Page 42 of Bound By Blood

“Thank you.”

She sat beside him, unable to stop staring.

“I know,” he said, smiling. “Your father and I look much alike.”

“You could be twins. What are you doing here?”

“I was traveling when I heard that one of the Korzhas had been killed in Lake Tahoe. I was naturally curious, since we are related.” He shrugged. “A little snooping here, a few questions there, and I overheard your name. I came here to see if it was indeed you.”

“Who was that man?” she asked again.

“I do not know. But he will not bother you anymore.”

That could mean only one thing, but it was hard to feel sympathy for a man who had pointed a gun at her. “What do you think he wanted?”

“You do not know?”

She shook her head. “Know what?”

Before he could explain, the doorbell rang again. Startled, she glanced at Stefan.

“I will get it,” he said.

Kaitlyn nodded. She told herself there was nothing to worry about. But she clenched her hands in her lap when Stefan opened the door.

A moment passed. Another. He stood there, unmoving, not speaking.

And then she heard her father’s voice, thick with emotion. “Stefan!”

Hardly aware of what she was doing, Kaitlyn stood as her father threw his arms around his brother and crushed him close in a hug that would likely have crushed a mortal’s ribs. “Stefan! Where have you been? What are you doing here?”

“Trying to breathe,” Stefan answered with a grin.

Drake released him immediately. “Forgive me, but I am so glad to see you.”

Stefan nodded. “And I you, brother.”

Drake’s gaze ran over Stefan. “You look well. Liliana has missed you. You should have kept in touch with her.” The unspoken words,and with me,hung in the air between them. “How could you stay away so long?”

“I needed time.”

“Promise me you will never again stay away so long.”

“I missed you, too,” Stefan said.

“I will have your promise,” Drake insisted.

“You have it.”

Kaitlyn saw tears in her uncle’s eyes, felt the sting of tears in her own eyes as the two men embraced again.

When they parted, Stefan cleared his throat. “Since you are here, I assume you know Kaitlyn is in danger.”

“Yes, it is the reason I am here,” Drake said as the two men moved into the living room.

“Just in time,” Stefan said, and quickly told her father about the gunman who had been there earlier.

“You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here,” Kaitlyn said, coming up behind the two men. “What’s this all about, anyway?”

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