Page 20 of Doubts & Fears

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing Nik has a tracker on her. I assume he’s already checked her location.”

“I have. I’ll give you ten minutes. If you’re not up—”

“I’m coming, damn,” Alek mumbled, rising and sitting up on the edge of his bed.

Ivan couldn’t resist one last comment. “You need to get your head out of your ass, Reaper. Call Mother. You know it’s Sunday, and she expects it.” The resounding bang of the slammed door echoed through the room.

“I’ll be down in the garage. Ten minutes, tops.”

“I heard you the first time, Nik.”

I shook my head and left his room. With purposeful steps, I descended the stairs and stalked down the hallway that led to the garage. I studied the dot. Kinsley was at Westwood Village Mall—Big 5 Sporting Goods, to be exact. I had an idea of what she might be picking up, and it made me smile.

I pushed the door open and found Marcus drinking his coffee, huddled over the workbench, engrossed in building the Lego Technic Bugatti Chiron race car we’d gotten him for his birthday. With over 3,599 pieces, it was a beast. His hands deftly snapped parts together as he glanced at the instruction page.

“Nik,” he greeted, his voice carrying a familiar cadence of warmth. He knew it was Sunday—a day we typically didn’t go anywhere, and if we did, we drove ourselves.

“Still working on the Bugatti, I see.”

“I am. You need the keys?”

“No, we’re actually going to get Kinsley. I hate to tear you away, but it might be best if you accompany us.”

“She disappeared again, huh?” He snapped a final piece in, and the soft creak of the garage door signaled Alek’s arrival. One look at him had Marcus shaking his head and fighting back a chuckle.

“What the hell are we going to do with the two of them?” Marcus murmured.

“Lock them in the playroom is my suggestion. It’s that or the war room.”

I turned and met my brother’s disheveled appearance with a patient gaze. As always, I’d be the one he leaned on, despite the whirlwind of his emotions. Once we settled in the car, I dialed our mother, and when she asked about Alek, I put her on speaker.

“He’s here.” Alek’s eyes flicked open. He narrowed them in my direction, but with a nod, he understood it was better to get it over with.

You’d think we were thousands of miles away from her instead of the fifteen minutes. They spoke about general topics, and then she abruptly turned the tables on him. If I’d known she was going to, I would have held off calling.

“How are things going with your little friend? Ivan mentioned you had a falling out but that she’s now staying with you. What’s that about?”

Alek’s anger flared. “Of course he did. I wouldn’t call what we had a falling out. You’d have to be in to be out. She’s a case. We’re trying to get more information. Her house caught fire, so she’s staying with us temporarily.”

“She’s entirely too young for you. Barely looks legal.”

“Mother, she’s twenty-one. Legal age. And honestly, the last thing I need right now is you questioning me about a girl. I’m a grown-ass man.”

He was pushing it big time, and our mother’s next words proved it. “Watch your tone with me,” she huffed.

“I’m sorry. I’m just feeling a little irritated. She is the queen of defiance, and we’re trying to keep her safe.”

My gaze remained fixed on my phone. The red dot pulsed on the map before me. Each flicker, each movement, held my attention in a vise grip. Kinsley was on the move. I tensed as she left some clothing store, hoping she wasn’t getting into an Uber.

“Safe? Safe from what? Are you in danger, Son? Should I have your father stop by?”

I couldn’t help but grin as Alek rolled his eyes. If she only knew what her boys did for fun up at Graham’s.

“No, that’s not necessary. Look, I love you. I’ll see you for dinner on Wednesday and we can talk more then, okay?” Alek rubbed his head. He was done with the conversation.

“What the hell did Ivan say to her?” he grumbled as soon as I disconnected.

“That Kinsley has you all twisted. Not to mention he had to lie while you were on your drunken spree for two weeks. Be thankful he didn’t say more.” I kept my voice even, giving him a reminder of how fucked up he’d been over her.

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