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Kayleigh watched the lines of her father’s heart monitor, both of her hands wrapped around one of his like a lifeline. The beep, beep, beep acted as white noise as she struggled to reconcile the larger-than-life man she’d always known with the one lying in the hospital bed in front of her.

She’d never seen him so still . Kayleigh couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him rest during the day. Had he ever? She doubted it. There was always business to do, deals to be made.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead,” he’d always told her.

She desperately didn’t want it to come to that anytime soon.

She ran her hand over his arm and frowned at the coolness of his skin. Maybe he was cold and couldn’t tell them. She was about to ask Gwendolyn to find another blanket when she remembered the other woman had stepped out to grab coffee. She got up to dig through the cabinets herself, finally finding an extra blanket to lay over her father. She hoped it made him more comfortable because the scratchy fabric certainly didn’t make her feel any better.

Kayleigh hated hospitals.

For places meant to keep people alive, there was no life between their walls. It was unnerving. Even in this private section of the hospital only afforded to those who didn’t mind paying the exorbitant amount that insurance wouldn’t cover, she felt uneasy.

It reminded her of her mother’s stay in a hospital just like this when she’d gotten sick. No matter how good the doctors were, or how exclusive the suite, it sometimes didn’t matter and people died.

Sitting next to her father, she was afraid if she looked away from him for a second, she’d lose him like she had her mother. Even knowing the stress and exhaustion of the past thirty-six hours were playing a huge role in the despair circling her, tears were still rimming her eyes.

Get it together. Dad’s safe here and he’s going to be okay. Now is not the time to have a breakdown.

She kept repeating the words to herself, hoping that if she heard them enough, it would make it real.

The door pushed open. “You guys doing okay?”

She rushed into Weston’s arms before she could stop herself, thankful when he caught her and tugged her against his chest. Having him here, surrounding her with his warmth and support, was enough to pull her out of the worst of her fears.

Weston wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or her father.

He kissed the top of her head. “Any change?”

“Nothing. He’s so still. I hate it.”

Weston released a small sigh. “You’re not going to like this, but we need to get you out of here.”

“I don’t want to leave him.” She pulled back.

He gave her a little bit of space, but kept his hands gently on her arms. “If it were safe, I’d guard the door for you day and night so you didn’t have to leave, but staying puts you both at risk.”

“Why?”

“Dean told us about another clause in your father’s contracts that gives you the power to stop the merger if anything happens to him.”

She stiffened, the room feeling even more cold than it had been before. “That’s why they’re after me.”

“Now that Leo’s in a coma, they’ll come for you even harder. Staying here makes you both easier targets.”

She knew he was right, but her father wasn’t safe alone. “We can’t leave him here unprotected.”

“We won’t. My brothers will take turns watching over him.” He ran his thumbs up and down her arms. “I’m not letting anyone I don’t trust with my life near you or your father.”

It shouldn’t have meant so much to her, but hearing Weston’s conviction, seeing it in his face, was enough to soothe the very worst aches in her heart. “What about Jasper and his team?”

“Since we don’t know who we can trust, they’ve been temporarily removed from your dad’s service. Leo can sort it out when this is all over.”

She was about to voice her relief at that decision when there was another knock on the door. She thought it would be Gwendolyn returning, but it was Dr. Appleton.

“We have everything set up like you asked, Mr. Patterson. Your security team will be the only ones given access to this room.”

Weston nodded. “Good.”

“We’ll do everything we can to keep Mr. Delacruz safe. Security is aware of what’s going on and they’ll add an additional layer of protection while he’s here.” The doctor turned to Kayleigh. “I’ll keep you updated with his progress, as well.”

There was nothing else to ask. Her father would be safe and well cared for. All she had to do was agree.

It was still hard to leave him.

She crossed over to the bed and pressed a kiss to her father’s forehead. She couldn’t figure out how to tell him what she needed to say.

Don’t leave me.

I need you.

I love you.

She couldn’t say any of it. Instead she whispered, “Rest easy and wake up soon.”

She straightened, holding back the tears threatening to spill, and prayed this wasn’t the last time she saw him alive. No matter their differences, she didn’t want to live in a world where Leo Delacruz didn’t exist.

Warm fingers wrapped around hers and she clung to Weston’s hand like a lifeline.

“Let’s go,” she told him, nodding to the doctor.

Chance was waiting just outside the door.

“I packed the car the best I could. You’ve got plenty to keep you going until this is over.” He tossed his keys to Weston before smiling at Kayleigh. “We’re going to keep your dad safe, okay? I promise.”

She nodded, praying it was true. “Thank you.”

“Anything for family,” he said, winking at her. Kayleigh didn’t have it in her to laugh with him, but she tried to at least smile. “Be safe.”

“We will. Update when you can.” Weston clasped her hand and led her into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text message.

“Where are we going?” Exhaustion had her nearly swaying on her feet.

“Somewhere safe. I’d rather not tell you yet, if that’s okay.”

“You know what? I don’t even care where we go as long as I can take a shower.”

Weston chuckled and pulled her tight against his side. “I’m pretty sure that’s something we can manage.”

K AYLEIGH STARED OUT the window as Weston drove, though her eyes were mostly unfocused. They pulled up to a stop sign. “Haven’t we already come this way?”

He reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Yeah. But I want to make sure we have no tails before we head to the house.”

When he said “house,” she assumed he meant some sort of safe house. And although she wasn’t entirely sure what she envisioned by “safe house,” it definitely wasn’t a cute little two-story Spanish Colonial on the outskirts of San Antonio.

“Is this your house?” she asked, noting the beautiful garden in the front. The landscaping definitely seemed his style.

“It was at one point.” They parked, and he led her around to the rear of the house with a hand on her back. “Let’s get inside as quietly as possible.”

Kayleigh didn’t understand why they were sneaking in, but it didn’t matter. She could practically feel the shower calling. They stepped through the sliding-glass door on the back deck and crept up the staircase.

They went inside a room that had a small desk, twin bed and posters of basketball players on the wall.

“This will be you. Bathroom’s through that door.” He pointed to the first door in the hallway. “There should be some clean clothes on the counter that will be close enough to fitting you. Take your shower and we’ll go downstairs.”

The more she looked around, the more she realized she was standing in a teenage boy’s room.

Not just any teenage boy. Weston teenage boy.

“Where are we, Weston?”

“My parents’ place. Clinton and Sheila Patterson’s house.”

He’d talked about his parents and his siblings, but Kayleigh had never expected to be in their home.

“And the clothes?”

“I texted Brax. You and his wife, Tessa, are about the same size, so I had him drop off something for you to wear.”

“Thank you.” She hesitated. “Are you sure it’s a good idea that I’m here?”

Weston pulled her in for a hug. “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think you were safe.”

That wasn’t exactly what she was worried about, but now that he mentioned it... “I’m a dangerous houseguest to have right now.”

He shrugged. “Does this look like a place people will assume Kayleigh Delacruz is hiding?”

Kayleigh looked around the room with its lace curtains and comfortably worn bedspread. It looked homey and comfortable and, even though she liked it, she saw Weston’s point. “No.”

He winked at her. “Enjoy your shower.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, Kayleigh rushed into the bathroom and stayed in the spray until her fingers wrinkled. The water washed away the grime and dirt from their wilderness trek, but couldn’t do much about her worry.

Clean and dressed again, she stepped into the hallway and found Weston waiting for her. “Ready to head down?”

She could hear multiple people talking downstairs so it was obviously more than merely Sheila and Clinton in the house.

Kayleigh smiled thinly. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Absolutely.” His grin was so big she couldn’t help but smile back.

Weston led the way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Kayleigh took it all in before they were noticed. The two men—an older Black man and a younger man of mixed race—cooed at the baby who toddled around the kitchen table, holding on to their fingers.

The two women, an older Latina woman who must be Sheila, and a younger white woman who looked just like the baby, were huddled over the counter, preparing food and chatting.

The kitchen was small, not even a third of the size of the kitchen at Leo’s house. But there was so much life in this room. So much love.

Kayleigh couldn’t recall there ever being this much affectionate chaos going on around her. She just wanted to bask in it.

“That’s my brother Brax and my dad, Clinton, playing with little Walker.” The toddler let out the most adorable laugh right at that second. “Walker is Brax’s son/nephew.”

Her brow creased. “Uh...”

Weston tapped her on the nose with a smile. “Biological nephew but son by love and marriage. Families get built in all sorts of crazy ways. We don’t question it around here.”

Sheila’s eyes lit up when she saw Weston. She wiped her hands off and rushed in for a hug. “Weston, I didn’t know you were here yet.”

“We snuck in the back. Needed to shower and change before we came down.” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek before turning back to Kayleigh and drawing her forward. “Everyone, this is Kayleigh Delacruz.”

Weston made quick introductions and Sheila immediately swept her up into a hug. For a moment, Kayleigh could barely move. She hadn’t had a motherly hug from anyone but Gwendolyn in ages and she’d forgotten how good it felt.

And the fact that this woman loved Weston so much made it feel even better.

“You’re a photographer, right?” Sheila asked as she scooted back.

Kayleigh nodded.

“I thought so. I’ve seen some of your pictures. Well, come on in and help yourself. If you want, you can help us finish up dinner. We’re making everyone’s favorites. You look half starved, so I’ll even look the other way if you want to sample things while we cook.” Sheila walked over to the counter.

“You don’t have to, if you aren’t up for it,” Weston whispered.

Kayleigh smiled. “I don’t mind.”

“I just don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“No one’s pressuring anyone,” Sheila said, waving a towel at her son. “Honestly, Weston, you make it sound like I’m yanking her around by the belt loops.”

Weston seemed to quickly understand that he wasn’t going to win and stepped over the table to play with his nephew with his dad and brother.

Sheila and Tessa worked together on dinner with an ease that spoke of how close they were. Each of them had their own jobs and knew exactly what to do.

Kayleigh wasn’t a great cook but neither woman seemed to mind. They gave her jobs that suited her and corrected her with kindly teasing smiles when she made a mistake.

Everybody laughed and talked all over each other. The men set the table and constantly tried to sneak food. Everyone stopped to coo over Walker every few minutes, and the fifteen-month-old ate it up, blowing bubbly kisses to everyone.

Dinner was the opposite of the norm of family meals she’d experienced. Nothing here was formal and definitely not quiet and refined. It was overwhelming, but Kayleigh loved it.

After the meal, Weston and Kayleigh insisted on helping Clinton with the dishes while Sheila rested. They laughed and talked among themselves with Weston chiming in occasionally until Brax dropped the diaper bag on the ground at his brother’s feet.

“I’m going to help Tessa pack up the car so we can head home, so you’re on diaper duty,” he told Weston, handing the squirming toddler to his brother and walking backward out of the room. “Oh, and it’s a smelly one!”

Kayleigh and Clinton laughed at Weston’s pinched face as he stared at Walker with a mock scowl. “You just had to poop when they were busy, huh, buddy?”

Clinton leaned toward Kayleigh. “Everybody knows Brax is only out at the car helping so he can have an uninterrupted moment to steal kisses from his wife.”

“And because he can hoist Sir Stinks-A-Lot off on me!” Weston eyeballed the ceiling and set off for a place to change his nephew.

“I’ll admit, I can’t imagine Weston changing a dirty diaper,” she told Clinton. “Then again, I couldn’t imagine him being so lively and talkative with others either, before tonight. He’s always been so quiet.”

Clinton wiped down the rest of the counter and rinsed out the dishrag. “Weston knows he’s safe here. Knows he’s loved. He’s always going to be quieter than everyone else, but he’s opened up so much over the years.”

“I can tell he loves it here.”

Clinton looked over at her. “What about your family, what are they like?”

Kayleigh handed him the last plate and pulled the plug on the dirty water, trying to give herself time to think of an answer. Eventually, she settled on the truth. “Different. It’s been just my father and me for almost as long as I can remember. So, yeah, definitely different.”

Just thinking of her dad made her heartsick. She prayed she’d made the right choice leaving him at the hospital. “My dad’s in a coma right now. We’re just waiting for him to wake up. That’s why we’re here. Your sons are protecting him and me.”

Clinton wiped his hands off, nodding. “In that case, you’re in good hands. San Antonio Security is the best in the business. Weston isn’t going to let anything happen to you or your father. He’s a protector through and through. Always has been.”

Kayleigh nodded, knowing in her heart that Clinton was right. Weston was a natural protector and, until the merger went through, he was hers.

She just hoped it would be enough.