay with that? This is your night to hang out with everyone. Hoda’s gotten weird at school, and I know you’re not talking to her. But Liam is living with her and yeah …

  Tamara: That’s weird.

  Torie: Agreed.

  Matt: Why have I not been added to this group text earlier? Can this be a regular thing? I’m loving it.

  Melissa: Bailey?

  Matt: Told you. She’s with the Kashsters. They’re probably groping in the shower.

  Bailey: Shut up, Matt! I know where you live and I will piss off Marie and Theresa and sic them both on you.

  Matt: I mean, this is actually Cyclone. He hacked my phone.

  Matt: This is Matt now. I got control over my phone again. Wtf is Kashsters? That’s disrespectful and I have a respectable amount of fear of both my sister and Kash and I would never make a joke like that, now.

  Torie: **handing you a wipe for your drool there**

  Matt: Thanks. I’m handing it to Cyclone. Love you, B. A lot. Don’t sic anyone on me please.

  Matt: I’m still grateful for my ass.

  Torie: Moving on before Matt remembers he’s had too much to drink for this group chat. B, you okay with the no-Liam vote?

  Bailey: I am. Thanks you guys for even thinking of that.

  Melissa: Care about you! Also, I’m super excited for a Naveah night. Seems like forever since we had one.

  Torie: Whoop for some drinking.

  Matt: Whoop!

  Torie: Not you, Matt. You’ve already been over served.

  Tamara: ** snickering ** you just got served

  Matt: I’m thinking I was added by mistake.