“Is she—”
“She broke her lease. It was paid off and her place has been cleaned out.”
“What?” That doesn't make any sense. “Why did she break her lease?”
“She didn't, her lawyer did.”
“My sister doesn't have a lawyer.” Now I know he’s lying. Oh my God, what if he did something with her and he’s trying to cover it up?
“She not only has a lawyer but she had a whole moving crew and a few men in suits roaming around. Y’all win the lottery or something?” He clicks his tongue like he’s the one trying to put the pieces together.
What is this man talking about? “I. Can’t. Find. My. Sister.” I yell each word through the phone so he can get on my level. He’s not understanding the severity of what’s going on here. No one is because I can’t get anyone to listen to me.
“Maybe she doesn't want to be found. I don’t know what to tell you.” With that, he hangs up on me.
My eyes fill with tears. He was my last hope. I’m more confused than before and a small spark of hope lights in my chest that maybe something crazy did happen. What if she did have a lawyer and moving crew? Did she get a kickass job that let her move and she’s been too busy getting it together to tell me? Either way, I know I have to go find out for myself.
I grab my backpack and pull out my laptop. I search through flights, thinking a last-minute one probably isn’t going to be possible. I don’t have the money for this. I have an emergency credit card but it wouldn't be enough to cover the flight.
I find a pen and do the math because there’s no choice. If I don't find out she’s okay, I’ll fail all my classes anyway. There’s no way I’ll be able to think about anything else until I know what’s going on.
I jump when a loud knock sounds at my door. I sit there for a second thinking it must be for my neighbor since no one comes to my place. The knock sounds again and this time it’s louder.
My adrenaline spikes when I wonder if maybe it’s Collins. I jump off the sofa and run to the door.
“Collins?” I call out as I yank it open. I should’ve looked through the peephole, because this is very much not Collins.
I go to slam the door in the big man's face. His hand swings out and catches it before I get it shut.
“I know where Collins is,” he says, his eyes roaming up and down my body. He looks me over and his lips twitch in an annoyingly handsome way.
“Why should I believe you?” I ask.
He sticks his foot out so I can’t close the door as his hand drops away. Now it’s my turn to take in my fill of him while he fishes his phone out of his pocket. He’s tall and solid with short hair on the sides and shaggy hair on top. He seems relaxed, which puts me a little at ease but something about him says money. Could this be one of the suits Mr. Jones was talking about? My impatience grows as I wait, even though it’s only been a second or two.
When he holds up his phone I see my sister asleep in a hospital bed and my stomach drops. Next to her bedside, a man is holding her hand. He looks a little like the one standing in my doorway.
“Believe me now?”
Chapter 1 Vaughn
A week later…
“Where are you going?” I look up from my bag and see X standing in my bedroom.
“My door was locked.” I narrow my eyes at him but he just shrugs as he walks over to me.
“Looks to me like you’re planning on going somewhere. Shall I take a wild guess?”
I ignore him as I go back to my dresser and grab a few things, knowing I can get what I don’t have later.
“I’m surprised you lasted this long, to be honest.” I can hear the smirk in his voice. “How long has she been gone, six hours?”
“Nine,” I correct, but try not to let him get under my skin.
“She must have you by the balls.” X is trying to bait me and it’s working.
“How’s Lula?” It’s a cheap jab but it hits the mark.
“I don’t know and don’t care.”
“Liar.” I smile at him, then zip my bag closed and walk out of my room. He’s right behind me as I go to the living room and grab a couple of things.
“So that’s it, huh? You’re just going to get on a plane and chase after her.” He huffs like he’s personally offended. “What’s happening to us? We used to be brothers.”
“We still are,” I snap at him, and he walks over to the wall of glass that faces the beach. “Are you serious right now, X?”
“It just feels like we’re drifting.”
I shove my charger in the side of my bag as I let out a sharp breath. “Maybe it feels that way to you, but that’s not how I see it.” When he doesn’t turn around to face me, I keep going. “Our brother found the woman of his dreams and fell head over heels in love with her. Why can’t you understand that it doesn’t mean we lose him, it means we gain a sister? He’s not replacing the part of him that loves us with her, he’s bringing her into our world. That’s the whole point of this place. It wasn’t always meant to be a secret hideout for just the three of us. We all wanted to raise our families here, you included.”
“Plans change,” is all he says, still not looking at me.
“I’m not going to stay here and sulk with you. I’ve got a plane to catch.”
Finally he turns around but doesn’t move from
