“He has trust issues,” Nylah said quietly. “As the oldest brother, he always took on extra responsibilities to take care of the family. Especially after Mom died.”
Tilly nodded. “I get it. I do. My father stole a lot of money from a lot of people. I knew moving back here would be hard. I just didn’t realize it would bethishard.”
“What can I do?” Harper asked.
“You’re already doing it. You’re being a friend.”
“And I’llkeepbeing a friend.” A mischievous grin spread across her lips. “And as a friend, I think I know what we need.”
“A shotgun for all the closed-minded townspeople?” Nylah scoffed under her breath.
Harper laughed. “Well, that and…margaritas. We just got a new shipment of triple sec, and it’s a really good one.”
Tilly groaned. “Yes, please. I would die for a drink right now.”
“Do you need help?” Nylah asked.
“Nope. I’ve got it. You two catch up.” Harper rose from the table and went into the back room to find the still-sealed box of liquor.
She’d just lifted the box onto a table when something covered her mouth from behind and a strong arm slipped around her waist.
For a split second, shock rendered her still. Then the chemical on the cloth began to fill her nose. She tried to kick the person behind her. Tug her arms out of their hold. But they held her too tightly, and a strange heaviness began to filter through her limbs, making it so she could barely move.
Oh God! What was on the cloth?
The person turned, and the last thing she saw was the open window, then her world turned dark.
“Areyou sure you don’t want us to stay a bit longer?” Liam asked as he held the wooden plank in place at the top of the cabinet. “Just in case you need an extra set of hands?”
Cody nailed the plank in place. “I appreciate the offer. We’ve actually been struggling to find a location for where her father might be staying. If Callum could look into it…”
“Done.”
Callum was their tech guru at Blue Halo Security. He was able to find a lot of information that others couldn’t.
“Thanks.” Cody grabbed another nail. “I’m glad my sister found such a great guy. A bit surprised you’re former military, considering she left here to getawayfrom her overbearing military brothers, but then, also not really. I always knew she secretly loved our overbearing nature.”
Liam laughed. “As I hope she secretly loves mine.”
He secured the final nail in place before stepping back. “Thanks for your help. It’s one of those jobs I’ve been meaning to get to for a good year.”
When he’d moved into the apartment, there were a few things that needed repairing. He’d been working on them slowly, one at a time.
“Anytime.” Liam frowned. “Everything okay with the woman downstairs? Tilly, was it?”
Cody walked into the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge. “Depends what you mean by okay. Her father was a broker, and a lot of people in town trusted him with their money. Unfortunately, five years ago, he took the money and ran, putting people in very bad situations…including our father.”
“Shit.”
Cody pushed one of the beers across the counter. “I don’t think Tilly had a part in it or knew what was going on, but it didn’t help that she and her mother left town a month after her father.”
“Maybe they just couldn’t take what their father had done, and being here was a constant reminder.”
Cody’s thoughts too.
Liam sipped his beer. “I can say that though because I’m separate from the situation. I imagine that her returning would have reminded locals of what her father did, and because he’s not here for them to blame…”
“They blame her,” Cody finished. “Exactly.”
