Page 13 of Her Brother's Best Friend

Kyle paces his room, one hand rubbing back and forth over his head. “Luke texted me some guy broke into your apartment. Then he called and said he found the guy at his house, but the line went dead, and I haven’t been able to reach him since.”

My. Heart. Stops. Luke went after Joe for me. He called Kyle for me. I don’t know much about Joe, but Veronica has some uncles who dabble in drug sales. Joe’s father being one of them.

“Somewhere off Brookdale, I think. She never told me, and I didn’t hang around Joe long enough to ask.”

Kyle pulls his cell from his pocket and punches in something.

“Why,” I’m off the bed and searching for my shoes. “What are you going to do.”

“Find him,” Kyle’s voice is sharp. He’s punched the street name into his phone. I see the map from where I’m standing behind his back. “Bale his ass out of trouble like I always do so I can beat the shit out of him for breaking his promise.”

“Promise?” I cock my head to Kyle.

“Don’t look at me like that. Luke is my best friend, but that doesn’t make him good enough for you.”

“You made him promise to leave me alone?”

Kyle shifts his weight to one leg. “I made him promise to make you hate him. Why the hell do you think he kissed you and then acted like a total jerk. The fool’s been in love with you since day one.”

“Kyle,” I’m yelling, and Kyle backs a step away from me. I’m seething, and I know anything I say in anger I will regret once I’ve calmed down. Maybe. “I’m going with you.”

I see how badly he wants to tell me, no, but after the truth bomb he just exploded, he knows not to even try it.

We’re on his bike in a matter of minutes, and I’m calling Veronica repeatedly until she finally answers. She gives me Joe’s address and promises to meet us there for backup before she hangs up.

The streets are quiet this late at night, but Kyle can’t drive fast enough for me. I’m not going to be okay again until I see Luke’s face and know he’s safe.

Kyle takes the turn onto the street Veronica gave, and the address comes into view. Several cars are parked on the road and in a narrow driveway, and the house is gated off with a chain-link fence. My heart is in my throat. Luke’s a strong guy. The strongest I know. But the amount of cars and bikes parked in all directions is way more than a typical night hanging with the family. My stomach is twisting at the thought of what we’re going to find inside.

“Cass,” Veronica calls my name from two houses down. She pays the taxi driver then meets us on the sidewalk. “I talked to my uncle. Your guy is inside, but so are half a dozen of Joe’s best friends.”

I’m so sick to my stomach. I’m afraid I’ll vomit, but I can’t. Luke’s inside, and he needs me. I’m stalking off to the gate before I know what I’m doing, and Kyle is yelling at me to stop. I don’t. I lift the hinge and keep on moving until I’m banging on the front door with my fist. Kyle and Veronica are close behind. Kyle reaches for my shoulder and tries to shove me behind him, but I fight him off. “He’s here because of me. I’m going in first.”

I’m sure Kyle wants to argue, but the front door opens, and a large man, even larger than Luke, stands in the entry in a dirty wife-beater and a scowl. I step back into Kyle’s chest when he yells, “What the hell do you want?” into my face.

“Luke Donovan,” Kyle answers. His voice is steel. “He’s here, right?”

“He your old man?” the guy is looking at me. His dark brown eyes roam my body before they land hard on my face. “You coming to claim him?”

“I am.” I square my shoulders. “He’s my old man. Where is he?” This guy has intimidation tattooed on every part of his expression until a sudden roar of laughter bursts from behind the door, and the guy breaks into a tooth gap riddled grin.

I know that laugh. It makes my belly hum, and my heart eases and gives me the courage to push against the door until I find Luke standing in the room, alive and breathing, all ten fingers, and toes in place. He’s beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off of him, and I doubt I ever will again.

He has the makings of a bruise on his cheek and a small cut above his right brow. I reach for his face and cup his cheek. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Luke drops his hands to my shoulder. “Nothing ice and a couple of days can’t fix. I had to let Joe get in one good hit. His father was watching after all.”

I’m so confused. Luke and dirty shirt guy exchange glances before Luke’s gaze drops on me again, and I see the sparkle of pride in his eyes. “Your stalker is a creep, but he’s not a fighter.”

“Your guy laid my son out in one stroke. I’d be pissed, but I didn’t raise my kid to put hands on ladies. He ever touches you again, you come give Papa Luna a visit.”

“Thank you,” I nod at who I assume to be Joe’s father before I turn my attention back to Luke. “When Kyle woke me and you weren’t there, I…”

“I went by your place to find your roommate, and when she wasn’t there, I went to the bar and asked around. Didn’t take long to find out where the jackass lived.” Luke looks over my shoulder to Kyle. “Damn thing is I finally get your brother to answer his cell, and the call drops. Go figure.”

I don’t care how or why we ended up here, and I don’t care that I’m in Luke’s arms with Kyle at my back. If he can’t see how much I love this man and how Luke will do anything to protect me, then he’s got bigger problems than disowning his little sister and his best friend.

“You came all the way out here to face Joe for me?”

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