Page 155 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“He claims he’s never had sex with Gabe’s mother.”

My stomach sours calling her his mom. She isn’t. If she were, she would have never handed him over to me or anyone else.

Alana coughs out a laugh.

“Just like a man,” she deadpans, shaking her head. Her loose blonde strands swing, making me take notice of her hair once again. It’s longer than usual, and she isn’t wearing as much product as she normally does, if any at all. Her hair, her makeup, and her attire are always pristine. Not that anything is lacking. Her dress covers her body like a glove, hugging her in all the right places. But she’s less made up than her usual, and I like it. It makes her look younger without the heavy makeup or the tresses that are never out of place.

I miss this Alana.

For the first time in a long time, I’m homesick for my family. And now I want my brother’s arms. He’s always been my protector, even when I didn’t need it. Thoughts from a couple of months ago creep to the front of my mind.

I take care of what’s mine.

I was so mad at him for putting a tracker on me without me knowing it. I should have known when he gave me that car he would have installed something like a GPS that would keep him informed of my whereabouts. That’s just like Jackson.

I’m no longer mad. In fact, I’m grateful. He just wanted to make sure he knew where I was when I wasn’t close by.

With Gabriel missing and I have no idea where he could be, I understand my brother’s need to know where everyone he loves is.

After I finish filling her in on my sordid mess, I’m ready for a change of subject.

“Why are you in LA?”

I wipe the remnants of my tears on my shirt, hoping she didn’t fly down here simply because I didn’t show up for a holiday dinner.

“I had a last-minute change of location for a business meeting, so it was the perfect opportunity to find out what was going on with you.” Her eyes turn soft. “Bri, why didn’t you call me? Why keep us in the dark when you needed family?”

“I had Dad,” I explain.

“Since when are you and Robert so close?” Her tone is accusatory.

It really bothers me that my father doesn’t like my brother’s wife.

“You act like I hate him.”

“He’s never been there for you like Jackson and me. Why would you share that with him and not us?”

“Mike called him, so when he showed up at the hospital, I didn’t really have a choice. And—” I pause, the words feeling foreign.

“And what?” she barks.

“Maybe Dad isn’t as bad as we make him out to be.”

My dad wanted to step in and take care of me after I was released from the hospital. He begged me to come home with him. Robert Andrews doesn’t beg anyone, but he did for me.

“Maybe you still have a concussion from hitting your head.”

It’s then she stills. I watch her look around, eyeing everything visible in my condo from her spot on the couch. It hits me, she has just realized I was shot in here. This is where everything went down.

“You need to come home with me. I’ll change my flight. I’ll get us both a ticket home.”

“I’m not leaving.”

I can’t leave. Like everyone else, why doesn’t she get it?

“I’m not going anywhere, Alana. I have to find Gabriel and bring him home safe.”

“Home?” she questions. Then she cocks her head to the side, her eyes penetrating mine. “And just exactly where is home, Bri?”

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