Page 32

Sinclair

“M y what?”

“Nicholas Rain,” Dagger said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

I looked up, “I don’t have a brother, so whoever told you that is wrong.”

He shoved his phone in my face, swiping screen after screen. “Does he look familiar?”

It was the man I’d seen at the bake sale—and again at the deli today. “I don’t know him, but I’ve seen him twice. He showed up at the bake sale at school a few weeks ago. And he was at the deli when I got my lunch today.”

I took a step back trying to make sense of it all. “You say he’s my brother?”

Dagger nodded, his expression softening.

“He bought my lemon coconut bars and…” I faltered and covered my mouth. “Oh my god, I told him they were my father’s favorite.” I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t actually catch my breath.

I focused on the screen, unable to look away from his face.

There was no indication, no similarities between us.

He had blond hair to my brown. He was tall, whereas I was just over five feet tall.

But on closer inspection, I could see the slight similarities.

Something in the shape of his jawline reminded me of my father.

I dropped Dagger’s phone on the counter as if it were to blame for the turmoil that wrecked my body on the inside. Another one of my father’s secrets came to bite me in the ass.

“My father…” The words stuck in my throat like sand. “He had another child?” I didn’t even realize I was shaking until Dagger’s hand wrapped gently around my wrist, grounding me.

“Sinclair,” he said softly, the edge of his earlier frustration now dulled, replaced with concern. “I don’t know the whole story. Slate’s still looking into it, but your father had another family.”

I let the name wash over me like ice water. “But he never… he never said anything. When was this?”

“Nicholas is almost ten years older than you. Maybe he met his mother before he got with your mom? I just… I need you to know what we’re dealing with. It looks like he’s got some kind of twisted vendetta.”

I let out a bitter laugh, trying to ignore the sting behind my eyes. “Because nothing in my life can ever be simple.” My knees gave way, and I sank onto the kitchen stool. “What does he want from me? I didn’t even know he existed.”

Dagger crouched in front of me, eyes locked on mine. “I don’t know yet. But we’re gonna figure it out. I swear it. No one’s gonna hurt you—not while I’m breathing.”

I looked down, my lips trembling. I wasn’t sure if I could take any more surprises. I was still reeling after my doctor’s appointment. I had to figure out a way to tell Dagger about the pregnancy, but now wasn’t the time. “This is too much.”

“You’re not alone in this,” he said, voice hardening with resolve. “We’re gonna find out what this guy’s deal is. If he’s got something against you or if he’s just… unstable. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”

He reached out, resting a hand on my knee. “But I need you to trust me, Sinclair. I can’t protect you if you shut me out.”

I didn’t respond, not with words. I just gave a slow nod as I wiped away a tear that had managed to escape. The weight of everything pressed down on me, threatening to crush me, but I wouldn’t let it—not yet.

“Dani,” I called out. I had to get through this, and no matter what was going on in my life, I didn’t want that little girl to be touched by it. “Come on, let’s finish the cakes!”

Thirty minutes later the smell of vanilla and chocolate filled the house again, as if the earlier tension had never happened. We had a tray of cupcakes in the oven and a mixing bowl filled with remnants of what was probably the world’s sweetest buttercream.

“Okay, who gets the last spoonful?” I held up the spatula like a prize.

Dani’s hand shot up. “Me! Me!” Her hair was tucked behind her ears, frosting smudged on her nose, and her cheeks flushed from laughter.

“Me!” Dagger shouted over from the corner where he had been sitting watching us.

I handed it to Dani with a wink. “All yours. But only because I got the bowl. Your dad can wait for the cupcakes.”

“Hey, no fair!” Dagger protested.

Dani giggled, the kind of sound that made the air lighter, less charged.

Watching her scrape the spatula clean made my heart ache in that way it always did when I realized how attached I’d become to her.

And how much she deserved this—to laugh in the kitchen with someone who gave a damn.

Then my mind went to the baby I was carrying.

The scene seemed so homely, so right. And I wondered, if we could make a family?

Dagger had said that he didn’t do long term or commitment.

Maybe we were as bad as each other, both afraid to love in case it was taken away.

But in the time we’d known one another things had been easy, and since I’d been living under the same roof it didn’t seem so impossible.

I needed to tell him about the baby.

As Dani wandered off to supervise the oven timer and Dagger was engrossed in his phone, I busied myself wiping down the counter, letting the repetitive motion calm my nerves. But my thoughts were far from still.

I rested my hand on my abdomen without thinking. Just a gentle, fleeting touch. Barely there. But it was enough to make everything feel more real than I was ready for. How the hell was I supposed to bring a child into this mess?

“You okay?” Dagger’s voice broke into my thoughts.

I looked up, startled, then nodded. “Just tired.”

He studied me a moment too long, as if trying to decide whether to press or let it go. Thankfully, he chose the latter.

The timer dinged and Dani dashed in, hopping with excitement. “Cupcakes!”

“Grab the mitts,” I told her, smiling as I followed her to the oven. “And stand back while I take them out.”

She obeyed with wide eyes and dramatic flair, holding the mitts out like a surgical assistant. I slid the tray onto the stovetop, the sweet scent of warm cake filling the air.

“Can we frost them now?”

“Soon,” I said, ruffling her hair. “Let them cool or the frosting will melt.”

She groaned with exaggerated disappointment and wandered out again, probably to find a distraction for the next ten minutes.

I leaned against the counter and exhaled.

For a few brief minutes, this kitchen had felt like a sanctuary again. A little family moment, quiet and safe. But underneath the domesticity, the storm still loomed. Nick was out there, and he wasn’t done.

Dagger stepped beside me, resting one hand lightly on my back. “We’ll get through this.”

I didn’t say anything. Just leaned into his touch for the span of a breath before pulling away.

We would get through this.

We had to.