Page 88 of Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas

“I can do one better and tell you who will marry the Stevenson girl.”

“Who?” Travis demands as he jumps to his feet. Christian shakes his head at him in a warning to stay calm.

“Is that who you said was dating the girl?” McIntire asks.

“Yes, it’s Travis Donavan. His brothers are here as well,” Christian answers, giving us all a warning look.

“I knew their father, good man. I thought you had fallen out?”

“That’s what we would like people to continue to think so that we can assist in keeping Verity safe. Jasmine and her are very close, and she is like family,” Christian says, not taking his eyes off Travis. “Who did you find out was looking to marry her?”

“Nicholson’s eldest son. It has been on the card for about two, maybe even three years; she was promised to him on his twenty-eighth birthday next month.”

A silence fills the room. Nicholson is a piece of work, and his son is no better.

“Do I even want to know why Verity has been promised to him?” Travis asks.

“All I know is that a large sum of money was owed, and this is one of the ways Stevenson could clear the debt. He accepted, and his debt would be cleared once the marriage is official.”

“Son of a fucking bitch,” Travis curses as Maximus, Jason and I all jump to our feet, ready to control him if we have to. He starts pacing around the room with his head in his hands. Every muscle on his body is rippling, and I know he’s losing control.

“Thank you, McIntire. That helps a lot,” Christian says, not taking his eyes from the pacing Travis.

“I wish I could give you more information, but at the moment, I have none. If I hear any more, I will be in touch.”

Christian lifts the receiver and thanks him again before hanging up.

We all stare at one another briefly, knowing that we are about to take on the biggest, most dangerous man in the UK, and we can’t even guarantee we will win.

But one thing’s for sure. The three of us will have to be dead before he gets his hands on our woman.

44

Verity

Even though I’m sitting in an oversized chair, I can’t seem to get comfortable or relax. I pull the blanket around me as yet another ice-cold sensation flows over me. Something’s wrong; I can feel it, but I have no idea what.

When we arrived back at the house, Travis had been tense, and I knew something wasn’t right. Ryan hugged me a little harder and longer than usual, and Travis hardly let me out of his sight.

There were also the constant questions of ‘Where is your birth certificate?’ ‘Do you know where any of your documentation is?’ he’s up to something, and I don’t like that he’s hiding it from me because I sure as heck don’t buy the ‘I’m planning a holiday for after graduation’ rubbish.

“What made you think of doing this at such short notice?” I ask, turning to look at Jasmine.

“It was just an idea,” she replies, not taking her eyes off the screen where Twilight is playing. We always end up having a Twilight marathon whenever I stay around.

I look to the door, hoping to see one of the guys coming in to say bye. But no one is there besides Layton, sitting in a chair with a bag of popcorn playing on his phone. His feet up as he relaxes, obviously not on duty.

“I thought he could leave you alone when you’re home?” I ask, frowning.

“Maybe I’m here for the movie,” Layton replies, not looking up from his phone. “Go, team Edward,” he adds, holding up a fist. Jasmine laughs next to me as I roll my eyes. I’m not buying it. Not once has he looked at the screen. I turn back in my seat and try to relax and enjoy the movie, but it isn’t working.

“What do you think the guys are talking about?”

“I don’t really care as long as they don’t start fighting again.” She looks at me with a massive grin on her face. “I would hate for my daddy to kill yours.”

“Maybe mine will be the one doing the killing?” I suggest shrugging casually.

“One’s an accountant, the other the equivalent of a mafia boss. My money’s on Christian,” Layton pipes in from his seat. I turn round and throw a piece of popcorn at him as Jasmine roars laughing.

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