250 apartments building

“I think I’ve found her.”

Victor Worthington sat up straight, gripping his phone tightly.

“What? Seriously?”

His stepbrother laughed. It was a low, menacing sound. Victor held back a shudder. Although Evan came in handy, particularly when Victor had a job he didn’t want to get his hands dirty with, he could never fully trust him. There was something wrong with Evan.

When they were young, pet rabbits and dogs had started to go missing in their neighborhood. Victor knew it had something to do with Evan, although his father had never suspected his stepson as the culprit. Evan’s mother, Victor’s stepmother, might have known, but she would never accuse her precious son of doing anything wrong.

As they’d grown older, Victor had found ways to use Evan’s lack of a conscience to his advantage, but he always figured there would come a time when he would have to do something about Evan.

Something permanent.

“How did you find her?”

“It was easy. Stupid bitch got her picture in the paper. I’ve had my team on the lookout across the country. Two weeks ago, she was in a newspaper in Austin, Texas.”

“What? Why was she in the news?”

She wouldn’t dare go to the press about him, would she? She had to know that would be a death sentence.

“Oh, she was being a Good Samaritan. She happened to be one of the first people on the scene when that stupid bitch, Cece, had a car accident.”

“Wait, you said that was two weeks ago, she could have moved on by now. What took your team so long?”

Victor wasn’t even sure who Evan’s team was. Didn’t want to know, quite frankly.

“It’s a big country, you know. We’ve had a lot of places to look.” Evan’s voice grew increasingly agitated.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” Victor soothed. “You did an excellent job. What now? Will you send someone out there?”

What the hell was she doing in Texas?

“Since you’re my brother, I’m going myself. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that little problem.”

“So, the doctor said everything is all right?” Damien asked, looking over at a beaming Holly who lay resting on a lounger by his outdoor pool.

“Yep, everything is great. We have to go back in six weeks for an ultrasound to check on the baby and she gave us some information to read.”

Brax was currently thumbing through a number of pamphlets. “There’s a lot of information here. A lot of stuff you can’t eat. No more coffee, either.”

Damien’s eyes widened. “Seriously? How will you survive? Aren’t you nine-tenths caffeine?”

“Smart ass.” Holly whacked him on the arm. “And I can have one coffee a day.”

Brax just grunted.

“Well, I suppose we’d better go get ready then head back home,” Holly said, standing.

“Not so fast. I bought something for you.”

“Damien, you didn’t have to do that,” she replied.

“Yes, I did. I’ve wanted to do this for a while. Follow me.” He led them toward the attached garage, then over to the latest model Volvo S60.

“You bought a new car?” Holly queried, looking puzzled.

“No, I bought you a new car. It has a top safety rating, traction control, airbags, and I had a navigational system put in. That tin can you’re driving isn’t safe. I saw what can happen when a car like that is in an accident and it’s not pretty. With all this commuting and a baby on the way, I want you in something safer.”

“As do I,” Brax agreed.

Holly turned to look at him. “You knew about this?”

He shrugged. “Damien called me to ask what I thought. That’s why I was a bit late getting here last night; I stopped at the car lot to have a look at this car.”

“And neither of you thought to ask me? I should get a say in this. I like the car I have.”

“And just how are you going to get a car seat and stroller and everything else you’ll need into the car you currently have, sweetheart?” Brax asked.

Holly bit her lower lip. “All right, point taken. But I have plenty of time to look for a new car.”

“Now you don’t have to,” Damien said. “I found you one of the safest cars available. Call it an early birthday present.”

“My birthday is in November, Damien.” She turned to Brax. “You’re really okay with this?”

Brax smiled. “Damien can be very convincing and he wanted to do this for you, and now for the baby as well.”

“Holly, you’re the only family I have. The only person I love. This car is the very least I can do to keep you safe.”

Damien knew he had won when Holly flung herself into his arms.

“Thank you, you over-protective, bossy brother.”

“You’re welcome.”