Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

"Do you have enough snacks?" Luna asked.

Maisy chuckled. "Yes, we're good. Half my carry-on is full of food."

"Make sure you do whatever they tell you," Alaska warned. "Drake knows his stuff. And since Tiny was a Navy SEAL too, so does he."

"We aren't going to war," Maisy said wryly.

"I'm thinking you shouldn't underestimate that asshole brother of yours," Lara said.

She wasn't wrong. Maisy nodded.

"Enough. You guys are freaking her out," Jack said, wrapping an arm around Maisy's waist. She looked up at him and saw a muscle in his jaw was ticking. He was doing his best to seem nonchalant about this trip, but it was obvious, at least to her, that he was anything but.

If there was any way to get her inheritance without this trip to Seattle, Maisy had no doubt Jack would've insisted on it. They'd tried to arrange for her to see someone here in New Mexico, but the lawyer in charge of the trust was the only one who could release the money, and he wasn't willing to travel to New Mexico because of family commitments.

Maisy understood. He couldn't be expected to fly all over the country on his clients' whims. And she actually appreciated that he stuck to the letter of the law. If he didn't, it was likely her brother would've already found a way to get his hands on her money.

Besides, there were some things she wanted from the house…the evidence against Jason at the top of the list, of course. But also keepsakes, clothes, her dad's handkerchiefs he always carried that she kept in her dresser, her mom's wedding ring. They were just things, but they were some of the only items she had from her parents.

Brick, Tiny, and Jack were all tense, as if they really were getting ready for a mission. Maisy wanted to reassure them that with any show of force, her brother would cave. Bullies always did. Around anyone weaker than them, they talked a good game, but the second someone pushed back, they gave in. Her brother was no different. Of course, this knowledge was too little, too late for her, but she was secretly looking forward to Jason coming face-to-face with the guys. He'd crap his pants for sure.

Best of all, he wouldn't be able to hurt her. Not with Brick, Tiny, and Jack there to protect her. She could say what she needed to say without fear of retribution. She was actually looking forward to seeing her brother.

They finally finished saying their goodbyes and headed toward the airport in Santa Fe. They only had carry-on suitcases, so check-in was a breeze. She sat between Jack and Brick on the plane, with Tiny in the row behind them. Before she knew it, they'd landed in Seattle and Tiny was driving them toward their hotel.

Their appointment at the bank wasn't until the morning, and before they'd arrived, the timing of everything seemed fine, but now Maisy wished they could go to the bank right this second. She stayed tense as Tiny drove, afraid somehow her brother would've found out she was here and would do something to prevent her from getting to the bank to sign the papers.

"Relax, you're good," Jack said, as if he could read her mind.

He couldn't hear what she was thinking, but he probably could read her body language. Feel the stress in the way she clung to his hand almost desperately.

"Even though it's not legal, Ryleigh's idea to use those fake IDs you and Stone used to leave Washington the first time was smart," Tiny said as he drove. "If your brother does have a way to monitor who's flying in and out of Seattle, he won't know you've returned until it's too late for him to do anything about it."

Tiny was right, she knew he was, but it didn't stop her from fearfully glancing at everyone in the vehicles around them.

"We'll check in, then order room service. We'll find something to watch that'll take your mind off everything," Jack said.

Maisy appreciated him doing what he could to help her calm down, but the last thing she wanted was to sit in the room and think about all the ways Jason could mess things up. "What if we went down to the restaurant in the lobby?" she asked. She wasn't stupid enough to suggest they go out sightseeing or anything, but maybe he'd agree to them eating downstairs.

"I don't know," Jack mused.

Brick interjected from the front seat. "I think that'll be fine. We can request a booth in the back of the restaurant, away from the windows."

"You sure?" Jack asked Maisy.

She nodded enthusiastically.

"All right. Should we meet downstairs in about an hour and a half after check-in?"

Everyone agreed, and Maisy tried to force her muscles to relax. This was okay. Everything was okay.

And it was. They checked in without any issues; Brick and Tiny were sharing a room down the hall from her and Jack. They met in the lobby for dinner, and Maisy found herself laughing and forgetting about what they were going to do the next day…at least for a little while.

Then Jack brought her back upstairs, put on a movie that neither of them really had any interest in watching, and pulled her into his arms.

This was what she needed. Maisy always felt safe with Jack around. Tomorrow was going to be fine. They'd do what they came to do, then go back home and move on with their lives.

"Tomorrow's gonna be fine," Jack said softly.

Maisy chuckled.

"What's funny?" he asked.

"I was literally just thinking those same words."

"Great minds think alike."

Maisy smiled at that. "Jack?"

"Yeah, Stellina ?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here. For not freaking out when I said I needed to confront Jason. For making me feel safe. For forgiving me."

"You don't have to thank me for any of that, Maisy. We might not have started our marriage in a conventional way, but I take my vows seriously. If you want something, I'll bend over backward to get it for you."

"I don't need anything but you," she said.

"You've got me."

And that was a miracle. Jason had done this man so wrong. Had kidnapped him and forced him to marry his sister. And yet, he was the best man Maisy had ever met. Not only was he good-looking—which was the least of her desires when it came to a partner—he was smart, forgiving, understanding, empathetic, and kind. She literally couldn't have done better if she'd picked her own husband. Which kind of galled her, because she didn't want to give Jason even one little iota of credit for how happy she was right now.

"I love you," Maisy whispered as she snuggled into Jack's side.

He squeezed her affectionately in return. He hadn't said he loved her since he'd regained his memory, but Maisy could be patient. It was crazy that she was so in love with him after such a short amount of time, but she didn't care. She needed him to know how she felt, even if he didn't feel the same in return. She hoped he would someday. Hoped he'd be able to love her as much as she loved him. He'd said the words before, when he didn't know who he was, and she had faith he'd say them again.

Neither she nor Jack slept all that great, but at least neither had a nightmare. They'd gotten up, prepared for a long day, then met Brick and Tiny downstairs before heading over to the bank to be there right when it opened.

Everyone was tense, and Maisy regretted eating as much for breakfast as she had. She prayed she wouldn't throw it all up from nerves. Brick and Tiny were on high alert, and for the first time, Maisy got a glimpse of the Navy SEALs inside the men. Their heads were on a swivel and they kept themselves between her and anyone who might approach them at all times.

Jack's hand was locked around hers, even refusing to let go when they'd arrived at the bank, insisting she scoot across the seat and get out on his side of the vehicle. Truthfully, while their actions were freaking her out, Maisy was relieved they were so vigilant.

And thinking about how this would've gone down if Jason had gotten his way, with him dragging her down here, probably holding her arm tight enough to leave bruises, threatening her the entire way…yeah. She was happy to have the three overly protective men at her side instead.

To her surprise, signing the paperwork was actually anticlimactic. After all these years, after all the stress and pain, they met the gentleman in charge of her trust and were led into the bank manager's office, where signing the papers to gain access to ten million dollars took less than thirty seconds.

After it was done, she was reassured the papers would be filed immediately and the money would be transferred to her new account—the one Ry had opened for her in a bank in Los Alamos—within a week. He apologized that it would take so long but because of the amount, certain protocols had to be followed.

Then they were back in the car and the atmosphere felt twenty times lighter.

"That was…different than I expected," Maisy said when Tiny started the engine.

"What did you expect?" Brick asked from the front seat.

"I'm not sure. More security, more…something."

Jack smiled. "It's done. Your brother no longer has any control over what you do, where you live, or how your money is spent."

It hit her then. "It's over."

"Yes, his reign of terror is over," Jack agreed.

Then Maisy burst into tears. They were a mixture of relief, sadness for her parents, and happiness that her brother could no longer hurt her.

"Shit! She okay? Should I pull over?" Tiny asked a little desperately.

Brick grinned. "You have a lot to learn about women. She's good. Just a little stress relief, right, Stone?"

Maisy felt Stone nod as she did her best to get control over her emotions. The easy part was done, but she still needed to face Jason, find the evidence, and pack. Later tonight, she could have another breakdown, but now she needed to get her shit together.

Taking a deep breath, Maisy sat up.

"All good?" Jack asked.

Maisy shook her head but said, "Yes."

Jack chuckled. "You're good," he said firmly. Then he wrapped his hand around her nape and pulled her toward him, kissing her forehead. "Proud of you," he whispered.

His words made Maisy tingle from head to toe. She hadn't done anything but walk into a bank and sign a piece of paper, but knowing Jack was proud of her meant the world.

"So, the plan's still the same?" Tiny asked after a moment.

They'd talked about how to proceed at the house last night at dinner, but Maisy understood Tiny was just reaffirming what they'd already decided.

"We'll drive around the block, get the lay of the land. Then we'll park a few houses down, Maisy will use her key to get in. No knocking. If her brother had the locks changed, we'll go around to the kitchen door, break one of the windows and go in that way," Brick said.

"You still want to do this? We could still go to the police first and have them get a search warrant to get the pictures and your diary," Jack said.

"I thought there was a chance it wouldn't be approved if we did it that way?" Maisy asked. "Something about it being my word against his and not enough proof."

Jack didn't reply, simply held eye contact, and she knew she was right.

If possible, Maisy fell more in love with him right then and there. It was obvious he didn't want to go back to her house. Didn't want her there either. Definitely didn't want Jason anywhere near her. But he was willing to go with her because it was something she needed to do.

"I need to make sure he's punished for what he did to Martha. And if he did have anything to do with Mom and Dad's murder, for that too. And I need those pictures and Martha's wallet to back up what I tell the detectives."

"We could go in and get them for you," Brick offered.

Maisy appreciated all of them so much. But this was something she needed to do. She should've done it way before now. Hated herself for letting so much time go by and letting her brother get away with his crimes. "We'll be quick," she told the guys in the car.

"Damn straight we will," Tiny said.

"In, upstairs, get the stuff, and out," Brick agreed.

Maisy wanted to remind them that she wanted to confront Jason, but the closer they got to the house, the more her stomach rolled and the worse that idea seemed. The last thing she wanted was to hear her brother's hateful words. And she had no doubt that he'd lash out the only way he could—verbally and emotionally. He knew her better than anyone, and thus he knew exactly how to hurt her the most.

For the first time, she crossed her fingers that Jason wouldn't be home when they got there. But her hopes were dashed when they drove by the house and she saw his car in the driveway. For some reason, he never parked in the garage, liked to pull up right outside the front door and enter that way. As if he had servants who would move the car for him…which he didn't.

Tiny pulled over a few houses down and turned off the engine.

"Let's do this," he said firmly.

Some of his confidence seeped into Maisy. She wasn't doing anything wrong. This was her house too. She could go in if she wanted to. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her fingers around Jack's as she climbed out of the backseat.

They walked toward the house as if they had every right to be there—because they did. They didn't slink around, didn't cross through yards like burglars. Maisy held the key to the house tightly in her hand and tried to slow her heartbeat as they neared the front door. Holding her breath, she pushed the key into the lock and breathed a sigh of relief when it turned.

They stepped into the house, and Brick shut the door behind them. The house was eerily quiet. It was still early, at least for Jason, and because he'd gotten rid of Paige and the other women who worked in the house, no one was around. There was no smell of breakfast coming from the kitchen, and even in the few weeks she'd been gone, the lack of a housecleaner was obvious. There was dust and trash everywhere. Takeout bags lay discarded on the floor, as if whoever had dropped them assumed someone else would pick them up. The house smelled a little funky too, as if Jason had thrown a party, alcohol had been spilled, and no one had cleaned it up.

"Come on, Maisy, let's find this evidence," Tiny said in a barely there whisper.

Nodding, Maisy pointed toward the stairs. As they climbed, she glanced over at Jack. The muscle in his jaw was ticking again, and she knew this house held some not-so-great memories for him too. True, he didn't know he'd been kidnapped for most of the time he was here, but that wouldn't matter.

They walked silently past Jason's room toward hers. When the door swung open, Maisy couldn't stop the gasp that left her mouth at seeing the destruction in front of her.

Not one item in the large room had been left untouched.

Drawers were opened and their contents strewn all over the floor. The bedding and the mattress itself had been shredded, stuffing spilling out and joining the other stuff on the floor. The carpet was stained with what Maisy assumed was red paint, but the effect was creepy because it looked like blood. The clothes that had been in the closet were torn down and tossed everywhere.

Stepping into the room, Maisy walked in a daze toward the bathroom. Her toiletries had been emptied all over the counter and floor. Toothpaste, shampoo, even the small bottle of perfume her mom had given her when she'd turned thirteen had been emptied.

She knew without a doubt Jason had done this. In a fit of rage, he'd come in here and destroyed everything.

Instead of getting upset, Maisy was furious. He'd had a temper tantrum like a toddler because he hadn't gotten what he wanted—money that wasn't his to begin with. He'd kidnapped Jack, lied to him, treated her like shit, and he was mad!

For the first time, Maisy realized what a lucky escape she'd had. If he hadn't kidnapped Jack, if he hadn't been such a greedy asshole, she probably would've joined Martha under that slab sooner rather than later.

"Where'd you hide the stuff, Maisy?" Brick asked gently.

Pressing her lips together, Maisy turned away from the mess in the bathroom and headed for the window. Once upon a time, she'd loved to sit on the small window seat her dad had made for her so she could read books comfortably while looking outside. The books that had sat lovingly for years on the small shelf under the seat were all destroyed now. Their pages ripped out, covers bent and stomped on. Paint poured over everything.

Maisy knelt on the floor and pushed some of the mess aside. She held her breath as she reached for the loose board. There was just enough room at one edge to get her fingernail under. She pulled it up—and heard Tiny swear when he saw nothing in the hole under the floor.

She simply grinned to herself and reached down. The hole was long, and she'd stuffed the evidence all the way back, out of sight, just in case someone did find her hidey-hole.

She didn't realize how tense she'd been until her fingers brushed against the small bag she'd hidden back there. Sitting up, she pulled it out and held it up to the others.

"That it?" Brick asked.

She nodded.

"You sure?"

She nodded again.

"I'll hold onto it for you," Jack said, reaching for the small blue bag.

Without hesitation, Maisy let him take it from her. He stuffed it into a pocket on the vest he was wearing. She'd wondered why he'd packed it, because it didn't seem like something he'd usually wear. Then she'd realized how handy it was when she saw the multiple pockets held things like knives, zip-ties, and other objects that could come in handy for a badass like her husband.

Bag secure, he held his hand down to help her up off the floor .

"The next step was to pack your things, but…" Brick's voice faded as they all looked around the room.

Maisy was sad for a moment when she saw her favorite sweatpants covered in paint on the floor. The picture of cows she'd always loved, broken in half and also paint-splattered. All her belongings, destroyed.

But she took a deep breath. As she'd thought earlier, it was just stuff. Alaska and the other women had gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable and bought her so many cool clothing items. Jasna had drawn her a picture of Melba the cow to make her smile, and it was tacked to the wall back in Jack's cabin.

Thankful that she'd put her mom's ring, one of her dad's handkerchiefs, and a picture of her parents in her hiding place months ago, for safekeeping, Maisy turned to Jack. "I don't want anything from here. I have everything I need back at home."

Home. People threw that word around without thought. She'd always done the same. But the thing was, a home wasn't four walls and a roof. It was anyplace—or any person —that made you feel safe. And this house hadn't been safe for years. Ever since her parents were killed. She hadn't felt safe first because the person or people who'd shot her mom and dad were still on the loose. Then because of Jason. He'd made her life a living hell, and she'd been happy to lose herself in the fog of drugs to escape it.

Her home was wherever Jack was. It didn't matter if it was in Washington, New Mexico, or the other side of the moon. As long as Jack was by her side, she was home.

"Right, then let's get the hell out of here," Brick said brusquely.

Jack once more took Maisy's hand in his and they followed Brick, with Tiny bringing up the rear as they headed out of her room and down the hall. They made it downstairs, but that's when their luck ran out.

Jason was standing in the living room, and he looked up in surprise as Maisy and the others appeared.

"Well, well, well," he drawled. "If it isn't my baby sister and her husband, returning home."

Maisy gaped. Jason looked awful . His hair hadn't been combed, brown tufts were sticking up all over his head. He hadn't shaved in what had to be a few days, and she could smell his body odor from where she was standing across the room. He obviously hadn't showered in quite a while, and his clothes hung off his gaunt-looking frame.

She was shocked by his appearance. Her brother had always prided himself on his looks. Now, he simply looked like a bum.

"Jason," she said, not sure what else to say.

"I'm guessing since you're here, that means you've completely fucked me over," Jason said.

Maisy frowned. "What?"

"You did it, didn't you? Signed the papers."

Understanding dawned. "Yes."

"You stole this house, and the money from my account too," Jason accused.

"It wasn't your money," Jack said, speaking up for the first time. "It was Maisy's."

"It was mine!" Jason shouted, making Maisy jump.

Jack steadied her, and she felt Tiny come up closer behind them.

" My money! Who took care of you when Mom and Dad died? Me! Instead of taking the job I was offered, I came home to babysit my little sister. You were a fucking mess! Couldn't function without me. You would've killed yourself if I hadn't gotten you to a doctor. You were out of it for years. Years , Maise! And this house isn't cheap! There was the mortgage, the housekeepers, the cook, the electricity. I took care of it all while you wallowed like a pathetic worm!"

Maisy clenched her teeth. She hated when Jason reminded her of that time. It was true, she hadn't coped well with the death of their parents, but he hadn't done much to help, simply encouraged her to take the drugs to make her forget everything.

"And what thanks do I get? Letters in the mail informing me that you've canceled policies, stolen my money, taken my name off the accounts—you're a fucking bitch !"

"I canceled the life insurance policies you took out on me and Jack without our permission," Maisy said evenly. "And you were stealing my monthly stipend because you'd spent your inheritance and all the life insurance you got from Mom and Dad."

She felt calm. Her heart was beating fast and she was a little shaky, but it felt good to be able to stand up to Jason for once.

He took a step toward her, but Brick was there, stepping between him and Maisy.

Jason scowled. "Who's this? You fucking him too? You liked taking your husband's cock well enough, we all heard you moaning and gagging for it. You're a fucking whore . Sleeping with a man you only knew a few days. If I'd known how much you loved cock, I would've sold your body for some extra cash long ago. Made a little money off all my friends. And make no mistake, I bought your husband. No one else would have you because you're fucking pathetic and hideous!"

Maisy blanched. She wasn't ashamed of what she and Jack had done. Their lovemaking was beautiful, and Jason's crude comments couldn't change that. But she didn't like him talking about Jack that way.

"You kidnapped him," Maisy said between clenched teeth.

"Because you weren't gonna find a man on your own!" Jason yelled. "I did it for you ! You're so na?ve. Did you really think you could just continue living here, no job, no way of making money, for the rest of your life? I did you a favor. Besides, it looks like you don't have any complaints now."

"You're done," Jack said, pushing Maisy behind him.

"Fuck you!" Jason said with a sneer. "You think I give a shit what you think? You're even more pathetic than my sister. A real man would've fought. Wouldn't have lost his mind—literally—after being stuck in a trunk for what, twenty minutes? You bought my story hook, line, and sinker. Without even blinking. You were just happy to stick your dick in my sister's holes. If you weren't so weak, so laughable, you would've known you hadn't met my sister until the moment you woke up."

Maisy could feel Jack vibrating in front of her. She felt sick at hearing Jason's words. Couldn't imagine what Jack was feeling.

"The only reason you took her with you when you left was because you realized you could get your hands on her money. She's loaded. Fucking rich as hell. And if you think you'll get that money because you're her husband, you're wrong!" Jason laughed then, a high- pitched, hysterical laugh that made the hair on Maisy's arms stand up.

"Your marriage wasn't legal. How could you be stupid enough to think it was? Your real name isn't on the stupid certificate. It was good enough to fool the government and that asshole at the bank, but it wasn't real. Everything was forged. Even the guy who married you didn't have the credentials. So if you think you'll get one damn cent, you're stupider than I thought you were."

"We're done here," Brick said in a low, furious tone.

Maisy wanted to roll her eyes. She'd always known her marriage to Jack wasn't legal. But Jason was right—it had been good enough to fool the bank. And once that money hit her account, she could give it to anyone she wanted…married or not. Now that she was out from under her brother's thumb, she certainly wouldn't be giving him any of it.

"Go ahead and leave, sister dear. But this isn't over. You owe me!"

"Owe you?" Maisy said incredulously. "I don't owe you a damn thing. You've stolen my money for years. You hurt me, Jason. Over and over. You're an abusive bully, and I'm done taking your shit. And this is over. I'm going to do what I should've done the day Martha disappeared."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "And what's that?"

"You know what. I know, Jase. I know what you did. To Martha and probably to our parents."

"You don't know shit," Jason said, not correcting her on his nickname for the first time Maisy could ever remember.

"I know you kidnapped an innocent man. And I know you won't come after me, because you'll be too busy trying to come up with more lies to cover the ones you've already told. Do you remember all the details about what you told the cops all those years ago when Martha disappeared, seemingly out of thin air? I've heard it's really hard to remember lies and tell them the same way every time. Karma, Jason. It's coming for you."

Maisy felt proud of herself. She'd finally stood up to her brother and it felt really good.

But then he moved, coming at her so fast, Maisy stumbled backward over her feet.

She ran into Tiny, who immediately steadied her, then swung her around so she was behind all three men, who'd formed a kind of wall between her and her obviously unhinged brother.

Brick pushed Jason back so hard, he fell on his ass. He leaped back to his feet, and the hate in his eyes made Maisy flinch.

"Get her out of here," Jack ordered Tiny.

"We should all go," Maisy said desperately.

"I'm thinking your brother and I need to have words," Jack said.

"No, Jack. Let's just go. He doesn't matter."

But it was as if Jack didn't hear her. His back was ramrod straight and when she touched him, she could feel every muscle in his back tense.

"Please, Jack," she said again. "I'm begging you, let's just go." He'd once told her that he'd never make her beg for anything. She was using his words against him. She knew it, and she didn't care. Anything to get them away from her brother's poisonous tongue.

"This isn't done!" Jason yelled as Brick and Jack began to back toward the front door .

Maisy didn't care what her brother said, it was done. Her brother would hopefully be going to prison for a very long time as a result of what he'd done to Jack, to Martha. Ry would send over the electronic evidence she'd discovered, and maybe if the police dug hard enough, they'd even be able to find who Jason solicited to kill their parents.

She felt sad and relieved all at the same time. She was finally free of her brother's control. She couldn't think about his final shouted threat. She was too focused on getting out of this house once and for all.

Maisy didn't breathe a sigh of relief until all four of them were out of the house and the door had slammed behind them. Jack took her arm and hustled her down the sidewalk toward their car. No one said a word as they climbed in and Tiny drove off.

But Maisy was internally freaking out. Not because of what Jason had said. Not because she now had to go to the police station and convince a detective that her brother was a murderer.

No, it was because Jack was sitting next to her, looking out the window…not touching her.

In the last twenty-four hours, he'd touched her every second possible, like he had before his memories returned. He'd held her hand on the plane, in the car, had his hand on her thigh as they ate, held her all night…and now he was inches away, but it might as well have been miles.

His jaw was tight, head turned away, his eyes focused on the landscape as they passed. Maisy had no idea what he was thinking. Which of her brother's insults he'd taken to heart. But it was obvious something Jason said was affecting him now, making him distance himself from her.

She wanted to beg him to talk to her, but with Brick and Tiny in earshot, this wasn't the place. All she could do was bide her time. Pray that he'd realize Jason was desperate, full of shit, and would say anything to get a rise out of either of them.

Stone sat in a chair in the police station staring straight ahead. He'd rebuffed both Tiny and Brick's attempts to talk. He couldn't stop replaying the words Maisy's brother had spewed. He'd already been furious over the shit he'd said to his sister, and for some reason hadn't been ready for the venom to be turned his way.

He should've been. He'd heard worse when he was a POW. But the things Jason had said to him had hit their mark with deadly accuracy.

A real man would've fought.

It was true, Stone hadn't fought at all. He'd been caught unaware and had been knocked unconscious before he even knew he was in danger.

Wouldn't have lost his mind—literally—after being stuck in a trunk for what, twenty minutes?

Instead of figuring out how to get out of that trunk, disabling the brake lights, using the emergency release handle that all cars had now, Stone had freaked out. His mind had shut down, unable to deal with the stress of the situation. What kind of man did that make him?

A pathetic one, just like Jason had accused.

You bought my story hook, line, and sinker. Without even blinking.

That was true too. Many of the details Maisy had given him about his past hadn't rung true. But Stone hadn't truly second-guessed the idea that he was married. Hadn't offered much in the way of hesitation because of how "right" things felt between them. And all his training, all the things he'd seen and done, all he'd been through at the hands of international terrorists, hadn't been enough for him to do something about the clear threat he'd sensed from her brother from the moment he'd awakened.

If you weren't so weak, so laughable, you would've known you hadn't met my sister until the moment you woke up.

He should've known. His instincts should've kicked in. Instead, he'd been happy enough to lose himself in Maisy, to ignore all the warning signs that were screaming at him that something wasn't right. Not only that, but he'd let Jason continually abuse Maisy, telling himself not to cause even more trouble between a brother and sister who already had a tumultuous relationship.

He'd screwed up so badly. He was pathetic. Brick, or Pipe, or Owl… none of his friends would've fallen for the story he'd been fed. They wouldn't have been weak enough to let their brains shut down to begin with. Henley had explained to him that he'd experienced trauma-induced amnesia, which was sudden and rare, though a bit more common among combat vets and abuse victims…but that didn't make him feel better in the least.

He was lost in a fog of self-loathing, and not even the sight of a pale and trembling Maisy coming toward him after being in an interrogation room for two hours could shake him out of it. In fact, seeing her made him feel more ashamed. He'd done nothing to help this woman. Because of him, she'd been put through even more hell. All her things were destroyed. Every last possession she owned.

Stone stood, but he couldn't make his legs work. Couldn't make himself walk toward her. Brick did what he should've, going to Maisy and wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.

"What's wrong with you?" Tiny hissed. "Get your head out of your ass, man."

Stone nodded…but still didn't move.

Tiny grabbed his shoulder and turned toward the door, practically shoving him toward it.

The ride back to the hotel from the police station was a blur. Stone heard Brick and Tiny questioning Maisy about her visit with the detectives. Asking if she thought they believed her. A part of him was relieved when she said they were going to look into it immediately and get a search warrant as soon as possible, but as much as he wanted to participate in the conversation, he couldn't.

Pathetic.

Weak.

Stupid.

The words echoed in his head. He tried to block them out, but it was impossible.

When they got back to the hotel, Tiny asked, "You want to eat at the restaurant for lunch? Or maybe for dinner again tonight?"

"Um…I don't think so. I just want to go to the room and crash," Maisy said. "I'm not hungry."

"All right. If you change your mind, let Stone know. He can order takeout," Brick told her.

"I will."

"We'll meet you downstairs in the morning at six. We have an early flight. We'll be back home before you know it."

"Good. I'm looking forward to getting out of here. I know I'll probably have to come back for the trial, if there ever is one, but for now, I can't imagine stepping foot back here anytime soon."

Brick and Tiny both hugged Maisy before they all got into the elevator to take them to their floor.

Brick held Stone back as Tiny walked Maisy down the hall to their room.

"What's up with you?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit. Maisy's been through hell, you need to snap out of whatever funk you're in and help her deal."

"I will," Stone said, knowing full well he was lying. Maisy deserved better than him. She should have someone who could stand up for her when the shit hit the fan. And he obviously wasn't that man. Who knew when he'd have another panic attack and freak out? Their marriage wasn't legal, the best thing to do would be to let her go. Free her to live her life. She had the money now to go anywhere, be anything she wanted to be. He had no doubt Ry would figure out a way for her to keep the inheritance even if it came out that her marriage wasn't legal.

Brick eyed him, then shook his head. "Don't fuck this up, Stone. I mean it. She's the best thing that's ever happened to you."

Stone knew his friend was right. Knew it down to his bones. But he wasn't the best thing for Maisy. Not even close.

He nodded, then turned and walked down the hall.

The door closed behind him, then it was just him and Maisy in the room. She stared at him for a long moment before sighing and turning toward the bathroom. "Just being around Jason made me feel gross. I'm going to take another shower."

"Okay," Stone said, still feeling disconnected to her and everything that had happened at that house.

He paced the room for a few minutes after he heard the water in the bathroom turn on.

He couldn't stay here. The room was too small. The walls were closing in on him.

He quickly changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, then knocked on the bathroom door.

"Yeah?" Maisy called out.

Stone cracked the door open an inch. "I'm going downstairs to work out. Don't leave the room for any reason. Okay?" He wasn't so lost in his head that he'd ever forget to warn her to stay safe.

"I won't. Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

He should be asking her that. Another failure on his part. "Yeah, I'm good. I just need to let off some steam. I'll be back."

"All right."

Closing the bathroom door, Stone took a deep breath and left the room.

Maisy let the tears fall from her eyes unchecked. The water from the shower immediately washed them away. She wasn't sure why she was crying. Everything had gone pretty well. She'd gotten her inheritance, picked up the evidence against Jason, confronted him, and even convinced the detectives that they probably had a pretty solid case against her brother.

But somewhere between the confrontation and the police station, she'd lost Jack.

She didn't know how or why, but he'd definitely checked out. He was there, but wasn't.

Her brother's rants were horrible, but nothing she hadn't heard before. He loved to tell her how pathetic she was. The words barely registered anymore. Besides, he was a freaking murderer, how could she take anything he said to heart?

But maybe Jack had? Or maybe after seeing Jason again, being in that house, he'd changed his mind about forgiving her?

She had no idea, and it sucked. All she knew was that Jack didn't seem to want anything to do with her now. Hell, even at a hotel, he'd gotten as far away from her as he could.

Taking a deep breath, Maisy wiped her eyes. She'd brought this on herself. How could she think for a second that things with her and Jack could work out, given how they'd started? Her brother was right, she'd fallen for a complete stranger. Had gone to bed with him without a second thought.

But she loved him. Even after only knowing him a short time, she well and truly loved Jack.

Sighing, she got out of the shower and dried off. Going into the hotel room, she put her clothes back on, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep like she'd planned, and sat on the bed. It would be a long day and an awkward night, what with Jack avoiding her and only one bed in the room. But it was big, they should be able to share without touching.

The thought depressed her. One of her favorite things in the world was snuggling up to Jack while they slept.

Maisy had no idea how long she'd been propped up against the headboard, arms around her legs as she stared out the window into the cloudy afternoon sky, when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking Jack had probably forgotten his key in his haste to get away from her, or maybe it got demagnetized or something, she got out of bed. Without looking through the peephole, she unlocked the bolt and opened the door.

The second her brain registered who was standing there, Maisy knew she'd made a huge mistake.

She tried to slam the door but was punched in the face before she could even get it shut halfway. She collapsed to the floor in a heap. Then she was hauled upright by a brutal hand on her upper arm.

She whimpered as Don Coffey began to drag her down the hall. "Don't make a sound. Or I'll kill that asshole working out downstairs. Understand?"

Maisy nodded immediately. She had no doubt that Don would do exactly what he threatened. He obviously wasn't the kind of man who thought twice about hitting a woman in the face or shooting a complete stranger.

He bypassed the elevators and dragged her into the stairwell. They went down, Maisy stumbling over most of the steps because of his fast pace, and exited out a side door into the parking lot. Before she knew what was happening, Don shoved her into his car and was driving away.

Away from Jack.

Away from safety .

Probably taking her to Jason.

She was as good as dead. She just prayed Jack would realize she hadn't left of her own accord. That he'd know she didn't want to leave him, she'd just made a mistake. That she'd had no choice.

Terror threatened to overwhelm her, but she took a deep breath. She had to stay strong. Jack, Brick, and Tiny would find her. Would realize what happened and who took her. She just had to hang on until then.

Surreptitiously glancing around her, she tried to come up with a plan to get away from Don. She inched her hand toward the door handle, but he simply chuckled.

"Go ahead and try it," he told her.

So she did. Nothing happened. The door definitely didn't open.

"Child locks. They come in handy for times like this."

Maisy did not like this man. I mean, who thought like that? There was no telling how many other women he'd prevented from escaping with child locks.

But she wasn't giving up. No way. Not when she was on the cusp of being free once and for all. Free to do what she wanted. To live the rest of her life with Jack…at least, she hoped that was the plan. After today, she wasn't so sure. It figured that her brother would manage to mess up the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She tried to remain calm and not freak out as Don drove the familiar roads back to her childhood home. He pulled around the back of the house, turned off the engine, climbed out, then reached back in and grabbed Maisy's arm once more.

She winced in pain as she did her best to move quickly, trying to avoid having her arm pulled out of its socket when Don yanked her from the car. She stumbled as he marched her to the kitchen door and pushed her through. She wasn't in the least surprised when he walked her toward her brother's office.

He opened the door and shoved her in, hard. Maisy went down on her hands and knees, quickly scrambling to her feet as she pushed her hair out of her face.

"Thank you. Now get out," Jason said coldly.

Confused, Maisy looked toward the door.

"Not you, bitch," Jason said with a huff. "You." He pointed at Don.

"I'm gone…as soon as I get paid."

"Right. Go ahead and take the TV from the other room."

Don snorted. "Is that supposed to be a joke? I want the money you promised me."

"I don't have it. Not yet."

"What the fuck?" Don asked, sounding extremely pissed off.

Maisy did her best to appear invisible. The last thing she wanted was to get in the middle of the fight that was clearly brewing between her brother and his friend. She couldn't help but think about Lara's story. How the serial killer who'd kidnapped her and Owl, and the guy he'd hired to do the actual kidnapping, had gotten so pissed at each other, the two men ended up killing each other in a shootout. Maybe she'd be lucky enough to have that happen here too.

Jason stood up from the desk so fast, his chair screeched on the hardwood before teetering and falling backward, clanging to the floor .

"You'll get your money as soon as I get my money!" he yelled.

"This is bullshit!" Don told him. "You said twenty K. Follow your sister and her asshole fake husband and snatch her when I had the chance. Well, I got the chance. The guy went down to the gym. I went up and knocked on the door. She opened right up, even though she obviously couldn't check the damn security hole. I should know—I had my finger over the lens."

"How'd you know what room I was in?" Maisy asked, not able to keep quiet.

"I seduced the maid," Don said with a sneer. "And by seduced , I mean I threatened her after I took what I wanted from her."

Maisy pressed her lips together. She really didn't like this man.

Don turned back to Jason. "I want the twenty thousand you promised me."

"And you'll get it. My sister's got millions now."

"Fine. I want fifty K then," Don told Jason.

Her brother narrowed his eyes at his so-called friend. She held her breath and prayed they'd both pull guns out from their waistbands and start shooting each other.

"This is why I didn't ask you to marry her," Jason said in a somewhat calm tone.

Maisy's dreams of a huge shootout died. She recognized that tone. He was planning something. Was going to double-cross Don. She had no doubt. He used that tone with her right before he informed her of something she wouldn't like.

"I need time to…talk…to my dear sister. I'll have your money tomorrow. "

Don's eyes narrowed. "You better."

"I will," Jason reassured him. "We've known each other a long time. You know a lot about me. You know I'm not going to screw you over."

Maisy wanted to snort-laugh. Her brother would screw over anyone and everyone if it meant he got what he wanted. He'd killed his own parents for money. Besides, it wasn't as if Don was going to whine to the police that Jason didn't give him the money he promised for kidnapping his sister.

"Fine. I'll be back tomorrow. Noon. You better have my dough."

"I'll have it. I'm sure my sis will be cooperative. And if she's not…well, it's not as if she needs any of the fingers on her left hand to add me to her account, since she's right-handed."

Both men laughed, and Maisy felt as if she was going to throw up.

"You need help getting her to the basement?" Don asked after a moment.

"The day I need help getting this bitch to do what I want is the day you might as well lock me up and throw away the fucking key."

"Just checking," Don said, then he stared at her with a look that made her feel dirty just for being on the receiving end. "Maybe tomorrow you'll let me have that time with her you promised, before you do whatever it is you're ultimately going to do with her."

Jason shrugged. "Not sure why you'd want her. She's hideous."

"Don't have to look at her face to do what I'm gonna do," Don said with a grin .

Once again, Maisy felt bile rise up in her throat.

"Fine. Works for me."

"Good. Tomorrow. Have my money, Jason, or I'm not going to be happy."

"I'll have it," Jason said confidently.

Don nodded, then turned and walked out of the office.

"Jason—" Maisy started, but her brother came at her so quickly, the words died in her throat as she stumbled backward. But there was nowhere to go. Jason grabbed her arm in the same place Don had, making her wince, and headed for the door.

She tried to pry his hand off her arm, with no luck. Next, she tried pulling her arm out of his grasp, but he only tightened his fingers around her harder. Then she panicked, and began fighting him in earnest. It was almost ridiculous how easily he subdued her. No matter what she did, how she tried to kick or bite, he managed to keep her firmly in his grip.

"Enough!" he barked, shaking her so hard it made her head wobble on her neck.

"Please, Jason, we can talk about this," Maisy pleaded. She wasn't going to sign anything. She'd rather die than have him take one more dime from her. But it wasn't about the money, not really. It was about standing up for herself for the first time in her life. For not caving to her brother. Did she want to die? No. Not when she had so much to live for. But if it was a choice between giving her brother what he wanted and dying, she'd choose the latter.

"Time for talking's done, sis," he said. "You made your choice. That asshole over me. A guy you just met. His dick must have magical qualities or something if you would choose him over your brother, your own flesh and blood, the guy who took you in when no one else would, when you would've ended up in a foster home. Who made sure you got the meds you needed so you didn't end up in a nuthouse. Fine. Good. Whatever. Now, I want what's mine ."

Maisy wanted to scream at him. Tell him that he'd had his inheritance. That it wasn't her fault he'd spent it all. Wasn't fair that he wanted to steal her money too, that he'd already stolen enough over the years. But she was concentrating too much on staying on her feet as Jason quickly dragged her toward the door to the basement.

"I'm thinking a little time in the safe room will change your attitude. I still have some things to do this afternoon. But come tonight, we'll be having a chat. And by chat, I mean you signing papers that will add me to your bank account, that will grant me sole decision-making in how that money is spent. In the morning, I'll head over there, tell those assholes that you're bedridden and can't come in—something about your period, men hate talking about that shit. Then I'll get Don's money, come back here, let him have some quality one-on-one time with you…then, Maise…I'm sorry, but you have to go."

Her blood ran cold. "Jason, if I disappear, people will notice. I have friends…a husband."

"Oh, I'm counting on it," he said with a laugh as he flicked on the light at the top of the stairs that led to the basement. "I'll call and make a missing persons report. Tell them all about your recent mental breakdown, how you married a guy after only knowing him for five days, how he was able to get control of your fortune, and now you're gone. Eventually, they'll find your body in a field somewhere…and when they do a rape test, they'll find my dear fr iend's DNA inside you. Don'll be blamed. Bim, bam, boom. Done. He'll go to prison, and I'll be home free. The grieving brother."

Maisy gaped at her brother in confusion. What was he even talking about? Don? He'd tell the cops that she'd married Don ? How could he be so stupid? He had a marriage certificate with "Jack Smith" named as the groom. And his so-called "friend" would tell the cops everything about her inheritance—and everything Jason had done to get it.

And then there was Jack and his friends. They'd probably go to the police the second they found her missing. There could only be one person to blame, and Jack, Tiny, and Brick knew exactly who that person was.

Not to mention, hiding her at their house was ridiculous! It would be the first place everyone would look for her.

Her brother had lost it. There were enough holes in his story to drive a semi-truck through. He was clearly unhinged.

"I'd forgotten about Don wanting to have a go at you, but that'll work out better than I even planned. I'll have to see if I can't snag his phone while he's busy with you…take it with me when I dump your body. So when the cops check his digital trail, they'll see him in the area your body was found—and my phone will be here at the house, giving me an alibi."

God, there was virtually no way his plan could work. But that didn't mean she wasn't in danger.

She missed the last step and went to her knees, but Jason didn't slow down. It took her a moment to get to her feet again, and by the time she did, her brother was in front of the safe room. Her parents had it built because they worried about someone targeting them for their money. Ironic, considering their own son was now going to use it to torture and eventually kill his sister for the money they'd left her.

He opened the door and walked Maisy over to the other side of the room, where he'd attached chains to the wall. He'd obviously planned this, or more likely, he'd planned to keep Jack here after he'd forced him to marry her. Maisy fought once more, but she was no match for Jason. He snapped the manacles on her wrists and stepped back.

The chains fastened to the cuffs were affixed to the wall at about hip level, and were roughly three feet long. Long enough for her to stand up and move around a little, strong enough that she wouldn't be able to rip them out of the wall or anything else heroines in movies typically did to save themselves.

"Don't piss or shit on the floor. If you do, I'm not cleaning it up. Go in there," Jason said, pointing to a bucket against the wall within her reach. "I'll be back later. Be good." Then he laughed before turning his back on her.

"Jase, please! You don't have to do this," Maisy told him desperately.

Her brother turned. "How many fucking times do I have to tell you not to call me that?"

Then he left without another word, shutting the door behind him. Thankfully, it locked from the inside, not the outside. He couldn't actually lock her in, but the chains attached to the wall kept her from getting to the door to lock him out. Besides, it wouldn't do her any good. If she locked herself in the room, she was still screwed. Yes, Don and Jason couldn't get to her, but she'd eventually die of thirst. Once upon a time her parents had stored months' worth of provisions in this room, but those were long gone.

Putting her back against the wall, Maisy slid down until her butt touched the floor, then she wrapped her arms around her knees and cried. Cried for the brother she used to know. Cried because she was scared. Because she knew when Jack got back to their room, he'd freak out when he found her gone.

But then she took a deep breath. She had no idea what had spooked Jack earlier. Why he was so out of sorts. But she had complete faith in him. As soon as he realized she wasn't down the hall visiting with his friends, or anywhere else in the hotel, the first place he'd think to look was here. He'd come for her. Even if he'd decided he didn't want to be married to her, that she was too much trouble or he just couldn't forgive her after all, he wouldn't leave her in the hands of her brother. She had no doubt about that.

She had to hang on until he and Brick and Tiny came for her. She just hoped whatever it was Jason was doing took long enough for the cavalry to come to her rescue. Before her brother could return to torture her.

The craziest thing of all was, once upon a time, if Jason was the brother she remembered, if he'd just asked her, she probably would've gladly shared her inheritance.

Swallowing hard and wiping her cheeks on her arm, Maisy lifted her head. She couldn't waste any more time sitting here like a freaking damsel in distress. She needed to figure out a way to escape. When Jason returned, she'd do whatever she could to get away. If she could manage it, she'd tell the cops everything, then hopefully go home to The Refuge with Jack. They could work on whatever it was that was bothering him.

She wasn't ready to give up. She loved Jack with all her heart. Would fight for the right to stay by his side.