Passion.
Lust.
Greed.
I’m broken, numb, but in a way, that frees me.
Emotions are clouds in a pristine, blue sky. Your mind is clear—another Sensei quote.
I don’t need much in life except my brothers and Sol. And I thought my mother felt the same about us.
“I can’t tell you where they are,” Mom responds tightly. Her voice crackles as the connection gets weaker. “But I can tell you that they’re safe. For now.”
For now?
This moment makes absolutely zero sense to me.
No matter what angle I approach it from, it’s too wild. Too crazy. Too unbelievable.
A dark, pulsing sensation rushes through the center of my chest.
I don’t like anything I’m feeling.
So I push it all away and narrow down on the one thing that matters—bringing Cadence and Grey home.
Glaring at the computer, I demand, “Is this about the inheritance?”
“What?” Mom gasps.
My head turns slowly to the side. I stare a hole into J, watching every inch of her delicate face as I speak. “Cadence and Grey are pregnant. Once they give birth, Dutch and Zane will qualify for Grandma’s inheritance. Is that why you took them?”
J’s eyes widen a bit too much. They flutter in astonishment. Her pale hands fling up to hide her mouth.
But it all feels forced.
And I would know. I’ve studied expressions for years.
J knows about the inheritance already.
That must mean she knows about Jarod Cross’s attempt to get his hands on it—starting with marrying Grey’s mother so Zane and Grey would become step-siblingsandthrowing Dutch in jail when he found out he was trying to get Cadey pregnant before our last semester of high school.
My certainty solidifies.
She’s Jinx.
She has to be.
“Honey, I need… trust me,” Mom begs.
Her words are cutting out.
“You can’t ask me to trust you and thenkidnappeople, Mom. Tell me where they are.”
“I….” White noise carries away the rest of her words. “Danger!”
What? What danger?
Is Mom insinuating that she took the girls to protect them? I inhale a deep breath and let it ease the knot in my chest. Mom is an heiress. She doesn’t need the money from Grandmother’s inheritance. Her taking the girls to protect them feels more true to what I know about her.
