Page 19

Kayleigh woke up wrapped in Weston’s arms, the sky still dark outside the window. They’d moved back into the main house after their first bout of lovemaking, just before the sun fully set. She’d had a moment to take in the room before he’d stolen her attention once more.

Weston’s bedroom was all earth tones and comfort. Soft sheets and plush carpet, the smell of greenery from some of the indoor plants he had stashed on every surface. It was cozy and warm, from the art on the walls down to the pictures of his family throughout the house. She was happy to see one of her own prints hanging above his dresser. Like the house, Kayleigh couldn’t help but think the room suited him perfectly.

It was still the middle of the night and she was more than content to just enjoy Weston’s embrace in the silence, so she tried to stay still. Somehow she still woke him up.

“Hey there.” His sleep-rough voice was enough to make Kayleigh shiver. He stroked a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Everything okay?”

“Amazing.” Everything about this whole night had been amazing. She ducked to rest her chin on his chest. “Have you been awake long?”

“No. I feel like I slept better than I have in years.” He gave a slightly self-conscious laugh as he wrapped his arm tighter around her.

She understood. Even years after her kidnapping, sleeping was sometimes hard. She still had to have the light on and often felt anxious when she closed her eyes. But not right now, not with Weston.

“Me too. I like waking up to you, even if it’s the middle of the night,” she admitted, trying not to blush even though he wouldn’t be able to see it in the darkness.

It was too soon for future talks, especially with so much chaos around them. But being with him made her look forward to a time when things were more settled.

Would he want that with her? Because there was no doubt that she wanted it with him.

“I like it too.” He tilted her head and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. Kayleigh opened her mouth, to ask about the future or deepen their kiss—either one was fine with her—when Weston’s phone rang.

“Damn it. Middle-of-the-night calls are never good.” He picked up his phone and connected the call. “Brax, what’s up?”

Kayleigh adjusted so she could sit up, but Weston’s arm around her waist tightened, keeping her pressed to him. She didn’t hate it one bit.

She heard the murmur of Brax’s voice on the other end of the line and it wasn’t long before Weston swore. “Hold on. Let me put you on speakerphone.”

A press of a button and Brax’s voice echoed through the room. “Dad just called. Looks like somebody is watching the house. He thinks there are two cars doing surveillance, maybe three. We’ve got one of our best men on Leo and we’re all on our way, but you’re closest to them.”

Weston was already out of bed and getting dressed.

Kayleigh flipped the light on and did the same.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to bring Kayleigh over there. If it’s a trap, she’ll be in more dang—” He cut off as he looked over at her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m getting dressed. We’re going.”

“It’s not a good idea.”

She raised one eyebrow. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but I’m not the one in danger right now. I’m not going to let someone potentially destroy your parents’ house like they did my father’s.”

All Kayleigh could think about were the pictures on the walls, the memories of the boys coming to live with the Pattersons, of Walker and Tessa and Claire joining the family.

That picture of Weston smiling that had changed his relationship with the Pattersons forever.

Their home was built on the strength of their family’s love—not on things that could be replaced with insurance money. Kayleigh wasn’t going to let anything happen to it if she could help it.

She thought Weston would argue, but he merely nodded. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I’m part of the team.”

He looked like he wanted to say more but just nodded again.

“We’re on our way,” he said to Brax. “See you there.”

The drive to the Pattersons’ was tense and mostly silent. They didn’t know what they were walking into and neither was happy about it.

Parking the car a couple of blocks away, Weston grabbed her hand and they snuck through backyards to get to Sheila and Clinton’s house without announcing their presence from the front. Weston cracked open the back door and snuck Kayleigh into the house.

Sheila was standing in the hallway. “Didn’t expect to see you two so soon again. Maybe next time you can both use the front door. That’ll be a nice change.”

Sheila’s words were joking but Kayleigh could see the hint of tension that curled Sheila’s shoulders. She didn’t like her house being watched, understandably.

Guilt made Kayleigh’s stomach clench painfully. She’d brought this trouble to their doorstep.

Like he could hear her thoughts, Weston shifted closer so his chest was warm against her back. The slight touch grounded her, brought her around to the problem at hand.

No matter how the trouble had gotten here, it was here now. They needed to help take care of it.

“Come on in,” Sheila said, standing to move to the light switches. She nearly flicked one on before Weston spoke.

“Don’t, Mom. I’d rather make whoever is watching think everyone in the house is sleeping.”

Sheila moved her hand away, nodding to her son. “Your dad’s in the living room.”

Weston’s hand on the small of Kayleigh’s back pushed her into the next room, where Clinton was peeking out the window. When they walked in, the older man relaxed slightly.

“You’re okay,” Clinton said. “I was worried.”

Weston stepped over to hug his father. “We were at my house when Brax called. Tell me what’s going on.”

Clinton looked Kayleigh over again, as if he was checking that she really was okay, and smiled at her before turning back to his son. “I was up late watching a game last night. When I went to shut the blinds, I saw the vehicles—two cars and one van. They stood out because I didn’t recognize any of them. One new car on the block is nothing, but three? And a van ? No. Something told me to keep watch, so I did. After an hour, I thought I was going nuts and was about to go to bed. Then another car pulled up and they switched drivers.”

“Organized surveillance, then,” Weston said, stroking Kayleigh’s back absently, like he couldn’t stop touching her.

Clinton agreed. “I watched them do another shift change four hours later and decided to call in the big guns. That would be you and your brothers.”

Kayleigh peeked out the window blinds, careful not to make movement that would bring attention to them. The sleek black car sat in the shadows that bathed the other side of the street, but even then, she could feel whoever was inside watching. It sent goose bumps prickling down her arms.

“I don’t like this,” Sheila said from her position near the doorway. Kayleigh noticed with a painful lurch that she didn’t come closer. She didn’t feel comfortable or safe in the room now that they were being surveilled.

It hurt Kayleigh more than she’d expected to know she was the cause of it all.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?” Sheila asked.

Kayleigh waved her hand at the closed blinds of the window. “This. All of it. They wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t come. You’d still be safe. I’m so sorry I brought this to your doorstep.”

Sheila clucked her tongue and moved to Kayleigh’s side. With a soft smile, Sheila grabbed her hand and patted it gently. “You have nothing to feel sorry for. They’ll learn—mess with one Patterson, you mess with all of us. Whoever’s coming after you better watch their backs because we don’t go down without a fight.”

The woman smirked, hip-bumping Kayleigh to make her smile. “Besides, I’m just waiting for the day when you can visit because you want to see us, not because of anything else.”

Her words shocked Kayleigh almost as much as the thread of longing that gripped her. She wanted to be part of this messy, chaotic, loving family. She wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in years.

Sheila reached over and squeezed her hand. There was more than comfort in her touch. There was heartache for her situation, determination and love. It didn’t matter that they barely knew each other. Kayleigh knew she was part of Sheila’s family. For the first time in twenty years, it felt like she had a mother again.

And Kayleigh would do anything to keep her. And keep her safe.

W ITHIN THE NEXT thirty minutes, Weston’s brothers made a stealth entrance through the back door. They’d brought equipment from the office and, within fifteen minutes of being together, were ready to make their move.

The plan was simple: a unilateral attack on all three of the surveillance cars they’d spotted. If they could take them out at once, it drastically reduced the chances of anything more dangerous happening.

With all of them in position covering the few blocks, Weston had high hopes that they’d succeed. Kayleigh would be staying in the house with Mom and Dad. The best way they could help was by keeping everything dark and quiet in the house.

“Everyone in position?” Weston’s gaze darted over the street as his brothers’ affirmatives came through his earpiece.

They needed to work as one unit so that none of the vehicles got word to the others. None of the Patterson men planned to use violence when taking out these watchers, but they would do whatever they had to do to protect their parents.

Weston felt the same way about protecting Kayleigh. He’d keep her safe no matter what.

They needed to find out who the surveillance team worked for. Weston’s money was on Oliver Lyle. Bastard wanted to stop the merger and was gathering intel so he could make a move in the next few hours, before the merger.

Weston and his brothers weren’t going to let that happen.

Weston circled the house and came up in the blind spot of the sedan, the first vehicle Dad had seen. He’d watched it through the windows while he’d spoken to his parents and there was definitely someone inside.

Brax and Chance would take the van at the end of the street. Luke had the car closest to the park. They would all move at the same time.

“Okay, let’s go,” Weston said. “Ready in five, four, three, two—”

On one, Weston yanked open the car door, seized the driver by the shirt and dragged him out from behind the steering wheel. He could hear the sounds of his brothers finishing their own missions, but it was all background noise because all he could see was the man in his hands.

Jasper Eeley.

Weston threw him face-first against the car, trapping him with his body before the snake could slither free. “What the hell are you doing here, Eeley? Are you attacking my parents? Working for Oliver Lyle?”

Weston jerked the bigger man’s arm up his back, keeping him pinned against the sedan so he couldn’t move. Jasper didn’t respond.

“Report,” Weston barked into his comm unit.

“Van is clear, subjects subdued,” Brax said.

“Same,” said Luke.

“I’m good too,” Weston responded. “But you’ll never guess who I found in my vehicle. Our old friend Jasper Eeley.”

All three of his brothers let out curses. They echoed Weston’s own sentiment.

“Patterson.” Jasper finally spoke. “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not right. I’m not here to hurt Kayleigh, I’m here to protect her. Don’t let your brothers hurt my men for following orders.”

Weston pushed him more fully into the car. “If you’re so concerned about your employees’ safety, you might ought to have thought of that before you came hunting my family.”

“It’s not like that. Just hear me out.”

Weston wanted to pummel the other man. Had to use a surprising amount of restraint not to do so.

“Weston,” Brax said in his ear. “Guys in the van say they’re on protection duty. Surveilling for forces coming toward the house, not to see if anyone leaves.”

“We can’t trust them,” Weston snapped.

“Agreed,” Chance said. “But based on their equipment and stance when we caught them, I think they may be telling the truth. They were looking in the wrong direction.”

“And three vehicles for surveillance is a little overkill,” Luke chimed in.

Weston didn’t want to believe any of it, but there was one last piece that struck him. Jasper wasn’t fighting . The bigger man hadn’t thrown any blows or attempted to get away. The opposite, in fact.

Sighing, Weston stepped back. “We’re heading to the van. Luke, you come too.”

Weston gripped Jasper’s shoulder tight, wrenching his arm until the man had to walk with his back arched to avoid injury. Weston preferred not to hurt people but, in this case, had no problem with the show of violence. Not with Kayleigh’s and his parents’ safety at risk.

They made it to the van and Weston shoved Jasper inside to sit alongside his men. Luke took a spot by the front seats and Chance by the rear door, while Weston and Brax hovered near the side door. Every exit covered.

“It’s like a clown car.” Brax smirked. “You guys could start your own show.”

“Why are you here?” Weston asked.

Jasper held out his hands in front of him in a show of surrender. “Like I said, we’re here to help.”

“Last I heard, you were fired,” Chance said.

As expected, Jasper’s chin lifted, his eyes narrowing. “We were put on leave, not fired. Regardless, I wasn’t going to disappear when Leo needed me.”

“So you decided to stake out our parents’ house?” Weston asked.

“Look, your company is legit and I respect that. But that doesn’t mean I was going to go sip mai tais while my employer is under attack. I have men outside the hospital watching Leo, as well as others watching Dean McClintock and Gwendolyn for their safety.” Jasper stared at Weston. “And, regardless of the strain in our relationship, I wanted to do the same for Kayleigh.”

Weston glanced at his brothers and they each gave him a shrug. They were all coming to the same conclusion.

It looked like Jasper was telling the truth.

Weston crossed his arms and glared down at the other man. “Tell us about Oliver Lyle. We know you were employed by him.”

Jasper shifted, trying to get comfortable. Weston could tell he was holding back from grabbing the shoulder he’d wrenched.

“Yeah, nearly a decade ago, and only for two weeks. I knew right away that he wasn’t the type of man I could ever work for or respect. He’s a bully who thinks with his fists not his brain, so I quit. Haven’t had contact with him since.”

“Fine.”

“What does Lyle have to do with this anyway?”

Weston shrugged. “He’s a suspect. Has the most to lose from the merger going through.”

Across the van, Luke cleared his throat, and everyone’s eyes flipped to him. “Actually, I think we can write Lyle off as a suspect. I put Claire on it to do some electronic digging a few hours ago. She just texted me.”

Luke’s fiancée, Claire, was a computer genius, complete with hacking skills. So, while her results might not always be technically legal, they were generally accurate.

“Lyle signed his research company to a colleague six months ago in a silent deal, so he’s got no skin in this game. Something about an ailing mother out of the country. He’s been in Croatia for weeks.”

Chance scrubbed a hand down his face. “That means he has no real reason to want to hurt Leo or Kayleigh.”

A frown worked its way onto Weston’s lips. If it wasn’t Lyle, then he had no idea who was targeting Kayleigh. Who else had a vested interest in the merger? Who would gain enough money, power or influence from it to risk her life?

“Look,” Jasper said, “I know you don’t like me, but think about it. If I wanted to hurt your family, I would have already. We had the advantage. Your parents and Kayleigh wouldn’t have stood a chance. Why would we sit in the vehicles all night?”

“I hate to admit it, but he does make a valid point,” Chance said.

Yeah, Weston hated it too, but there was no proof Jasper was doing anything he shouldn’t have been.

“You know what, Eeley? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I understand your concern, but with two days until the merger, I don’t want you anywhere near Kayleigh.”

Jasper opened his mouth to interrupt, but Weston held a hand out. “It’ll draw too much attention if she has two separate teams working around her. Focus your energy on getting Dean to the merger.”

Weston glanced over at Chance. They would also be placing their own security on Dean, in case Jasper was lying through his teeth.

“What about Leo?” Jasper asked.

“We’ll keep him and Kayleigh safe. But stunts like this mean we’re pulling resources that are better left elsewhere. So don’t do something like this again.”

“Fine,” Jasper huffed.

“I’m taking Kayleigh to a safe house. I don’t want to bring any possible trouble to my parents. They’re not part of this,” Weston said. “Take your men and get out of here. If you want to help, stay out of our way.”

Jasper nodded, obviously mad, but at least smart enough not to argue. Weston was never going to be friends or even friendly colleagues with this man. They may be in the same business but they were way too different.

“Just keep her and Leo safe,” Jasper said. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Maybe not as different as Weston thought.

“We’ll have someone around the clock with Leo until he wakes up. And I’m definitely not going to let anything happen to Kayleigh.”