“Jesus. Robbing people must be lucrative. This place is huge,” Alesha stage-whispered as we crept along the tree line that surrounded a large white-rendered two-storey house. So far, we’d circled the property and noticed a three-car garage that was separate from the house, an in-ground swimming pool and a tennis court—pretty swanky. It was on a private block of land, well-shielded from street view by the trees we were currently taking cover in. The gardens were well maintained, and the surroundings were so quiet that I doubted any of the neighbours could hear you if you screamed. An unsettling thought.

“They must clean out a lot of apartments,” I said. And some of them twice.

“They must. I wonder how many rooms it has.” She held up her finger and started to count windows.

“Enough for five brothers, I guess.”

“You think they’re all brothers and they all live here?”

“They look like brothers. And why have such a big house otherwise?”

“Maybe this is where they grew up? Or maybe—” Her mouth made an O shape as she sucked in her breath. “Maybe they’re robbing it.”

“They wouldn’t fit much in that SUV,” I stated, trying to see if there was any sort of movement in the house. “At most they’d be casing it.”

“Oh wow. I’m going to find out.”

“Reconnaissance only,” I hissed as she darted out into the open. What happened to the cautious girl who wanted to stay in the car and call the police? Suddenly she was Veronica Mars willing to risk it all on a case.

With my heart in my throat, I dashed after her, keeping my head down and moving in a half crouch, as if that would make me look less conspicuous as I ran across an open space.

“Are you insane?” I gasped, heaving from the exertion. Even after all my recent gym visits, I was not even a tiny bit fit, and it was possible that I was in the midst of a heart attack. I pressed my palm against my chest and tried to catch my breath.

“Like you said, we need to know exactly what’s happening before we call the cops. If they’re only casing the joint, they might not be here when the cops arrive, right?” She twisted around, placing her hands on the windowsill and pulling herself up to peer inside.

“Do you see anything?” I asked, keeping my eyes on our surroundings.

“It’s too dark in there, and the sun’s reflection is getting in the way.” She cupped her hands against the glass to cut out the glare. “Wait, I see movement. They’re in the kitchen, I think. Looks like they’re—”

Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip!

With an ear-piercing squeal, she fell back on the grass while a Boston terrier attacked the window from the other side, barking and scratching, spit landing on the glass.

“What is it, Rogue?” a male voice asked from inside.

“Shit,” I hissed, grabbing Alesha’s wrist and pulling her against the side of the house. We were crouched under the window, holding our breath and trying to be as two-dimensional as possible when the curtains moved and the dog pawed the window, still barking.

“We need to get out of here,” Alesha whispered, to which I nodded and pointed to the corner of the house. The detached garage sat maybe six feet away and would provide our best chance for cover and escape.

“If we crawl, they won’t see us.”

She gulped, then nodded and closed her eyes in silent prayer.

Say one for me too.

Watching the window carefully, I waited until the curtains closed again and heard, “I can’t see anything. Maybe it was a magpie or something?”

“Nah, mate, there was a squeal. Someone’s there.”

“Go, go!” I commanded, pushing Alesha’s shoulder before crawling after her as fast as I could. They had heard her. It wouldn’t be long before they decided to do a thorough search.

Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip!

“Faster,” I gasped, pushing Alesha on the bum. The barking sounded like it was outside now, and for some insane reason we kept crawling, only faster. I supposed it was the same logic that girls in horror films subscribed to: they knew they’re about to get caught, so they just lay there screaming while the killer stabs them to death. In this case, we kept crawling, butts in the air while a small, angry dog ran to catch us. Big mistake. Huge. The second his teeth sank into my arse, I face-planted in the grass, howling in pain.

“Run, Alesha! Save yourself!” I screeched.

Leaping to her feet, she sprinted for the tree line. I’d never seen her move so fast. Go, you good thing, I silently urged, lying prone while a terrier tore the butt out of my pants.

“Rogue. Down.”

The dog obeyed, sitting on the ground with his mouth open and his tongue hanging out, smiling. Is that my blood staining its teeth? I felt faint.

Just as I thought I might swoon, large hands wrapped around my middle and hauled me to my feet. “What do we have here?” a deep voice asked, laughter in his tone. It wasn’t Nate. This guy was a little bigger, if that was even possible, and a little more tanned, with fairer hair. Same blue eyes.

Hanging from his hold, my feet off the ground and my heart beating so hard I thought it might crack my ribs, I released a nervous laugh. “Would you believe that my car broke down and I need to use your phone?”

He shook his head.

“I’m looking for my dog?”

He shook his head again.

“How about—I live next door, and I’d like to borrow a cup of sugar?”

“Nice try.” He carried me towards the house, and I had little choice but to hang there while my butt cheek bled out from the dog bite. Classy.

At least Alesha was going to get away. She’d call the cops and I’d be out of here in no time—if these guys didn’t kill me first. But were they killers? That was something I didn’t know. Stealing was one thing, murder a whole other kettle of fish. I hoped they’d just let me off with a stern warning after I agreed to let them keep everything I owned and not tell anyone I knew where they lived. But that was probably wishful thinking on my part. No, I was in serious shit.

“Go, Toby!” One of the brothers stood just outside the entryway laughing as another—the one I’d seen at the gym—sprinted after Alesha. He was fast.

My eyes went wide. “Noo!”

The body behind me chuckled as the one called Toby flew through the air and collided with her midsection, tackling her to the ground where they rolled over a couple of times from the momentum.

Alesha had spunk. She tried to fight off her assailant, succeeded, broke free, ran two more steps and then got tackled to the ground again.

“You need some help, mate?” the guy who had me asked. “That tiny girl giving you trouble?”

“Fuck you, Sam,” Toby snapped as he picked Alesha up by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked and hit, but he held her steady.

We were both carried unceremoniously into the house and set on the tiled floor in a light and airy entryway. All five brothers crowded around with Nate standing in the middle, an imposing bunch. I’d be forgiven if I peed a little. They did not look pleased to have drop-in visitors.

“Duchess,” Nate said, his arms folded across his middle as he glared my way. “Care to explain what you’re doing here?”

“You know this one?” the guy holding me, Sam, asked.

“I know her,” Nate stated. “You can let go.”

I shook my arms free the moment Sam relaxed his grip.

“What about this one?” Toby asked, still holding tight to Alesha’s arm. “You know her too?”

Nate looked at Toby for a long moment, something unspoken in their exchange. Then he nodded once. “Let go of her.”

Alesha jumped almost a metre away when released. “Fucking jerks,” she yelled, shoving at Toby, who laughed like she was a cute kitten with no claws.

“We’re the jerks?” Sam started. “We’re not the ones skulking around your windows.”

Alesha’s hands went to her hips, her cheeks bright red as her wide eyes absorbed the giant man standing before her. “No, you’re just the arseholes robbing my friend of everything she owns—twice.”

“Shit. I thought the big one looked familiar,” one of the others said. He was a slimmer version of Nate, with golden-brown hair that hung loose to his shoulders. He had surfer written all over him.

“Who are you calling big?” Alesha snapped. “You look like a girl with your stupid long hair.”

The brother closest to him snorted out a laugh. “Told you, bro.”

Alesha curled her lip in a way that said, ‘See?’ I’d never seen her be so forthright before. I suppose her fight or flight had kicked in, and she was definitely a fighter. I, on the other hand, was completely mute. I had no idea what to do or say, and just kept sneaking looks at Nate to try and gauge what he was thinking. His expression gave away nothing. And my butt is killing me.

“You’re a fucking idiot,” Sam said under his breath, directing the comment at Nate as he ran a hand through his thick dark hair. It curled a little at the ends, needing a cut. But the extra length totally worked on him.

Nate worked his jaw in response, his light eyes landing on me, somehow getting darker. “I know,” he said finally.

Toby moved towards Nate and shoved him on the shoulder. “You’d better fix this. I told you to leave her the fuck alone, and now she’s here.”

He told him to what?

Nate clenched his teeth. “I will, OK? Just take that one into the other room.” He indicated Alesha. “Holland and I need to talk.”

“Don’t let her leave,” Toby commanded through clenched teeth as he jabbed a finger into Nate’s chest.

“Come on, darlin’,” the big burly Sam said, taking Alesha by the arm. “Seems you’re gonna be here awhile. You drink beer?”

“Ahhh, yeah,” she replied with trepidation as she tottered along beside him. She needed to crane her neck to see his face. The others followed, filing out of the room in a long line. Lord, I hoped they didn’t do anything to hurt her.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Nate hissed after they’d gone. “I gave you what you wanted. Our business relationship has concluded.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have stolen all my shit again. It’s like you were begging me to come find you.”

He looked away and shook his head. “I was actually hoping I’d never see you again.”

“Tired of my snug pussy all of a sudden?” I bit back, his words causing a slight sting to my ego.

His eyes, previously filled with annoyance, shone with amusement as he shook his head. “I never said that. How did you find us, anyway?”

I thought about not telling him, but there was little point. It’d all come out eventually. “There’s a GPS tracker in my handbag.”

He laughed, but the amusement had left his eyes. “Jesus. So you expected this? What are you, a cop? Is this a sting?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged, acting coy.

“Maybe,” he repeated, the tip of his tongue running over his bottom lip as he stepped towards me until we were toe to toe. I could smell him, that manly scent mixed with the sea tickling my nostrils and making me heady. I fought to keep my eyes on his, to keep my breathing even, wary because I wasn’t sure if he wanted to fuck me or kill me. He was a man who loved sex, but I had yet to see any sort of tenderness from him. I hadn’t thought he was capable of hurting someone, but you could only push a man so far before he did things he hadn’t considered for self-preservation. Me being there meant I had enough information to send him and his brothers to prison. I was a danger to him.

He was a danger to me.

Suddenly he sprang to life, wrapping his hand around my throat and squeezing. I made a choking sound as I struggled for air, grabbing at his fingers in panic. Oh God. He’s going to kill me. No more singing, no more teaching, no more good times with friends. It would all be over. Aunt Maya would be beside herself.

His face was right in mine. “You’d better be real fucking honest with me right now, duchess. Are. You. A. Cop?”

I shook my head and tried to say no, but there wasn’t any sound besides some strangled gurgling.

He released me roughly and I coughed repeatedly, trying to fill my starved lungs with air. “Shit,” I gasped, tears burning my eyes.

“Explain,” he demanded, his voice gruff and angry.

“My… my aunt was worried.” I paused to cough and clear my throat. “She knew I was looking for the hairpin and bought me the tracker for safety. When I woke up to an empty house this morning, I used the app to find you.”

“But your bag isn’t here.”

“I know. We tracked it to the storage facility in Geelong. You were leaving when we arrived, so we decided to follow you.”

“Then you decided to snoop?”

I nodded. “Yes. But we didn’t call the cops. No one knows except me and Alesha, I swear to you. Just let us go and no one will ever know anything.”

He looked at me long and hard, then took a breath. “Abbot. Kristian,” he called over his shoulder, and two younger-looking brothers appeared in the doorway. Twins, perhaps? One had long hair, the other’s cropped close to his scalp, but their faces were the same.

“What’s up?” the long-haired one asked.

“I need you to drive back to the storage facility. Find the handbag. Inside is a… what does it look like?” he asked me.

“It’s small, square and blue.” I held up my fingers to show the size. “It’s in the pocket on the outside.” I felt so stupid explaining this to them. “Oh, and while you’re there, can I grab my mobile and wallet please? It was such a pain in the arse to cancel all those cards and pay for a new licence last time. I kind of don’t want to go through that again.”

The boys looked from me to Nate with an expression that said Is she crazy? Nate rolled his eyes and sent them on their way.

“So, five brothers, huh? That must have been crazy growing up.” I smiled as if it was a perfectly normal time to make conversation.

“No crazier than most.”

“It must be nice. I never had any siblings. What are their names?”

Nate looked at me for a moment, then sighed. “Toby is the oldest. I’m next. Then Sam.”

“The other two are twins?”

He nodded. “Abbot and Kristian. Abbot has hair, Kristian has the military do.”

“And you all steal together?”

“It’s the family business.”

“How lovely of your parents to teach you such an admirable vocation.” A saccharine smile dripped from my lips.

He looked at me, his eyes hard, arms still crossed over his chest. “Just our mother. None of us knew our father.”

“Of course you didn’t. And your mother is where? Prison?”

“I’m right here, actually,” a female voice said from the foot of the stairs. She had the dog in her arms, and I swear that mutt had a piece of my pants in his teeth. “Care to introduce me to your new friend, Nathaniel?” She was tall and thin, with elegant features and dark blonde hair threaded with grey.

“Holland, this is my mother, Jasmine Cartwright.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” I said, opting to be polite to the dragon in its den. I even held out my hand to shake hers. She just looked down her nose at me.

“Don’t piss on my feet and tell me it’s raining, Holland. There’s no pleasure in this meeting.”

I lowered my hand and pressed it against the curve of my thigh. “No, I suppose not.” What was I even thinking?

“Do you like the house?” she asked. Despite how normal her question sounded, it set me off ease.

“It’s beautiful,” I stated.

She smiled, but it was too straight and didn’t touch her eyes. “Wonderful. Because you won’t be leaving anytime soon.” My stomach plummeted, landing somewhere in my unsteady legs. I had to force myself to remain impassive instead of dropping to the ground and crying—which was what I really wanted to do. “You’ve probably guessed, but we don’t take kindly to drop-in visitors here. Especially not the kind who seem so filled with information as you and your friend seem to be.”

“So, that’s it? I’m a prisoner now?”

“Just until we figure out what to do with you.” Jasmine waved a hand in my direction, then carried the dog into the other room, leaving me and Nate alone again.

“I can’t fucking believe this.”

“We can’t exactly let you go, Holland. I’m sure you understand that.” He actually sounded a little apologetic.

“I understand that perfectly. What I can’t believe is that a grown fucking man is still living with his mother.”

“That’s what you’re focusing on?” It wasn’t what I was focusing on. Inside, I was freaking the fuck out, but humour was my defence mechanism. I could mock anything. I couldn’t help it. “I do have a place of my own. We all do. It’s just easier to stay here when we’re working.”

“Fucking good for you.” I crossed my arms across my middle, not giving a shit if he was interested in my tits or not. I was pissed that not only had he robbed me twice, but now I was a captive. And what did ‘figure out what to do with me’ mean?

“You’re pissed,” he stated.

“Of course I’m pissed! You can’t keep us here. We have jobs and family who will notice we’ve gone. Alesha’s father is the most overprotective man on the planet and will go to the ends of the earth to find her, and my aunt will just use the app for the GPS card to find the last-known location. Then she’ll call the cops, and keeping me here won’t have made a single bit of difference.”

He worked his jaw thoughtfully, then pulled his phone from his pocket.

“Abbot?” He paused to listen. “That tracker, put it in an envelope and post it to Guam or something. Also, get Holland’s phone and her clothes. She’s going to need more than a pair of pants with the arse torn out.” He listened for a moment, then disconnected.

“What are you planning to do now?”

“Nothing different. I’m still planning on keeping you here. You’re just going to make a few phone calls using those acting skills of yours. You can make everyone believe you’ve gone on an impromptu holiday, can’t you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m no good. Did ‘Oh, yes! Nate!’ sound believable to you?”

His eyes narrowed as the echo from my fake orgasm made the high-ceiling entryway even quieter once it stopped.

“On second thought, maybe we should get you to send a text.”

I frowned. “Excuse me?” It was some of my finest acting. I’d go so far as to say I gave Meg Ryan a run for her money.

“Duchess, I’ve heard you come so hard that your voice didn’t even register, felt your juices pour into my mouth while your clit pulsed under my tongue. Standing here pretending that was all fake is the biggest joke I’ve ever heard, not to mention the worst acting I’ve ever seen.”

My mouth fell open and I really wanted to stomp my foot, but didn’t. “It wasn’t meant to be great acting,” I lied. “It was meant to be an insult. And I do not pour when I come.”

Folding his arms across his chest, he smiled. “Oh yes, you do. You’re a gusher, Holland.”

I gasped, my cheeks heating. “I am not.”

He stepped closer. “You are. And it’s so fucking hot, I get hard every time I think about it.”

My eyes travelled down. Yep, he was hard. My tingly bits tingled. My breathing shallowed. It wasn’t a response I wanted to be having when I was in the midst of a hostage situation, but my body had a mind of its own. Traitor.

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to meet his eyes while jutting my chin out defiantly. “Maybe I have a bladder control problem.” I knew I didn’t have a bladder problem, but as I already mentioned, mocking jokes were my first line of defence. “Maybe I didn’t ejaculate at all. Maybe you drank pee instead.”

His eyes twinkled. His mouth twitched. Then he threw his head back and roared with laughter.

Swiping his thumb across his eye to catch a mirth-filled tear, he finally got control of his bouncing shoulders. “You really are a shitty actor, duchess.”