“Not just no, but hell the fuck no,” Brant adds, staring at Dane and Tristan like he wants to maim them.

  “She won’t be in any danger,” Tristan chimes in.

  “Can you guarantee that?”

  “You know we can’t,” he answers.

  “Yet you want her to do this? Are you that desperate to catch this guy?”

  “I’ll do it,” I announce, all heads swiveling toward me in shock.

  “Mace,” Brant begins, but I cut him off.

  “I’m sure they’ll take every precaution to keep me safe. This might be my last chance to save him, Brant,” I plead. “I don’t know how I know, but I have to do this.

  He says nothing, just turns to Dane and Tristan and informs them, “Get the hell outta my house. I’ll deal with you both later.” They each try to talk to him, but he’s having none of it. When they step outside, Brant shuts the door, locks it, then throws me over his shoulder and carries me to our room, Linus hot on our heels. “I’m sorry, little man,” he tells him, “not this time. I’ll bring her back soon, okay?” I swear Linus tilts his head, gives a small bark as if he understands and accepts, then goes downstairs where I assume he lays on either the couch or one of his numerous beds. “Get naked now or I’ll do it for you,” he commands, nostrils flaring as he sets me on my feet.

  I don’t argue because he’s freaking hot when he gets all demanding and I’m not turning down sex with him, but I’m also not above teasing him. “Make me,” I sass, trying to contain my urge to just launch myself at Brant and let him have his way with me. At this point, I’ve steadily been widening the space between us, knowing I’ll need whatever help I can get. Brant takes a step forward and I prepare myself to react in accordance to his movement, but he’s trickier than I give him credit for. He fakes to his left, then moves right, easily catching me as I try to race over the bed. Grabbing my ankles, he pulls me down, the mattress cushioning the impact so all that leaves my lips is a soft, “oomph.” Then he yanks me toward the edge and pushes my legs open, okay, they might’ve just done so instinctively out of need for him.

  “What was that now?” He asks with an evil grin as he unfastens my jeans and removes them. After throwing them somewhere, he stands there and looks down at me. When I question what he’s doing, he states, “Enjoying the view, eyeing what belongs to me before I take it.” And now my panties are useless, and he knows it, too. His fingers glide up the center, pushing the material inside and soaking them even more. “You’re making quite the mess there, sweetheart.”

  “I kinda think that’s your fault,” I correct him.

  “So it is. How about I clean that up for you?” He retorts, tearing them from my body and throwing my legs over his shoulders before I can say yes. Though it does leave my lips in a whimper as his tongue thrusts inside and he begins licking up every drop of the cream I made just for him. The first orgasm hits and is followed by another, my voice growing hoarse as I shout his name. “Whose pussy is this?”

  “Yours!”

  “Who owns your heart?”

  “You do!”

  “Whose do you own?”

  “Yours!” I repeat. He gentles his strokes, easing me from the high he’d just given me, places a soft kiss above my clit, then lays on top of me, his arms holding him up so he’s not crushing me with his weight.

  “And I need you to keep my heart safe, Macie, that means you have to stay safe. I can’t lose you. I won’t. I know I’m putting you in a rough spot, but there has to be a different way to do this. I’m begging you to let us find it.” Seeing the fear he’s trying so hard to hide, the shakiness of his voice, I nod, aware I’d feel the same in his position. “Yeah?”

  “If it means that much to you.”

  “Not it, you, baby. Even the slightest possibility of something happening to you makes me crazy.” Rubbing his back, soothing him, reassuring him I’m not going anywhere, that we’ll find another option, finally has his breathing calming, his heart not beating so fast and hard I can feel it within my own chest. When he slides inside me, we moan at the sensation, him at how snug I feel, me at how full he makes me. Fear is left behind as we make love, our eyes focused on one another the entire time, his seed filling me as we find completion, words of love and forever being whispered.

  Chapter Nine

  Brant

  January 14th…

  “Find another way,” I tell Dane at lunch. I’d texted this morning and asked him to meet me. “If there’s a chance we can save her brother, I want to go for it, but Macie has to come first. That’s a hard decision I will never ask her to make, but as her future husband and father of her children, I won’t hesitate to do it for her.” This may make me an ass, literally taking the choice out of her hands, but she gave herself, her heart, her future, to me and that allows a certain leeway in things. Also, if Raymond has even an ounce of love remaining for her, he’d agree with me about protecting her at all costs.

  “Okay,” he responds, as if he’d expected this which I’m sure he did and already has a plan b in mind. “Macie could return home, appear to,” he corrects himself the instant my mouth opens to veto that, “and see if he’ll stop by.”

  “But Smitty could be watching the place for the same reason.”

  “Yes,” he agrees, thankfully not trying to deny it. “Honestly, Brant, there are probably cons to each plan we can think of, our goal is to find the one that’ll not only work, but, and this is the most vital, keep Macie safe.”

  “What would you do if this was Aurora?” Yeah, I don’t miss the fierce scowl crossing his face at that. He might also be remembering when she was in danger not too long ago, the what if from that day still haunting all of us. “I’d want to keep access to her at a bare minimum, which, as much as you hated the idea, is for her to call Raymond.”

  “Which she wants to do.” Though I hate Macie being anywhere near this, she already is and has been for years. “If anything happens to her…”

  **Macie**

  “I’ll call him now.”

  “Mace, don’t you want to wait until…”

  “No,” I stop Brant mid-sentence. “I want to do this now. Every day Smitty is looking for my brother means another something could happen to him. I know it might be too late to save him in other ways, but I can in this one. Please don’t take this from me, Brant. If you ask me not to, I won’t, but I have to try.”

  He gets so quiet I worry he’ll invoke the right I just handed him, but he just stands, pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll quit fighting you on it if you marry me.” I know his compromise sets Dane and Tristan off, Aurora as well as her giggle blends with their masculine chuckles, but my ears are too full of Brant’s words.

  “You have to resort to blackmail to get your woman to marry you?” Tristan wants to know, causing Dane to laugh even harder.

  “This is how you propose?”

  “No,” he quickly assures me, relief filling me at his denial, though it doesn’t last long. “That means you have the option of turning me down.”

  “Why would I do that when I want to marry you?” That seems to stun him a second, but he quickly recovers and takes out his phone. “Who are you calling at a time like this?”

  “I’m not waiting. I want to make you mine asap.”

  “I already am.”

  “But I want everyone to know it, and that means you have my name after yours and my ring on your finger.” Then he leans in and whispers, “And my baby in you as quickly as possible.” For all we know, the last part could already be a reality. When he grins and gently places his hand on my stomach, I know he’s thinking the same thing I am.

  “Yes, your sister and I will begin planning it…” his smile grows as he feels he’s won, “tomorrow. I need to do this today.”

  “Fine,” he grumbles unhappily but understanding nonetheless. He puts his cell away while I take mine out, my finger trembling a bit as I activate it and hit my brother’s speed dial. I could never bring myself to delete it on any of my phones, even knowing he slipped a little further from me each day.

  “Hello,” is the greeting when he picks up, his familiar voice bringing tears to my eyes.

  “It’s me.”

  “Macie, what’s wrong?” The fact his first concern is me has to mean something, right?

  “I’m okay, I promise. But I miss you.”

  “Sis, you know…”

  “That you think it’s better for me if you keep your distance. Well, I disagree. I need my big brother. I met a man, Raymond. We’re getting married and I want you to give me away.” His sigh is plain to hear, but I know I’m reaching him. “Please.” I’m not playing a role here; I truly am a sister missing her twin and I want nothing more than to have him back.

  An hour later, Brant having grudgingly given his permission to share our address, I’m eagerly awaiting Raymond. I want him to show, yet I also know Dane and Tristan will more than likely put him in handcuffs if he does. While I hate that, it could be what diverts him from the path he was somewhat forced to choose to find relief from his pain.

  “Someone is approaching,” Dane hollers from upstairs where he has a better view of the street. At his announcement, Brant tenses next to me and Linus barks, hair rising as they stand to follow me.

  “My brother won’t hurt me,” I remind him, to which he mutters it’s not him he’s worried about. When there’s a knock, I throw the door open and fling myself into his arms.

  “You look good, sis,” he says after giving me a long squeeze.

  I pull back and take him in, returning the sentiment, “So do you.” And he does. His eyes appear brighter and more alert, his skin clear, his hair washed and his face clean shaven. I don’t know what to make of this, having not seen him this way in more years than I want to admit. His gaze widens, his head angling upward a bit and I realize Brant must be behind me. I make the introductions, noticing the surprise in Brant’s eyes as he looks over Raymond. But neither of us were prepared for what happens next.

  “Dane, Tristan, you can come out now,” Raymond offers as Linus sniffs his hand, decides he passes the test, and leans against him in a doggie hug. What the hell? He shrugs, gives a grin I remember from childhood when I’d busted him at something, and says, “Oops.”

  “Raymond Andrew Schumacher!” I shout, smacking his arm, and he’s not the only one getting called out.

  “Dane Michael Hawkins,” Aurora follows, joining us from the kitchen where she’d been.

  “Sorry, honey,” he tells her as he comes in. “We were brought in yesterday and forbidden to say anything.”

  “That’s why you were pushing for Macie to take this route,” Brant supplies to the room.

  “Are you a cop now?” I ask Raymond, making him smirk.

  “I think it’s best if we sit, this might take a while,” Raymond suggests. Then he tells us he’d gotten popped and given the option to help or go to jail. Realizing he had a second chance; he’d taken it and began to work for them from the inside, gathering the information they needed to take Smitty down. When I question his call not too long ago, asking for money, he admits he didn’t need it and knew I’d refuse. “It was an excuse to check in on you.”

  “But you stole from me,” I point out.

  “I’m sorry about that, Macie. I couldn’t break cover by acting out of character for how they knew me. Your stuff is at my place, my real one, as the people I report to gave me money to make it seem as if I pawned it. And I’ll pay for your new door. It’s the least I can do.”

  “I’ll give you cash right now to get rid of those things for real,” Brant jokes, causing me to elbow his gut. Raymond laughs, though, and it’s so good to hear I don’t even realize I’m crying until Brant wipes the tears from my cheeks.

  “Macie,” Raymond groans. “I know I’m an ass and put you through a lot, but I’m better now, I promise. All that is behind me.”

  “Why didn’t you call when you got clean?”

  “I couldn’t. I didn’t want to risk contacting you and Smitty finding out.”

  “He needed him to still think he cared more about getting high than you,” Dane chimes in, his tone sympathetic as he answers for him.

  “So why now?” I want to know. “What changed?”

  “There’ve been rumors Smitty fled or was taken out by a competitor.”

  “If they’re wrong?” Brant questions them all, pulling me against him as if he can protect me from the very idea. “If you’re using her as bait, just remember I work construction and can make you disappear under a foundation.”

  Chapter Ten

  Macie

  January 15th…

  Raymond stayed for hours, both of us reluctant to part as we caught up on each other’s lives and enjoyed being together again. I finally had my brother back, and add to that having Brant, I was ready to burst with all the happiness inside my heart.

  He left with the promise to call me today, and I keep checking my phone, even knowing I’d hear it ring. Speaking of which, after Brant and I were alone again, he dragged me upstairs and made me beg for mercy before he let me come…after sliding a diamond solitaire on me.

  Forcing myself to focus, I work on finishing the items for a recent order and get lost in the process, so when the alert I’ve been waiting for interrupts the silence, it startles me. Giggling, I answer it, saying, “Ray-Ray, I just…” Only it’s not him, and the voice that responds instead is what I imagine pure evil must sound like.

  “I’m sorry, Ray-Ray is a bit tied up at the moment,” he says, chuckling, “but he’d love it if you could join us. In fact, I’d say he’s just dying for you to.”

  Trying not to scream in fear, I pull myself together, somehow knowing my brother’s life could very well depend on me remaining calm. “Where?”

  “Oh no, that’s not how this works. We’ll stay on the line the entire time, and I’ll give you directions along the way.” Praying he doesn’t hear what I’m doing, I open social media and quickly create a group message, letting the members know what’s going on, adding that I’ll have my phone in hopes they can trace it. I know it sounds like an easy answer and probably only works in books and movies, but it’s all I’ve got. “Time to go. You have five minutes to get in the car.” Thank goodness Brant ran it yesterday to make sure it’d start. It’s been sitting in his driveway for a while as we’ve always taken Brant’s when we go somewhere. Throwing on my shoes, I grab my coat and struggle into it one handed, snag my keys, and give Linus a rub on his head, silently telling him to be a good boy, praying this isn’t the last time I see him. “The clock has already begun, Macie.”

  Rushing out, I lock the door then hurry to my car and get in, happy I don’t have to waste time wiping any snow off. “Now what?”

  “Left onto your street, then right at the stop sign.” The fact he doesn’t ask if I need to back up or can just pull straight out worries me. He’s either watching me or someone else is.

  “I’m putting you on speaker, I need both hands to drive.”

  “Fine, but don’t be cute. I’ll know if you try anything.”

  Twenty minutes later, feeling as if I’ve been driving in circles, I reach a warehouse that’s clearly abandoned, yet has two cars in the lot. I’m assuming one is Raymond’s and the other belongs to Smitty, but I could be wrong. I already know I am for agreeing to do this, but the bond between siblings, twins at that, is deep.

  “Come on inside, Macie. I’m providing the entertainment.” He gets quiet and I hold my breath, mentally crossing my fingers he hung up, then I hear him call out to my brother, telling him, “Good news, Raymond the rat. We’ve got company.” Getting out, phone gripped so tight I’m worried I’ll break it, I close my door and move forward, the death march playing in my head the whole time as I walk into my nightmare. Raymond is tied to a chair, Smitty’s earlier words now making sense with his obviously twisted sense of humor. Dick. “Sorry I didn’t clean up,” Smitty says, standing behind Raymond, “but I figure it’ll just get dirty again, so…” he shrugs.

  “Run,” Raymond mouths, eyes pleading. I know I’m having a too stupid to live moment, but I’m already here and I’ll never forgive myself if I could’ve done something.

  “What do you want?” I ask, sealing my fate.

  **Brant**

  “She did what?” I shout as I read her message, instantly replying to tell her to keep her ass at home. When it continually shows as unread, I slam the hammer I’m holding down, effectively destroying the wood underneath as it and the nail goes all the way through. My phone rings and I answer, hoping it’s her. “Mace?”

  “Sorry,” Dane answers. “I’m tracing her cell, though. Tristan and I are following it.”

  “Where?”

  “Man, you know I can’t…”

  “Dane,” I plead, not at all ashamed I’m close to begging.

  “Fine,” he concedes, giving me the directions to catch up. I race out of there, ignoring Ewan as he hollers my name, and jump in my truck. The rear fishtails as I take off, but I quickly right it. Reaching Dane’s last known location, I ask where to go from there and head toward the warehouse, relieved to see it already surrounded.

  “You sure she’s still inside?” I question Dane after he spots me and comes toward me, standing in front of my door, blocking my exit.

  “Her phone shows she was before it was turned off.”

  “Would he really be stupid enough to risk letting her keep it?”

  “He’s an arrogant ass, so he just might,” Tristan replies. “Either way, we have to act as if she’s in there until we know differently.” And then he walks off, heading behind the caution tape set up to create a perimeter and begins talking to the man who looks like he’s in charge.

  Dane turns, and I take the opportunity to grab something off the passenger seat and tuck it in my jacket pocket, then slide out that side. It’s not a gun, but it’s better than nothing.

 

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