Page 59 of Broken Daddy

My face must go blank, because Russ looks concerned. He raises a hand and puts the back of it to my forehead. “Are you alright, sis? You look a little pale.”

Relief, nausea, and exhaustion wash through my body. I lean forward and practically fall into Russ’s arms, needing a hug from my big brother right now.

“I’m fine,” I mumble against his shirt. “Just tired. And scared.”

It’s the truth, about both situations—although it seems like Russ only knows about one.

Once my emotions are under control, I straighten up and start at the beginning, just like he asked. I tell Russell about attempting to sublet my apartment, and the mess all over the door that my tenant found before she promptly moved out. I tell him about the slashed tires in the grocery store parking lot.

Then his eyes go to the French doors. He’s looking out at the pool house.

“So when did that happen, then? And how long has this been going on?”

“That…happened a few days ago. Nathan said he has a security system set up around the perimeter of the yard, and it went off. I waited upstairs with Eva while he came down here and…”

My throat closes again as I think of what Nate described—the shatter of glass. Someone running through the backyard. A dark figure disappearing over the fence line.

A shiver racks my body and Russ squeezes my arm reassuringly.

“Altogether, it’s been about a month, I think? Maybe a little more?”

In that moment, my mind goes inappropriately to theotherbig event in my life. This clearly isn’t the time to think about it though so I try to push the memory of a positive pregnancy test away.

Russ sits back, taking in the information. After a few moments, he states seriously, “Don’t be upset with Nate, okay? He called me because he was concerned.”

I nod mutely, though a small flame of anger is still flickering inside.At least he didn’t tell him about the baby.

“Did he tell you we have a plan?” When Russ shakes his head, I explain. “His brother came over—Chris. The lawyer? And we talked about what we can do legally. Which isn’t much. But Nathan has the security company coming to install cameras and a system directly in the house instead of just on the property.”

Russell snorts, shaking his head. “Not sure why he didn’t do that sooner. He’s a billionaire. They always attract weirdos.”

I smile weakly,veryaware of the fact that I’m the one who attracted the weirdo, and I’m definitely not a billionaire.

“The cops came out and dug around out there, but they didn’t find much they can use. We need some kind of DNA evidence or something, I guess? A fingerprint? And that’ll only be helpful if they get a hit in the database. So the alternative is this guy comes back and we get his face on camera. Figure out exactly who it is.”

My brother’s face goes white. “You want him tocome back?”

“Well there isn’t much choice, is there? We needsomething.”

Russel stands and sputters in exasperation, running a hand down his face. He looks tired. I haven’t been a good sister lately—haven’t reached out to see how he’s doing. Instead, I’ve been worrying about my own problems, all of them of my own making.

All I had to do wasnotsleep with my boss and brother’s best friend. But here we are.

The reminder makes my face flush with heat, but Russell is too stressed-out to notice. He’s pacing back and forth in the kitchen. I know him well enough to know he’s looking for a way to solve the problem, but the truth is, he can’t.

Not unless, like I already told him, we get something to identify the person doing these things.

Russ’s cell pings and he looks down at it, annoyance flashing across his features. “I have to go. We have a big shipment coming in tonight for the new showing, and…” Striding over, he wraps me in a bone-crushing hug.

I wave off his apologies and walk him to the door, smiling as Eva calls out an enthusiastic, “Goodbye!”

Russ turns in the doorway. “I guess the one thing I should be happy about is that you have Nate.”

The words are like an arrow to my heart.

Nate isn’t mine,that little voice in my head reminds me.We’re just tethered together now, but he’snotmine.

“He’ll take good care of you.”

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