“I don’t know, but just in case, you should tell them soon. It can’t be a secret forever.”
“That’s a damn shame.”
The emotional toll of the day was catching up to him. The argument with Kelly. The hasty departure. The lonely drive to this anonymous hotel. His cousin's fierce loyalty was comforting, but it didn't erase the ache in his chest.
"Thanks, Bri," he said. "I needed to hear that. I kept wondering if I had done something wrong."
"You didn't," she assured him. "And I know you'll probably apologize anyway because you're nice like that. But you should know that you don't need to."
Ben smiled despite himself. Brianna knew him too well. Part of him was already composing the apology in his head, planning how he would make things right with Kelly. Not because he believed he was wrong, but because he cared enough to try to fix things.
"What if she never speaks to me again?" he asked, voicing the fear that had been nagging at him since he'd left the condo.
"Then you're lucky you found out before you invested a lot of time in the relationship. If she can't control her own emotions, maybe she should stay single for a while."
The blunt assessment made Ben flinch, but he couldn't dismiss it entirely. Relationships required emotional management on both sides. If Kelly's first instinct was to lash out when hurt or confused, that was something to consider carefully.
"That's harsh," he said.
"Life is harsh," Brianna countered. "Look, I'm not saying give up on her if you really like her. I'm saying know what you're getting into. And don't apologize for things that aren't your fault."
Ben nodded, absorbing his cousin's advice. Brianna had always been protective of the family, quick to defend them against perceived slights or threats. In her eyes, Kelly's reaction was an attack on Ben, and by extension, on all of them.
"I hear you," he said. "But enough about my problems. How are you doing? I heard you took over the business side of the investigations firm. That was a surprise to hear.”
"I did," Brianna confirmed, allowing the subject change without protest. “And no one was more surprised than I was. My up-and-down income as an artist was driving Mom and Dad crazy, and I have to admit, I like not stressing about money anymore. It turns out I have a knack for numbers and management. Who would have thought it?"
She laughed, the sound lighter than before. Ben could picture her in her studio apartment in Seattle, surrounded by her paintings and sketches, the business ledgers neatly organized on her desk. Brianna had always been a contradiction. Creative yet methodical. Fierce yet vulnerable.
"That's great," Ben said sincerely. "I always thought you'd be good at it."
He hesitated, unsure if he should ask the next question. It was a sensitive topic, one the family didn’t often discuss. But tonight seemed to be a night for hard truths.
"What about the Bryson girls?” he asked carefully. "Any news there?"
"Dad keeps tabs on them, although sometimes it’s harder than others.”
"So you can sleep well at night," Ben said, understanding instantly.
"Sometimes, I even close my eyes," Brianna joked, but Ben sensed she wasn't entirely kidding.
The Bryson girls, as far as anyone knew, had been innocent victims in their father's and brother’s crimes. For years, they’dmoved around, changing their names to stay under the radar. They hadn’t broken any laws and appeared to pose no threat.
But knowing they were out there had to make sleep difficult for Brianna sometimes.
Before Ben could respond, his phone buzzed against his ear. He pulled it away to check the screen. A text message from Kelly.
Brianna, ever perceptive, caught the shift in his attention.
"You’d better answer that. But don't be a wuss. This is her trauma talking this time, not yours."
Ben's heart rate increased as he read the text.
"Kelly's downstairs," he told Brianna. "She wants to come up and talk."
"Well, there you go," Brianna said. "Decision made for you. Just remember what I said. Stand your ground."
"I will," Ben promised, though they both knew he might not. "Thanks, Bri. For everything. I mean it.”
