Page 127 of Delicate Escape

I cursed.

“Come on, walk me through it,” Trace said, leading me to the kitchen.

So, I did. I gave my brother every detail I could think of. But just recounting it had my fury blazing brighter. Remembering how he’d taunted her, goaded me. Knowing that he was free to continue tormenting Thea.

Trace was quiet for a long moment when I finished. That was his MO, though. His mind had a similar quality to Anson’s, always taking its time to look at all the puzzle pieces. Trace just saw them through a different lens.

“Thea’s right. Brendan was hoping you’d hit him. That maybe he could get you out of the way long enough to break down her defenses again. Get her to come back to him, most likely.”

A growl tore from my throat at the mere thought of it.

Trace’s gaze snapped to me. “It’s not going to happen, so just breathe. Jesus.”

But I couldn’t. Each breath felt like it was made of razor blades. “How would you feel if the tables were turned? If someone who’d tortured the person you love could just walk right up to her and throw all that shit in your face?”

Trace’s eyes flared in surprise before he quickly covered it. “Someone you love?”

“Yes. I fucking love her. I’d do anything for her. So,helpme.”

Trace leaned against the kitchen counter. “I’m doing everything I can. But it’s not easy. And Dex said Brendan must have a hacker working for him or have those skills himself. His computers are locked down tight.”

Hell.Thea had said Brendan was an expert at tech.

I scrubbed a hand over my stubbled cheek. “So, he can just show up? Mess with her?”

Trace shook his head. “I’ll mark on the official record that you and Thea asked him to leave her property. Sutton has refused him service at the bakery. If he shows up at either of those places again, we’ll have grounds for a restraining order. I’m going to put that in writing to his attorneys so they can’t pleadmisunderstandingto a judge.”

“It’s not enough.” I wasn’t sure anything would be until Brendan Boseman was no longer breathing.

Trace’s gaze locked with mine. “You need to watch yourself. This asshole isn’t going to like that you’re with Thea. He could mess with you in a multitude of ways.”

“Let him try,” I gritted out.

Worry filled Trace’s expression. “Don’t be an idiot. You need to play this smart.”

The sound of the front door opening had Trace’s focus shifting away from me.

“Yo, dipshit. Where are you?”

Cope’s voice rang out through the entryway and had Trace and me looking at each other with a mix of concern and confusion.

“In the kitchen, jockstrap,” Trace called back.

Heavy footfalls sounded, and Cope’s massive frame filled the space. He grinned at us. “Two idiots for the price of one. How the hell are you?” He pulled Trace into a back-slapping hug and then me.

Trace studied Cope carefully. “What are you doing here? I thought you decided to stay in Seattle.”

Something swept across Cope’s face so quickly I almost missed it. Something dark. But he covered it with that patented easy grin of his. “Can’t I just miss my fam bam?”

Trace and I shared another look.

“Oh, piss off,” Cope said, giving me a shove. “I needed to get out of the city for a while. Actually get a little R&R.”

“Fair enough,” Trace acquiesced. But I knew my older brother better than that. Trace would quietly dig until he figured out what was going on with Cope. “You want a beer or a soda?”

“Beer,” Cope said, then looked at me. “What’s got your face looking like you sucked on a lemon?”

Right to the point as always. I hadn’t talked to Cope in weeks, other than the occasional group siblings’ text, so he had no clue what was going on. And I didn’t have the first idea where to start.

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