Page 37 of Her Courage

"We protect each other," I said firmly, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "That's what family does. My grandfather may be a bastard in many ways, but he taught me one truth—family stands together against any threat."

"Volkovs, Wulfs, and Colliers," Kaleb agreed softly.

"Together," Colby finished.

Lottie reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together. "Together," she echoed.

And in that moment, despite the chaos of the day, I knew with absolute certainty that we'd face whatever came next.

Together.

I startled awake, my neck protesting the awkward angle I'd dozed off in. The soft glow of the television cast shadows across the darkened room. Gordon Ramsay's muffled voice filtered through—Colby must have turned the volume down.

My gaze swept the space. Colby was wedged in his corner of the couch, mouth slightly open, soft snores punctuating the quiet.

Kaleb sat upright beside me, wide awake. His hazel eyes were locked on Lottie, still curled against his chest. But his face⁠—

Concern etched deep lines between his brows. His jaw worked, muscles jumping beneath the skin. One hand rested protectively over Lottie's back, the other clenched white-knuckled against his thigh.

Something twisted in my gut.

"Kaleb," I kept my voice low. "What's wrong?"

His gaze flicked to mine, then back to Lottie. "We need to talk."

The weight in those words made my spine straighten. I glanced at Colby—still dead to the world—then back at Kaleb.

"Office?"

He shook his head. "Here. Just quiet."

I shifted closer, keeping my movements slow. Controlled. Lottie didn't stir, her breathing deep and even.

"What happened?"

Kaleb's throat worked. "Sierra called. About twenty minutes ago."

Sierra. His youngest sister. The one who actually gave a shit about him, unlike Monica who'd gone full Patrice-clone years ago. But she began to see her mother in a different light over the last few months as Patrice grew desperate. I knew Kaleb hoped they may be able to reconcile. He loved both his sisters fiercely.

"And?"

"Patrice has been bleeding money even faster than I thought." His hand trembled slightly where it rested on Lottie's back. "She's taken out loans. Used Monica's name. Forged documents. Sierra found everything while helping Monica clean out their father's old office."

Fuck.

"How bad?"

"Close to five million in debt." Kaleb's voice was barely audible. "She's desperate, Drei. More desperate than I realized."

The pieces clicked into place. The escalation. The threats against Lottie. The forty-eight hour timeline.

"She needs the two million to pay off the most aggressive creditors," I stated.

Kaleb nodded. "Before they come for Rupert. Or her."

"What did Sierra say about pressing charges?"

"She's gathering everything. Documentation. Paper trails." His jaw clenched harder. "But she's scared. Patrice knows where she lives. Knows about her daughter."