Temper snapped and burned inside as I parked my car in front of the family estate.

If I hadn’t gone back to check on Brooks one last time, I wouldn’t have any idea that the family was planning on having a meeting. Brooks was still in the hospital and would be for at least another day.

He was doing better though, strong enough to talk to everybody and even eat a little bit of his lunch. It was a little after two when Daria chased us out, telling us he needed to rest and that we could come back later.

I was the last one to leave, although my brothers and father had lingered outside the room, talking.

Halfway to my car, I realized I’d left my keys in the room.

Just outside the room, I’d hear Sean telling Brooks that he was going to take Isabel home to the penthouse before he headed out to meet them so they could put their heads together over the current problem.

The problem.

A meeting.

They’d specifically kept it from me.

I was done with this shit—in so, so many ways. I truly did believe Brooks when he told me that he’d pulled out of the family business. But that hadn’t kept him from being targeted.

And Cormac…

My heart ached just thinking about it.

I studied the cars parked in front—Declan’s and Sean’s—wondering what they’d say, how they’d react if they realized they’d pulled me into this mess. I’d been targeted by Marcos because I was part of the Downing family. That was all there was to it.

Daria had been dragged into it.

Who else were they going to let be hurt because of this?

My anger grew and grew until it felt like my blood was boiling. Climbing from the car, I stormed up to the front door. It was locked, so I let myself in using my key. The alarm system hadn’t been set so I strode on through the house, seeking out my father’s office. That was where they’d be.

Again, a pang hit my heart as I thought about Cormac.

He must have been looking for some sort of dirt he could turn over to Marcos when I’d brought him out here. Man. I’d been such a fool. The sick taste of bile churned up my throat, and I battled back a headache. I’d have time to hurt and brood over him later.

For now, I needed to concentrate on my family.

It was time to confront them.

As I drew closer, the dull hum of their voices slowly grew more distinct. I’d worn clothes and shoes for comfort today, and the soft soles of my sneakers made little to no noise on the floor, so they didn’t hear me approach.

It wasn’t until I stopped in the doorway that they realized I was there.

Dad saw me first, his glass freezing halfway to his lips.

Declan and Sean were talking, Sean furious. “Marcos is behind this shit. I know it.”

Declan noticed me just as he went to respond. Eyes going wide, he immediately snapped his jaw shut.

I strode inside and made my way over to the bar service, taking the scotch and splashing a generous amount into a highball glass, not bothering with ice.

“It’s a little early in the day for booze, but I think I’m going to need a drink,” I said with false cheer. Taking my glass, I moved over to the window and stared outside. “Don’t let me stop you, Declan. Please…continue.”

Movement caught my attention, a car, most of it hidden from view as it followed the curve of the drive toward the house. I frowned just as it disappeared from sight.

Declan asked, “What are you doing here, Briar?”

“Participating in the family meeting.” I shot a look over my shoulder at him. “Consider me Brooks’s stand-in since he got the shit knocked out of him.”

I went back to staring outside as the three men broke out into a heated debate.

The car came into view. My gut went tight as I recognized the car. Oh, shit.

Cormac.

Dread grabbed me by the throat.

Turning on my heel, I glared at them. “I’ll be right back.”

“You should go home,” Sean said as I passed by him.

I flipped him off without even looking his way, my attention focused solely on Cormac. What in the hell was he doing here?

Fury chewed jagged holes in me as I ran through the house. Jerking the door open, I jogged out and met him on the steps. “What are you doing here?”

He caught me by the arms. “You’ve got to get out of the house. Marcos had somebody plant bombs.”

I gaped at him. “What…?”

“Are your brothers in there?”

“I…what?”

He shook me, frustrated.

Abruptly, he hauled me into his arms and strode down the steps, putting me down only when he reached the bottom. Placing me on the ground with my back at one of the concrete planters, he pointed at me. “Stay.”

I gaped at his back as he tore back up the steps.

Declan stood in the doorway, staring at Cormac. “What’s going on—”

“Marcos Castellanos had people plant bombs,” Cormac barked. “You’ve got to get your family out.”

Declan, unlike me, wasn’t frozen with shock. He spun on his heel. Cormac tore into the house after him as I lurched up the steps. As if he sensed me, Cormac turned and glared. “Stay here! I’ll get them out but stay here!”

Once more, I was frozen.

There was no doubt in my mind that I believed him. The look in his eyes—blind, naked fear—wasn’t anything somebody could fake.

And I’d also recognized something else. If I followed him into the house, he’d come back for me, which meant he wouldn’t have time to help Declan with my dad and Sean.

I shoved the heel of my hand against my mouth, strangling the moan that rose up.

Grabbing my phone, I dialed 9-1-1. Only after somebody’s voice came on did I wonder whether my father would want me to, but I didn’t hang up.

“Ma’am?” the dispatcher said. “What’s your emergency?”

“I…um…I think there might be a bomb in my house,” I said in a reed-thin voice.

There was a short pause, then she said slowly, “Did you say a bomb?”

“Yes.” Blood roared in my ears, and her questions came at me through a dim fog. I answered as best I could. How long had it been since they’d gone in?

Thirty seconds? Longer? It couldn’t take that long to get—

The world turned to fire.

I think I screamed.

My phone fell from my hand, and although I didn’t remember it, I knew it was the blast that knocked me back.

Another boom tore through the air, and I curled into a ball as debris filled my entire universe.

Instinctively, I curled my arms around my head. Darkness swam in to fill my vision.

An orange glow filled my eyes when I opened them.

I sat up slowly, dazed. Something wet trickled from my ear as I looked around. Air trapped inside my lungs as I caught sight of the house blazing in front of me.

My house…

“No,” I whimpered, struggling to my feet.

The cold ground bit into my skin, and I realized I’d lost one of my shoes. Something sharp stabbed my sole as I took a step forward. Seconds later, I was running.

The heat coming from the inferno had me stumbling as I drew closer. Sucking in a breath, I tried to go a little closer.

Arms came around me, dragging me back. Instinctively, I fought. “No! My family…Cormac!”

I couldn’t even hear my voice although I knew I was screaming.

Whoever held me wrenched me around.

My knees went weak at the sight of the dirt-and-soot streaked face staring down at me. It was Cormac.

Just behind him stood Sean, his chest heaving, face stunned.

I collapsed against Cormac, the strength in my legs giving out. “Dad,” I said. My throat hurt. So did my chest. “Declan.”

I had no idea if he heard me.

He must have clued in on what I needed because he turned and pointed. Along the far edge of the lawn, I saw Declan. He was kneeling on the grass next to my father.

The older man stared at me with wide, stark eyes. Our gazes locked, and a shudder rocked him.

I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes.

He was safe. All of them.