Page 41 of Lone Star Hostage

Presley answered it on speaker. “Where are you?’ he asked, not exactly the tone of a brother. He was in the cop mode again.

“I’m driving around, debating what to do,” Olivia answered. “Did you know she gave birth to us?”

“Not until a few hours ago,” Presley answered. A muscle flickered in his jaw, and Billie thought he might be debating telling her the rest. The name of their bio-father.

“Is it true?” she pressed.

“Yes,” he assured her.

Olivia didn’t question how he’d gotten that verification, but Billie had no trouble hearing the woman’s sob. It sounded real. And maybe it was. However, Billie wasn’t taking anything at face value when it came to Victoria’s stepkids.

Or Victoria herself.

Billie couldn’t figure out a reason for the woman to orchestrate her own kidnapping, but maybe that’s where Joe could help. Then again, the man might not spill the truth either. Heck, he might not even be willing to talk to them.

“What should I do?” Olivia asked. “What are you going to do?” she amended.

“To be determined. But you should go home. And avoid Jesep if you can,” he tacked onto that.

“Dad,” Olivia muttered, and she groaned. “All this time, he knew.”

Yes, and Billie wondered just how much more Jesep had known. There was just something way off about this whole mess. Jesep’s will. Him trying to keep his kids from thinking of Victoria as their mother.

Had any or all of that played into the kidnapping?

Again, it was a question with no answer.

“Go home,” Presley repeated to Olivia. “I’ll be in touch soon.” With that, he ended the call as they reached the outskirts of Bulverde.

The GPS directed them not toward the center of town but to a neighborhood, Sterling Heights, that was more country than city with its large multi-acre, heavily treed lots.

“Yes, he’s successful,” Billie muttered, glancing at the large houses. Mansions, really.

Presley went to the address, pulling into the driveway of a hacienda-style house that sprawled in the center of the massive lot.

“You need a minute,” Billie asked him.

But Presley waved that off, and he would have gotten out right then if she hadn’t taken hold of his arm. Because she thought they could both use it, she leaned in and kissed him. She kept it short but not so sweet. After all, it was impossible to keep the heat out of even a kiss of comfort.

“Thanks,” Presley said, giving her a quick kiss before they both got out of the SUV.

It occurred to her as they approached the gated area of the front courtyard that it could be locked and they might not even get to the front door. However, as they approached, the gate made a clicking sound and then swung open.

The front door opened, too.

And there was Joe Malloy, not looking one bit surprised to see them.

He was barefooted and had on well-worn jeans and a black tee. A man who looked comfortable not only in his clothes but his own skin.

“Victoria just texted me,” he said, sweeping his gaze over Presley as if trying to take him all in. He wasn’t smiling, not with his mouth anyway, but it was there in his eyes for a moment or two, until Presley spoke.

“Victoria said she hadn’t seen you in years,” Presley snapped.

Joe lifted his shoulder and stepped to the side, motioning for them to come in. “She hadn’t. Nor has she texted or called. She found my number on my webpage and let me know you were probably on your way to see me.”

Presley didn’t budge for a couple of seconds, but he finally huffed and went in. The house’s interior was just as impressiveas the outside, and she immediately saw some bronze pieces that she suspected were his work.

“This way,” Joe said, leading them through the house. Two white cats darted out of one of the room, rubbing against his legs as he walked. He leaned down and gave them scratches behind their heads before they made it into a large kitchen.

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