I’d never been good at picking my moment.

From the state of things, I hadn’t been good at picking much.

Except for one shining exception.

I turned my head to where Zoe was tucked into the corner of the hospital couch, her head resting on her folded sweater. I didn’t want to leave her alone for even a moment, but the waiting room was full of Ripper Records people and she would be safe.

We’d been waiting forever—hours, but it felt eternal—for Simon, Margo, and Nick to fly in. The richie rich hospital had a helipad which made the ultra luxe mode of transportation a bit on the divine side. Lila had recently escaped to track down her husband and make sure the transition moved swiftly and smoothly.

But now everyone was present and the time had come.

If I waited any longer, I’d probably miss my chance. As it was, I’d have to work at slipping in without being caught.

All I needed was a few minutes. It wasn’t enough, but I would make do.

Lila and Nick were leaning against each other a few feet away. Lila looked paler and more drawn than I could’ve ever imagined. That was what love and worry did to a person. I understood, because I felt as if I’d been ripped apart inside and fit back together in all the wrong ways.

I was an outsider in this world. New and untrustworthy for valid reasons. Their worst impressions of me had been borne out. My feelings weren’t as important as theirs, even if I couldn’t take a full breath or even close my eyes without reliving the horror Margo must’ve gone through.

But this wasn’t about me. Not now. Not anymore. It was about me making things right.

When everyone was sufficiently turned away from us and not paying me and Zoe any mind, I simply walked away. I was skilled at getting away undetected. After all, I’d been sneaking around in some form or another all my life.

I found Margo’s room and approached it as if my footsteps were akin to the ticking of a bomb. I moved carefully. Slowly. My throat went tight as I stepped to the door and glimpsed Simon through the skinny pane of glass. He wouldn’t be leaving that room until he absolutely had to, and I didn’t blame him. I would’ve been the same.

As it was, I wanted to stand guard outside Margo’s room myself.

The thought must’ve conjured Roth’s men out of the ether, because two of them strode up the hallway, their hair cut militarily short, their eyes flat and hard. “You’re not sanctioned to be here.”

No kidding. Just how was I supposed to sneak past not only my brother, but these two? At the same time, I was grateful for their presence. They would keep Margo—and my little niece or nephew—safe.

“Understood.” I gave them a quick nod and kept walking past Margo’s room to the nearest loo. Where I stayed for probably ten minutes, until I decided to test my chances again.

I heard voices as I approached, so before I reached the bend in the hallway, I took out my mobile and pretended to be occupied. A nurse hurried past, and I dropped back just in time for her not to see me. I peered around the corner at the sound of more voices, swallowing hard at the sight of my brother between the two security guards. They were walking away from Margo’s room at a fast clip, probably leading Simon somewhere—he needed security as well, since he’d been one of the targets—and another pair of guards would relieve them in a moment.

My window was narrow.

I was taking it.

I rushed up the hallway, my footsteps as soundless as possible, and didn’t dare look back as I turned the handle of Margo’s room. I expected voices to shout at me to halt, but there was silence. I slipped inside and thanked the gods above that Margo didn’t have a roommate.

Money didn’t only talk, it screamed if necessary.

The curtain around the other bed was pulled back, and Margo was resting. Her eyes were closed and she seemed about a shade darker than the sheets. Her dark hair spilled over the pillows, an inky cape. I took a step forward, then another, my throat aching with everything I wanted to say.

“You’re brave.”

I stopped still as Margo’s head swiveled toward me on the pillow.

“Yes, I knew it was you.”

“H-how?”

Her sigh was so weary that I felt it in my bones. “I knew you’d come. Hell of a way for us to meet, isn’t it? Then again, the way I met your mother was even worse.”

“I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry.”

“I know you are.”

“How can you know? You don’t know me. Have never seen me in the flesh, never spoken a word—”

“Come sit. You don’t have long.” She gestured toward the stool beside the bed. “I’m amazed you even got in.”

“Simon went down the hall with the guards.” I didn’t move. “Is this a trap?”

She laughed weakly. “Hate to disappoint you, but I’m not in the state to be setting traps just yet. And for what?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I should be jailed for a number of things. Colluding with criminals. Plotting evil deeds. Coveting my brother’s life.”

“For a second, I thought you were going to say coveting your brother’s wife and I was gonna say whoa, buddy. Maybe you better stay over there.”

I didn’t expect to laugh, or for the feeling to make my chest ache as if it was cracking open. “Well, you are a vision, but I have my own love.”

“Lila’s cousin.”

I nodded. “Yes. My Zoe.”

“Lila will kill you with her bare hands if you hurt her. They’ll never find your body.”

I laughed again, sobering far too quickly. “I already have,” I said quietly. “I deserve whatever I get.”

“Stop that and sit down before your pigheaded brother comes back.”

Frowning, I did as she said and perched on the stool beside her bed. “You know he’s going to rage. He has every right to.”

“He does.”

“Why would you even want to speak to me?”

“Who said I did?”

“You said you knew I’d come—”

“That doesn’t mean I wanted to talk to you.”

When I fell silent, she smiled faintly, her deep dark eyes crinkling around the corners. Her beauty shone through even her obvious exhaustion and the hint of bruising around her temple and jaw. “I suppose I wanted to talk to you too. You’ve been in Simon’s life too long without us knowing each other.”

“I’ve barely been in his life any time at all.”

“Feels like a lifetime though, doesn’t it?”

“It has been for me.” I spread out my hands and stared at them in the low light as if I barely recognized the webs of lines and ridges of calluses. Everything felt strange. Surreal. “I’ve known of my brother since I was a small boy. I used to dream he’d come save me.”

Jesus, why had I said that? The woman offers me a crumb of understanding, so I just rip open a vein?

I never learned.

Never, ever would.

“He never knew about you.”

“I know that now.”

“Ian, look at me.”

I looked, though it hurt. Because this conversation was the closest I’d ever gotten to something real and tangible with my brother, and I wasn’t ready. Maybe I never would be. Especially when that connection came in the guise of a woman with kind eyes.

“You don’t hate me,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

She shook her head. “No. I don’t hate you.”

“But you should. Don’t you know what I did? Maybe they didn’t tell you.” I whisked my thumbs under my eyes. If I caught the tears before they fell, they didn’t count. I wasn’t shaming myself again with all I couldn’t hold inside.

Be a man, Ian. Is that so impossible for you? You’re not a child anymore.

“You’re right, I don’t know everything yet. I’m sure Simon is holding back what he thinks I can’t handle right now. But I know enough. I know things even he doesn’t. I saw that woman, Ian. She touched me and she scared the living fucking hell out of me. You endured that all alone for so many years, didn’t you?”

I shut my eyes. “She’s my mum.”

“She’s your mother, but you aren’t what she told you that you were. She’s obsessed with Simon.” Even with my eyes closed, I felt her tremor shift the bed. “In a very unhealthy way.”

“Yes. She always has been. He’s far better than me—”

“Ian.”

I opened my eyes and nearly broke from the compassion in hers.

“She doesn’t know the real Simon any more than she knows you. He’s a piece of fiction for her. I know you can’t get that because you spent every day with her, but I saw it for myself.”

“She had to leave him and then she had to raise me. I was always the thorn in her side. The other son. The one she would’ve swapped for him in a heartbeat.” I bowed my head. “At the end, she didn’t want me even as a trading piece.”

“It’s not reality. You’re not seeing that. The Simon she’s created—that’s not the real man.” Margo exhaled. “I love my husband. Love him more than I have words to say. But she’s not seeing the Simon who exists. The very flawed man who I love for his faults as much as his strengths.”

I swallowed hard and leaned forward, gripping the rail on the side of the bed. “He’s right to be angry at me. To wish me dead. If you’d seen him when you were gone... He was broken. Lost without you and your wee one.” I looked at her stomach, covered in a soft white blanket. “The baby is okay?”

She nodded and for the first time, her composure wavered. “Tough Reece and Kagan genes.”

“I’m so glad. I was so worried for you and the baby. I never knew. I swear, I didn’t. I would never have allowed it to go as far as it did if I had.”

“Simon hasn’t told me much, but I gathered that you’re the one who stopped it.”

“Far too late.”

“You didn’t know what they had in mind, but you tried to end your involvement.”

“Yes. It just wasn’t enough. She threatened Zoe. I never guessed she’d go for you. I thought Simon and you were safe. But she would hurt Zoe just to get back at me.”

“She didn’t hurt me. Well, beyond the initial crash. And her goons tossing me around and having me shackled and creeping me the fuck out more than once.” Margo picked at her blanket. “Guess you aren’t the only one who’s in denial, huh?”

I reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to take your place. I would have in an instant. You didn’t deserve—”

“Get your hands off her. Now.” My brother’s voice was like ice.

If ice had a form and was sharp enough to kill.

I let her go and sat back. The cocky smile came to my face automatically though the tears still hovered too close. “I had longer than I expected.”

“Simon, don’t. Don’t make a scene. It’s not what you think.”

Simon came around the bed to Margo’s other side, and he reached for her hand. “You have until the count of three before I call security in here and get your punk ass thrown out of this hospital. I was being charitable even letting you stay. And the minute I turn my back, you do this?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to cause upset. I just wanted—”

“You wanted. Do you understand this isn’t about you?”

I rose. “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s always been about you. I’m just finally taking my place at the table.” I moved to the door, then turned back to look at Margo. “Thank you for speaking with me. I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know. Take care of yourself and your little one.”

I stepped into the hall and bumped into Roth’s men, who stared down at me as if they’d seen more impressive bugs. “I’ll be leaving now.” I tipped my hand toward them and pushed past them, half expecting them to grab my arm and strip-search me for God knows what reason.

But they let me go.

After stopping off for a piss and to make sure my eyes didn’t look as ravaged as they felt, I returned to the waiting room. Margo and Simon’s family and friends shifted toward me, their expressions accusing.

What did you do now, Ian?

It wasn’t voiced aloud, but I heard the question just the same.

In the center of it all was Zoe.

My Zoe.

I went to her, gripping her hands to tug her to her feet. “Are you hungry?”

She shook her head. “Where did you go?”

I darted a glance at Lila and Nick, who were by far the two most dangerous to my safety among the assembled group. I couldn’t even be sure which would be first to strike.

“Let’s talk elsewhere.”

“I just bet you want to talk elsewhere. Afraid you’ll be overheard?” Lila shook her head. “You never quit, do you?”

“I’m not afraid of being overheard. I’ll take out a billboard if it suits you. I spoke to my sister-in-law.”

Lila clenched her jaw. “You’re not to go near Margo. Haven’t you done enough?”

“Luckily for me, she’s far more kind than you are.” I glanced at Zoe. “I need some air.”

For a moment, I almost expected her to tell me to just go.

I’d been waiting for those words to come. Yet she was still with me. But I wasn’t fool enough to believe that meant she’d stick.

Zoe turned her back on her cousin. “Me too.”

She didn’t balk when I took her hand as we walked out of the waiting room. She held on even as we stepped into the lift and I pressed the button for the lobby.

When we stepped off, she let go.

And I knew this awful night wasn’t done with me yet.