“Fuck.” I rubbed my hands up and down my face. “We can’t keep drugging her up.” Earlier Charlie had let me know she brought something to relax Zoe. Our trainer, Moe at the gym had it stored away in case there were any issues during a fight.

Julian was standing next to me. I watched as Charlie tucked Zoe into bed and bent to kiss her check. The morning started so perfectly. What happened? Then Zoe left with Stephen and I knew I fucked up.

“We need to find some answers. She needs answers.” Charlie walked over to where everyone was standing by the doorway.

Answers. Were there answers? The case had recently been labeled serial killer because three people had been taken. Now four. The media was labeling him or her The Silencer. It was hard to think about all the details of the case. I watched the news and knew what was going on. Never in a million years did I think my life would be affected by this sick person who needed help, obviously.

“Ty.” Brooks touched my arm. “I’m confused.”

“Let’s get something to eat,” Charlie piped up and tried to push Brooks toward the door.

“Charlie.” Brooks grabbed her shoulders. “Stop.” He turned to me. “What’s going on here?”

“Someone has taken our friend,” I said and walked out of the room. “I thought it was pretty obvious?”

I wasn’t ready to tell my brothers the truth. They deserved it, but I was worried about Zoe. I needed the support system more now than ever. What if I told them and they left? I had to wait.

Brooks grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. “I love you, brother, but you were always weak at lying. You tried to hate Zoe for the longest time. Now, it feels like you both are a couple. More than that.”

“In love,” Julian said from behind me.

“Yeah, that.” Brooks nodded and dropped his hand. “What changed, and how did this Stephen guy come into the picture?”

“You do realize he has a life away from the gym, right?” Charlie grabbed my hand and tugged me down the stairs. “Stop being a dick and support your brother when he needs you most.”

“Nice,” Brooks said and followed behind me. “The conversation is not over.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said and walked into the kitchen. “The investigator that just stopped by, he said they may be able to get face recognition of the suspect.” That’s what I wanted to tell Zoe before she had her breakdown. “They said there are no promises, but they are several steps closer in finding the asshole.”

“Shit.” Charlie sat down on one of the barstools. “Are they sure it’s the same guy? Why would he suddenly show his face somewhere?”

That was my question, too. I had asked the investigator, Alan, why the guy would change what he normally did with each capture. His answer sent chills up my spine. “He’s desperate. He needs something.” The words were working around in my brain. Why did he have to change shit up with my boyfriend? I leaned my elbows on the counter and dropped my head. As I closed my eyes, Stephen’s face came into focus. His smile caused my breath to hitch. I wanted to reach out and grab his body close to protect him.

“Ty.” I felt someone rubbing my back.

I stepped away from the feeling. “I’m fine.” That was clearly a lie. I was far from okay. After almost nine months of hiding my relationship with the most amazing man I had ever met, I was regretting my decision. “I was wrong. I need to be alone.” My body felt weak. I had failed Stephen. “Help yourself to anything.” I waved my hand and stumbled up the stairs.

I closed the door and leaned my body against the wood surface. Fuck. I slid down to the floor. How could we make this right? I got up on all fours and crawled over to my bed. Zoe was twitching in her sleep. I slid under the covers and pulled her body close to me. We needed to find the one person who somehow in a short time brought us all together.

“Tyler,” Zoe whispered.

“I’m here.”

“Don’t leave me again.”

“Never again.”

“I’m sorry.”

I pushed her hair away from her face. “Please don’t apologize. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.”

“I would turn and protest but I don’t have it in me right now.”

“Good, because I’m right, so we don’t need to protest a thing.”

“You suck.”

“And you’re amazing.”

My phone was still in my back pocket. Taking my clothes off seemed like too much effort, which included removing any electronics. I felt it vibrate. It took me a moment to reach down and retrieve it from my back pocket. Zoe was plastered up against my side, and I could tell by her breathing she had fallen back asleep. When I was able to pull it up and look at who was bothering me, my body stilled at the message on my screen.

It couldn’t be. Could it?