“Don’t be nervous, Hannah. You’ll do great.” Stroking Hannah’s knee as she sat fidgeting in the passenger seat, I put my car in park to idle against the sidewalk. The sun was bright, the day warm, and she flashed me a strained smile before reaching for the visor again. For once she wasn’t wearing a turtleneck; this 60 degree weather meant she’d bake in it. Instead, her bust was held back by a silk blouse, and her abs were hidden under a knee-length pencil skirt.

Scanning Hannah through narrowed eyes as she checked her make up for the hundredth time, I clenched my jaw together and held back a grunt. Sexy couldn’t even begin to describe her, and against my jeans my cock strained as it had for the past half hour.

“Don’t say that. Please, please, please don’t say I’ll be great. I don’t want to be great- that’s too much expectation. It’s my first day. I just want to get in on time for right now.” Grinning at how fast she spoke, I only shook my head before she popped open her door. “Thank you for the ride- I’ll see you later, James.”

Waiting for Hannah to rush into the building before pulling off the curb, I raked my hand through my hair as I drove towards the west end of town. The difference was palpable even inside my car; run down buildings rose up on either side of the street, and children too young to be out alone were causing ruckus. Pulling into the parking lot of a seedy, little restaurant, I parked and hauled myself out of my car with tight muscles.

Dropping myself onto a stool that groaned under my weight, I flagged the bartender for a beer mindlessly. The time only read 8:44 in the morning, but I couldn’t find it in me to care.

Next to me, Frank scraped his plate before speaking up without so much as a glance my way.

“I fucked up.” This was such a short admission, gravelly and rough, and I ducked my head in a silent question until he continued. “I need your help.”

Furrowing my brows, I pursed my lips together to tilt my head, staring blankly at Frank. He hated me, I knew; he had every right to hate me after everything I did to get under his skin.

And yet, he asked me here for help.

“I’ll do what I can.” Truthfully, I didn’t know or care about what he needed, and Frank stiffened noticeably at my response. Dropping his fork with a harsh clatter, he made a noise of disgust that had the hairs on my arms standing on end. He looked twisted and stressed, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had him so riled up. Still, I kept my mouth shut. That was the best option when dealing with him and hoping to avoid a fight I knew I couldn’t win.

“I need a surgeon. Here’s a list.” Passing me a folded piece of paper, Frank dug a few crumpled-up bills from his pocket and tossed them onto his plate. “Two days. Bring them here.”

Just like that Frank stormed off, and I glanced around the otherwise empty place to unfold the paper. My beer hadn’t even arrived yet, but the thought was instantly wiped from my mind as I scanned the list.

Needles. Saline. Feeding tube. Sauna. Restraints.

Prenatal vitamins.

My eyes widened at such specific needs, and I twisted to stare at the door.

“What the fuck did you get yourself into, Frank?” Muttering to myself, I hopped off the stool and shoved the paper in my pocket. No one was around to answer my question, but I could guess well enough. Shaking my head wildly as I went back to my car, I rolled my jaw as my mind worked furiously.

As surprised as I was that Frank had called me, I wasn’t sure I wanted in on whatever shit he was knee-deep in. I didn’t even know how he got my number; Nick hadn’t given it to him, nor anyone else, for that matter.

Not that any of that mattered because I couldn’t get out now. Some part of me still obsessed about Frank, and that was why I made this trip. I could’ve ignored his call and all that would come of it was silent glares and animosity.

I made it downtown before I decided to call Nash, and he picked up on the second ring. His voice filled my car, deep and drawling, and I set my phone on the center console as he spoke.

“James- hey. What’s up? Did you already drop off that girl for her first day with Nick?” He sounded much too cheerful for me so early in the morning, and I grunted as I stopped at a red light.

“Yeah. Have you seen Frank lately?” For just a second Hannah entered my mind, but I pushed her back as I posed my question. The speaker crackled loudly, and the light turned green before Nash offered a response.

“Not in a week and a half or so. He said he had some shit to do and was going dark. Why?” Groaning softly at that, I banged the steering wheel weakly; if Frank didn’t tell Nash what was happening, he certainly didn’t want anyone to know about it.

I was a necessity to whatever he was planning, nothing more.

“Nothing. Forget I asked.”

“Uh… okay? I’m going to hang up, then.” Just as he promised, Nash hung up, and I reached to rub my face in irritation. This is such a shit show.

My day went by fast, and I didn’t even bother with the surgeon part of Frank’s request. Everything else was fairly easy to get; most medical supply stores sold most of what I needed. Even the prenatal vitamins were over the counter, and by the time the sun had started to set my trunk was weighed down heavily.

Frank’s scrawling handwriting told me he needed a six-month supply of everything, and I scowled at the orange glow slathered across my hood. I’d spent all damn day running around just to avoid thinking about what that crazy bastard was going to do. I was an errand boy; that was what my life had been reduced to.

It was illegal on so many levels, and I parked my car outside my apartment building to sit there for a moment. Frank knocked up a drug addict, and now he had to get her clean and healthy enough to carry. My lips thinned at that; he’d never struck me as the kind of man to care about that. Staring into space, I silently pondered if he’d grown a conscious in the past year or so since we’d last seen each other.

I doubted it, but the possibility was there.

“Fuck…” I didn’t want children- not in this crappy world. Frank was even more acquainted with the darkness than I was, and I wasn’t sure there was anything that could change my mind.

Hannah’s image blossomed in my mind’s eye, and my eyelids shut tightly. She had her reservations about me, I knew. I wasn’t stupid enough to think she’d want a relationship on top of what she was going through. University- a new job- her life was just starting, and I wouldn’t get in the way.

But fuck did I want her. On those nights she stayed over, I couldn’t think of a time when I was more content to hold her. Waking up to her hair splayed across my chest and her soft breaths tickling my neck was an addictive pleasure.

This was how it was going to stay until I could work up the balls to ask her out once she’d settled into her work place. As long as I could have her, I didn’t care how it happened. Clenching my hands into fists at the thought, I took a deep, sharp breath before pulling my keys from the ignition and climbing out of my car.

My apartment was empty, and I went a few doors down to knock on Nick’s door. As usual he answered immediately, his shirt unbuttoned and hair tousled from countless, raking fingers. Before I could even open my mouth, he spoke up, leaning on the door frame to cross his arms over his chest.

“She’s not here. Ethan took her out to celebrate her first day of work with his girlfriend and one of her friends.” Frowning under my brother’s keen, sharpened gaze, I glanced down the hallway even though Ethan wasn’t there. “You have to remember that Hannah’s the same age as Ethan, James. It’s not a bad thing to party on special occasions, you know.”

“I know it’s not. That’s not what I was thinking.” My words came automatically, and Nick snorted roughly to draw my attention. His face contorted in annoyance, sending a scowl across mine as he shook his head.

“You think he’s going to try to move on her, or put her in a situation that makes her uncomfortable. You’re not her father, James. She doesn’t need or want anyone looking over her shoulder criticizing her decisions. If she wants to go party with Ethan, then she will go, and you’ll end up pissing her off by getting your panties in a wad.” At the mention of that bastard I stiffened, and Nick arched an eyebrow as his frown deepened. “So, it is about him. James, Hannah has enough on her plate. Don’t complicate it.”

“It’s not about him. For fuck’s sake- why do you always have to psychoanalyze me?” Nick’s eyes narrowed on me as I lied through my teeth, and I clenched my hands into fists. “Just because I know him doesn’t mean I feel guilty for his decisions, Nick.”

“… If you say so. But I’m warning you now- this is going to get ugly quick if you don’t back the Hell off.”