“You didn’t know her, though. Just…” He clamped his lips shut. Jasper didn’t need to be reminded of his one-night stand. As awful as what he’d done was, that night had given them Charlotte.
“I didn’t know her well, you’re right. But after Charlotte was born, we spent some time together. I got to know her. I believed…” He shook his head quickly, like he could shake off his thoughts. “She loves Charlotte, in her own way. And she had feelings for me once too. She’s just gotten in over her head. Hayes gave her hope she’d get her daughter back, and when she realized his plan wouldn’t work, she took matters into her own hands. Now, she’s backed herself into a corner.”
“Right. And taken the two people I love most in the world with her. And a gun. Which is why the police?—”
“The police are plan B.”
Noah was terrified, but Jasper sounded so confident. It was…weird. “What do you want to do, then? Just sit here and hope for the best?”
“No.” The word was drawn out like he was considering something. “I think…I think we need a two-pronged approach. One of us distracts Violet while the other gets in through the back.”
“Don’t you think the doors will be locked?”
“I can pick a lock, no problem.”
Noah didn’t want to think about why his brother had learned that particular skill. Was he some kind of thief?
Now wasn’t the time to ask. “Fine. I’ll try to talk her down while you?—”
“No.” Jasper turned to face him fully. “We’ll look through the windows, figure out where they are. I’ll pick the locks, then go inside. I’ll talk to her, at least distract her. When you hear me, you go in the other door and?—”
“You’re not getting anywhere near that gun. Forget it.”
His brother’s lips tipped up at the corners. “Still trying to protect me, brother?”
“Yes.” He didn’t bother to deny it. “Delaney and Charlotte are already in danger. I can’t risk losing you too. I’ll go, and you?—”
“No.”
“Jaz, don’t be?—”
“She knows me. She used to care for me. Maybe she still does, but even if she doesn’t, she’ll think twice about killing me. From her perspective, you’re the man keeping Charlotte from her.”
“And you’re the man who abandoned her.”
Jasper didn’t back down. “All the more reason it should be me. Charlotte loves you. She needs you.”
“You’re her father.”
Jaz looked back at the house. He said nothing for a few long seconds. “You’re the one who’s earned her trust. You and Delaney. I don’t want either one of us to die, but you need to survive. You need to take care of my daughter.”
A wave of terror and affection filled Noah’s eyes with moisture. He gripped his brother’s arm. “Please, let me.”
“I’ll be okay, Noah. She won’t shoot me.”
“You don’t know that.”
He quirked a smile. “Trust me. I’ll charm her. It’ll be fine.”
His brother’s cavalier attitude didn’t help. But they needed to act—now.
CHAPTER FORTY
The empty house felt like a tomb. Delaney sat with her back against the wall, gaze flicking from Violet, who continually looked out each of the three windows, and Charlotte, huddled in a corner and crying softly. She’d still be in Delaney’s arms, but Violet had insisted they separate.
The woman had turned off her phone’s flashlight not long after she’d lit it, probably realizing it could give them away.
Now, the only light came from the moon’s glow as it filtered through the filthy windows, casting eerie shadows across peeling wallpaper and warped floorboards, occasionally glinting off the gun Violet waved erratically.
