Page 16 of Countdown

Keith’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know.”

Simon studied his son. It bothered him he could never tell when the boy was lying. Of course, he wasn’t a boy now, and some days, he wished he could kick his son to the curb. Butwhen did a father stop protecting his child? Especially when the future of the family rested on the young man’s shoulders. “Then figure it out. We have to assume that she’s seen the footage, the news coverage and the kid. She knows what you look like, so it doesn’t take a genius to assume she’ll put it together too. If that’s the case, she may reenter the picture somehow.”

“Why does it matter?” Keith asked. He appeared nonchalant about the idea, but Simon could tell Keith was thinking, calculating, trying to figure out how he could make this benefit him in some way.

For a man who was so smart about some things, he sure was stupid about others. “So we can have a plan in place just in case,” he answered evenly. “I want to know who she is, Keith, so think hard and figure it out.”

“Why don’t you? You’re the one with all of the resources.”

Christopher huffed a sigh that was borderline growl. “Keith—”

Keith held up a hand to stop Christopher’s low warning. “Both of you. Stop. I know who the mother is, but she’s been out of the picture for so long that it’s not worth bringing up.” He rubbed a hand over the birthmark on his chin, and Simon noted the familiar gesture. He did the same thing when he was thinking hard. “What an interesting twist of fate.”

“Keith...” Christopher’s sharp word connected the brothers’ eyes.

Simon noted the look. “What is it?” Both men blinked and looked away. “What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing,” Keith said, “but if that’s my kid, I’m going to find him.” He slammed a fist into his palm. “I can’t believe she’d do this to me.”

Christopher’s hand shot out and he grabbed his brother’s throat to shove him against the wall with a thud. Simon cut off a gasp but didn’t interfere. Christopher’s nostrils flared. “Now, you listen to me you spoiled, self-serving brat. I’ve cleaned upyour messes for years and I’m done with that. It’s time for you to grow up and do your part to save this family and all we are. You leave that kid alone. And you leave that woman alone. It’s all in the past and that’s where they need to stay, you understand me?”

“But—” Keith seemed as stunned at the uncharacteristic outburst as Simon was.

“No buts, little brother. You keep your focus. You play your part and marry Daphne. Then you get your hands on all that money that’s going to bail us out of our financial issues and then, and only then, can you even think about that boy. Now, get Daphne to marry you. The sooner the better. And keep your head down and out of the news. I’m being asked about my sibling and other family members. So far, I’ve managed to deflect the questions, and no one’s unearthed any pictures that could be troublesome, but you need to stay under the radar. Got it?”

Keith’s cold eyes never left Christopher’s face, but he didn’t lift a hand to defend himself either. It was like he didn’t have to because he knew something no one else did. And for the first time, a tug of fear pulled at Simon. Did he even know Keith at all? And what had Christopher meant about cleaning up his brother’s messes and Keith needing to keep his head down? He had a feeling he didn’t want to know and wasn’t about to ask.

Finally, Keith gently removed Christopher’s hand from his throat and nodded. “I got it. You’re right. All that matters is doing whatever it takes to save the family.”

Christopher stepped back and straightened his shirt, then took a deep breath. “Good.” He patted Keith’s arm. “Sorry about that. I just kind of lost it there for a minute.”

Keith nodded, but his gaze was on Simon’s. “I understand.” Then he moved his focus to Christopher. “And you’re right. You’ve been there for me since we were kids and I appreciate that.” A pause. “But, know this. I’ll find out if he’s my son one way or another. And”—his eyes narrowed, cold, hard chips of tundra—“don’t ever put your hands on me again.”

CHAPTER

SIX

Raina glanced at the clock and realized she’d been sitting there shaking for ten minutes. She tightened her fingers around the wheel until her knuckles glowed white. “Stop it.” She spoke the words aloud, then released the wheel to slam her fists onto it. “Stop it! He will not do this to me.” Her heart hammered in her chest and her blood flowed with fresh fury.

Pulling in two more deep breaths, she waited until the shaking eased, then opened the car and stepped out, only to stop when she noticed Vincent standing a few feet away, hands shoved into the front pockets of his khakis, watching her, eyes concerned, lips frowning. She suppressed a groan and walked over to join him. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he said. “You all right?”

“Not really.” It had gone against everything in her to ask someone to do something for her. To ask for help or anything else. But when it came to a child’s life, she simply had no choice.

If she didn’t ask, if she let Kevin continue to control her actions, then she would have no life. And that simply could not happen. She cleared her throat. “Any word from your marshal friends?”

“The Colorado marshal’s office is going to work with local law enforcement and have someone move them to protective custody.”

“So they know?”

“Yes. And are taking big-time precautions.”

Raina almost didn’t know how to handle the massive surge of relief flowing through her. All her frantic efforts to get ahold of Trent were for nothing. And the risk ... She stifled a groan. She’d taken a huge risk by breaking her promise. And she hadn’t needed to. “You did that? For real?”

“For real, Raina.”

She threw her arms around his waist and squeezed. “Oh, Vince, thank you,” she whispered, even while relief mixed with regret. She shouldn’t have asked him. She shouldn’t have involved him, but the boy—Michael—he was so young and so vulnerable. She couldn’t just walk away if she could do something to protect him.Please don’t let anything happen to Vince because I asked him tohelp.

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