I stood, clenching my fists, and walked to the French doors looking out at my overgrown garden. I could understand why Seth was giving me the third degree, I got that, but when he treated me like a kid, it pissed me off. I ran my hands through my hair, leaving it standing on end.
“I didn’t think I’d fall for her, but I did. But my feelings for her are not the reason I did what I did. I don’t want you thinking it was because we were having some kind of inappropriate relationship in that hospital. Fucking her was the last thing on my mind back then. I just need your help, and I need you to trust me.”
He looked at me, his eyes narrowed. Seth lived up to the title ‘big brother,’ and I understood his innate need to protect me, but I was a grown man now and more than capable of knowing right from wrong.
“I can’t turn a blind eye on this, Luke.”
“I am not telling you to do that. I just need you to help me find her, to dig some more on her husband and the club he co-owns with this Gregory Evans guy. And when we find Alyssa’s daughter, we will turn ourselves in. I promise you that.”
If there was one thing he knew about me, it was that I was a man of my word. I’d always been that way. I didn’t want to drag Seth into this, but he was the only person I trusted, and he had access to systems, records, and information that would be useful.
He let out a deep breath. “Fine,” he growled out at me but his discomfort was apparent. “I’ll see what I can find. Sit tight.”
“And another thing, I’m going to need to borrow your car.”
“What?” He shook his head. “All right, drop me off at home, and you can keep the SUV, but you’re staying for dinner. I’m not explaining to Miranda or Millie why their uncle is running off without saying hello to them.”
We walked into my brother’s townhouse to the smell of stew cooking. My sister-in-law, Reece, exited the kitchen to greet us and wrapped her arms around me, planting a kiss on my cheek.
“It’s been too long, Luke,” she said, using that soothing tone I knew too well. She meant well, but I still disliked the look of pity she gave me. Since Reece married my brother, she’d felt the need to baby me. I heard my nieces bounding down the staircase before I saw them.
Miranda was sixteen and a tomboy. She had that Avril Levine style going on. She grinned when she saw me, her eyes instantly lighting up. The World’s Best Uncle award went to me, having a teenage niece who actually still liked me.
Millie was six-years-old and the sweetest thing I’d ever set eyes on. Unlike her sister, she was a little princess obsessed with unicorns. She ran toward me, jumping into my arms, and I hugged her close, then set her down to hug Miranda, who playfully scrunched her face in affection.
Dinner with my family was always entertaining. It didn’t matter what mood you were in, you couldn’t resist smiling and being grateful. I looked around at them, wondering if they would ever meet Alyssa. Would she even want to if given half a chance?
“Does this mean we’ll see you around more now, Uncle Luke?” Millie asked, practically wriggling in her seat.
“Now that Cruella is out of the picture,” Miranda clarified.
“Miranda,” Reece exclaimed wide-eyed.
“It’s all right, really.” I laughed. The truth was, nobody liked Audrey, but they’d tolerated her for my sake. I knew Reece felt the same way. Miranda was just more vocal about it. I liked that about her.
Audrey never did fit in. It annoyed her that I was so close to my family. She’d wanted us to move to the city—small-town living never did it for her. I couldn’t do that. Seth was the only family I had, and I was not about to move hours away.
“I guess you will see more of me.” I winked at Millie and took another spoonful of what was probably the most delicious stew I’d ever tasted.
After dinner, I said goodnight to the girls, knowing I’d be leaving soon. They sulked, but I promised to see as soon as I could, and I was going to make sure I kept that promise. Seth and I retreated to his den, and I settled into an armchair close to the fireplace with Seth across from me. The room always smelled like our father’s study in the house we grew up in—cigars, bourbon, and books. Seth was very much like our dad, well, what I could remember about him anyway.
“Bourbon?”
“Yeah, I could use a glass.”
He handed me my glass and clinked his against mine.
“You sure you’re going to be okay dealing with this on your own, little brother? I could take a day or two off and come with you.”
“Honestly, I won’t be okay until I’m with her again. I wish she’d trusted me enough to let me help her. And no, I am not about to get you tangled up in this mess. Did you think I wouldn’t notice that Reece is carrying my new niece or nephew?”
“There is nothing you miss, is there? It’s still early, but yeah, you’re going to be an uncle again.”
“That’s awesome, bro. I’m really happy for you.”
He sighed. “Alyssa did the right thing, you know. She wanted you to stay out of it, but I agree that she didn’t go about it the right way. She should have handed herself over and let the cops handle the kidnapping.”
“Oh!” I scoffed. “The same way they handle the other hundreds of child kidnappings in this country?”
