Page 24 of Three of a Kind

Noble is just inside the doorway to my apartment, and Bless is right next to him. He’s bent slightly, like the two are talking, but Avan’s cousin shouldn’t be here at all.

She hasn’t stopped by in ages, because she said it was too dangerous with his guys watching me all the time.

Noble stretches to his full height, rolling his shoulders back as he spins to face me. “Your friend stopped by. Sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have answered the door?”

I stumble forward.

“It’s fine. This is Bless…” I frown, trying to figure out how to describe her. “A friend.”

Wow.

I bet that was totally convincing.

“I can get back to the movie if the two of you need to speak,” Noble says, but he walks into the living room without waiting for confirmation.

I glance between him and Bless.

Why is he suddenly acting so strangely?

Maybe he feels guilty that he opened the door without waiting for me.

He disappears around the corner into the living room, but I’m pretty sure he can still hear anything we say.

Bless grabs my hand and tugs me out the door before I know what’s happening. She closes the door behind her and gives me a once-over. “Damn, Brook. You’re not going to be able to hide the baby for much longer.”

I sigh, tugging at the waist of my dress. “Yeah, I know. What are you doing here? I thought it wasn’t safe for you to come around anymore?”

“It’s not, but the risk was higher that something could happen to you and Liberty if I didn’t, so here I am.”

“You could just call.” My hands wring together as I study her face.

“Listen to me, Brooklyn,” she says in a deathly serious tone. “Shit is about to go down with Avan. I don’t have an exact timeframe for how soon it will be, but I have people in place, guarding you and Lennox.” She makes a grab for my hand and gives me a squeeze. “I know you don’t want to leave without your sister, but if it comes to it, I need you to worry about you and Libby first.”

Ice slides through my veins.

Bless offered to get me a new identity and help get us out of New York a couple of months ago while Avan was distracted by something big going on with his family.

I turned her down initially because I needed some time to talk Lennox into leaving with me. But she wouldn’t agree, and the window of opportunity closed.

Bless let me know that it was best to let it ride for now, but she made it clear that, if things change, I might have to make a split-second decision.

“I will do everything I can to ensure Lennox stays safe,” she says. “But she’s an adult who can make her own choices. It’s not just you that you have to think about.”

I swallow thickly.

I get it.

As much as I want to protect my sister, I have to make sure Libby and the baby are protected.

They come above all else.

“So,” she says conversationally. “Who’s the new guy?” Her eyebrows wiggle. “Finally moving on from you-know-who?”

“I’m pregnant.” I give her a deadpan look that screams, No one is going to want me when I’m about to pop out some other guy’s kid.

“I’ve never seen someone inside your apartment. You’re usually picky as hell about who you let around Libby.”

She’s right.

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