I tried timing her, going by the time we’d dropped her off and how long her class could be. She wasn’t answering her phone, pain in the ass, so I decided to sit on her apartment.

It was Friday afternoon, so the place was a little livelier than it had been the last two times I’d been here, and I got a first hand view of what Tony was talking about.

It wasn’t hard to detect the shady characters on the prowl and there were way too many of them. I saw drug deals sex deals and everything else in between going down right there on her street, and my resolve to get her out of there strengthened even more.

Her building alone had way too much traffic going in and out. One of the reasons the main door didn’t lock no doubt. The thought of just what could happen in such circumstances left me cold.

“How the hell did she find this place anyway?” Tony just shook his head at my question as we both watched the street for her approach. I had no idea what time she was expected back, but more than enough time had passed already.

I rested my eyes for two seconds since I hadn’t gone back to bed at my place and my ass was tired. I’d spent the last few hours shopping, after trying to get my place ready for her.

I had one of the guest bedrooms set up and waiting. Now that I think of it, I should’ve bought a lock for outside the door because sure as shit she’s going to fight me on this. I might have to spend the first few nights sitting up outside her damn bedroom door.

No matter, since my mind was made up I had no doubt that I’d get my way. She may be hardheaded and stubborn, but she was no match for me. And if it seemed strange for me to go to these lengths, I’ll just have to prove to her that I have no ulterior motives.

Well at least that I don’t mean to jump on her the first chance I get anyway. She’s smart enough to know by now that I mean her no harm. Plus sleeping next to her the night before without making a move should’ve earned me some points, I hope.

“Where the hell is she?” I pulled my phone and hit redial. This time she answered on the third ring. “Where are you?” I could hear the sounds of a busy street in the background.

“On my way home, why? Hold on…” She took the phone away from her ear, putting me on hold. Just then Tony sat up in his seat, his eyes focused to the left.

“Oh shit!” His exclamation made me look in the same direction and I felt all the blood drain from my head. Some kid had his hands on her, around her shoulders to be exact.

I didn’t think, just acted. I slammed out of the car with Tony calling after me. I’d dropped my phone on the car seat and watched now as she put hers back to her ear.

I wasn’t fast enough and the kid walked away before I reached them. “Hey!” She jumped at my approach, her mouth falling open in surprise when I crowded her against the wall of the building behind her.

Calm down Max, let her explain. My little pep talk didn’t work worth shit. I’m going to wring her

fucking neck. Here I am, stressing over her ass and she had some kid sniffing around her and doing more than that if the way he had his hands on her was anything to go by.

“Who is he?” I grabbed her by the front of her sweater and lifted her off her feet. Never put my hands on a female in my life, but swear to fuck I wanted to shake the fuck out of her.

She had the nerve to look me dead in my eyes defiantly. Damn girl has no fear. I need this shit.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” She tilted her damn chin at me, seemingly unaware of the danger she was in.

“Oh you wanna waltz? Wrong fucking guy.” Pull back Max, this is wrong. I heard my inner warning but somehow couldn’t make myself comply.

I heard running feet coming up behind me, but didn’t bother to look. I’m sure Tony had my back covered.

“Hey, get your hands off my sister before I kick your ass.” I looked around to see the kid making his way back to us. That’s no kid, he might be young but he was built.

‘Travis, shush.” Sister huh, I put her back on her feet, but didn’t release her as he reached us. I could see the resemblance now that he was standing in front of me.

He couldn’t be more than sixteen or seventeen, but he looked at me like he thought he could take me. “Who’s this fool?” He tried pushing his way between us.

“He’s the…he’s the person I work for.” He glared at me pretty much the way she does before I saw recognition enter his eyes. His mouth dropped open before he broke into a grin.

“Get out, Max Carrington. No way! You work for The Kid with The Golden Arm? Why didn’t you tell me?” I heard Tony snicker as he walked away. He’d been there the whole time.

The kid forgot his anger quick enough as he studied me up and down with a boyish grin on his face. He had a sports drink in his hand and a travel bag on his shoulder.

I took the hand he reached out to me after releasing my hold on his sister. He started throwing questions at me until misery piped in.

“If you two don’t mind, it’s a bit chilly out here.” She pulled her ugly jacket closed and zipped it up. “Let’s go.” I took her hand and walked the few feet to her apartment building.

The kid never stopped talking the whole way up. A real football fanatic. “You play?” I looked back at him as he followed us up the stairs.

“Yes sir. I’m starting quarterback at my high school.”

“Where is that?”

“Pickering Central. That’s in Ohio.”

“Number twenty in the standing this year.”

Now his eyes were open wide in surprise. “You know about my school?”

“A little bit, I keep up with the stats for the top one hundred.” I’ll have to look into it farther. If the kid was a fan, and more importantly was himself a player, I can use that.

I was also thinking that I now knew where she came from. That should make it easier for my guys to hunt down any information on her. The kid had already helped me and he didn’t even know it.

Where his sister was quiet and reserved, he talked a mile a minute. Something that would usually make me want to run an electric drill through my eardrums. But I was all ears.

Once in the apartment I didn’t waste any time. It was obvious that he was here to spend some time with her, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. He can have one of the other guest rooms for the weekend, which is what I thought he was here for.

Standing in the middle of the living room, he looked from me to his sister and back with a questioning look. It was obvious from the look on his face that he didn’t like this place any more than I did. That could work in my favor.

“Annabelle, go pack your stuff.”

“Huh? What stuff?”

“Whatever you need. I’m taking you out of here. Travis can come with us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I told you, I don’t like this place it’s not safe.”

“He has a point sis. Even I can tell that this place is all wrong.” Way to go kid!

“You stay out of it.” He held up his hands and backed away from her with an eye roll sent in my direction.

“Fine, if there’s nothing here you need we can just go.” I reached for her hand but she evaded me. “I’m not going anywhere what’s wrong with you?”

I wasn’t falling into that trap again. She’d have me arguing in circles if I stepped into that one. I used a different tack this time, going around her instead.

“Travis have you eaten?” He shook his head no at me. She looked like she wanted to strangle him. It was good to know that I’m not the only one at the wrong end of her wrath.

“Come on, I was going to take your sister out for a late lunch, you can join us if you’d like.” I knew what his answer would be before I asked and was proved right when he headed back for the door.

“Sweet, maybe you can give me some pointers huh!” Typical kid. Annabelle looked at him like he’d betrayed her. “We don’t need to go to lunch, I was going to make something here. Thanks anyway.”

“Aw come on sis, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” He held the door open and I knew I had her when the look of indecision on her face warred with sisterly love.

“Fine, but we’re coming right back here when we’re done.” That’s what she thinks. From the way the boy quirked his brow at me it was obvious he thought different. He had more sense than his damn infuriating sister.

“Travis, leave your bag you’re not going to need it.” He looked from her to me again at her suggestion. All it took was a slight shake of my head for him to get the message.

“Ah, I have some stuff in here that I might need. I don’t want to go through it right now. Come on sis I’m starving.” He rubbed his gut with a sorry look on his face.

“You are? Why didn’t you say something before?” She met him at the door and patted his shoulder before looking back at me. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Pain in the ass! I was the last one out the door and I fixed the lock so it wouldn’t close. Once downstairs I helped her into the backseat while letting Travis take the front next to Tony.

I gave him the name of one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The kid kept up a running conversation, this time about the car. The two siblings were like night and day, since I couldn’t get a peep out of this one.

She sat as far away from me as was possible, holding on to her gripe. From the way she was tapping her foot and biting into her lip I knew she was telling me off in her mind. Probably just waiting for the chance to light into me once we were alone.

When we reached the restaurant I helped her out of the car and got my phone out. I sent Tony a quick text, which he read right away. I looked at him through the car window as he shook his head before driving away.

Inside the restaurant she was back to being fidgety, but her brother’s presence seemed to put her more at ease. I sat next to her in the booth while he took the seat across from us.

I could see from the way he watched us that he had read the situation well enough. I couldn’t tell from his expression whether he approved or not, but time will tell. I already had him half in the bag though, I was sure.

“Order whatever you like Travis.” I’d seen his reaction to the prices on the menu. I was pointedly ignoring his sister who still had her face set in a frown. I had no doubt that she’d protest because of the prices, but I forgot about her and food. She doesn’t play around when it comes to food.

After we placed our orders she excused herself to go to the restroom and I saw my chance. I waited until she was well out of earshot to get started on him. “So Travis, are you just here for the weekend?”

“Uh!” He looked to where his sister had disappeared before turning back to me. “Not really.” He looked down at the bread basket the waitress had placed on the table.

“Oh? Then you plan on going back to Ohio tonight?” He fidgeted around on his seat before looking up at me and away again. I could tell that he was trying to gather the courage to say something.

“What is it? You have something on your mind?”

“What do you want with my sister?”

“Come again.” He lifted his head and looked at me this time. I had to give him points for guts.

“I see the way you look at her. I watched you two in the car on the way here. You look at her a lot. I just want to know what your intentions are. My sister’s not like those groupies who follow athletes around.”

“I’m aware of that.” I didn’t give him any more,

waiting to see what else he had to say. I couldn’t fault him for looking out for his sister, after all I still vet anyone who gets too close to my mother, male or female.

“That’s good then. It’s just….Annie acts tough but she’s really not. At least she didn’t use to be, but in the last year and a half or so she’s changed a lot…” He stopped talking and I could almost feel the sadness coming from him.

I looked towards the hallway where she’d yet to reappear. “What happened a year and a half ago?” He too looked in the same direction before picking at one of the bread rolls and pulling it to pieces.

“I’m not sure if I should be telling you this stuff. Annie…”

“I’m not going to hurt her, but I can’t help if I don’t know.” He studied me now as if trying to see into my head.

I guess he liked what he saw because with one last look to make sure she wasn’t coming, he opened up. “Back then everything was fine. Sis had just left to come to New York.”

“Did you know she got accepted to six Ivy League schools? The only reason she didn’t get invited to the others is because she didn’t apply I think. Anyway, she was accepted to six schools and Juilliard.” I knew my girl was smart.

“Have you ever seen her dance? She’s great. That’s all she’s ever wanted to be is a dancer. My parents allowed her to choose to follow her dream, so she denied the other top level schools and went to Juilliard.”

“Then right out of the blue, almost overnight, everything changed. Our dad left us for his assistant who isn’t much older than Annie. He took everything, the house the cars, everything.”

“By the time mom knew what was going on he’d already cleaned out the bank accounts. He hid his money in offshore accounts and the lawyers claimed they couldn’t find it.”

Again he clenched his fists and his anger was plain to see. “Mom took it really hard. Annie wanted to come back home, but mom wouldn’t let her.” He stopped there and that sadness was more evident now.

“I thought at least dad would take care of the two of us, but no dice. His new fling wouldn’t let him have anything to do with us apparently.” He looked for his sister again before continuing on.

“I was too young to be of much help.” He swallowed hard and there was a sheen of tears in the eyes he kept turned away from me. He wasn’t fast enough to hide them.

“Then one morning I went to wake mom before heading out the door for school and…” His hands trembled and he hid them in his lap while I got a bad feeling in my gut.

“She didn’t wake up. She’d taken a whole bottle of sleeping pills the night before.” Well fuck!

“Anyway, after the funeral where dad didn’t even show up, Annie changed schools.”

He spoke faster now as if afraid she’d return before he got it all out and I tried to stay in my seat and not go after her. His words cut me to the core and the thought of my sweet girl going through something like that only made me want to take care of her even more.

“She talked to me about it. She said going to Colombia and studying Chemical Engineering was more stable than being a professional dancer. Did you know she’s a prodigy? I wish I had half her brains, then I’d be able to help her.”

It was almost as if I was no longer there, he was just talking to get shit off his chest. “I tried talking her out of it because I know how much dancing means to her, but she wouldn’t listen.”

“Anyway, because she was too late accepting she missed out on housing and some other expenses that would’ve been covered if she’d gone there in the first place.”

“Mom had a life insurance policy but sis refused to touch it. She put the money in a trust for me instead even though I argued with her about it. I know she sees it as blood money. That mom took her life because she thought she was more help to us dead than alive.”

He got choked up here and I wasn’t doing much better. I was already plotting their father’s death in my head. Fucking asshole! It looks like she was even more like mom than I’d thought.

“You’ve seen that place she lives in. Today was my first time seeing it. The only reason I’m telling you all this is because you seem to want to get her out of there. If you hurt her, I’ll forget that I used to like you, like your game, and kick your ass.”

I guess now that the drama was over it was comedy hour. I didn’t even entertain that shit, but gave him props for standing in front of his sister. “Your sister will be back soon. You still haven’t told me how long you plan to stay.”

A change came over him and he leaned in close before lowering his voice to a whisper. “Did my sister tell you about that guy?” Say what now?

“What guy would that be?” My voice remained smooth and unaffected if I do say so myself.

“The one who tried to put his hand up her skirt.” From the way he clenched his fists and the angry flush on his cheeks I knew he was just as pissed about that shit as I am. Good for you kid.

“Yeah, I know about him, what about it?”

“I can’t leave her here alone any more. After the funeral mom’s best friend and her family took me in.”

“They said it was best if I finished high school there. Annie’s been sending money to help take care of me. They’re nice people and all but my place is with my sister.” He said it all in a rush.

It was easy to read between the lines. He wasn’t going back. “Do they know that you left?” I looked at the bag he’d dropped on the floor next to his chair.

“I left them a letter.” He looked guilty at his admission. I saw her coming out the side of my eye. “Okay, your sister’s on her way back. We’ll leave it for now. I’ll take care of it.”

His shoulders drooped with relief as if he’d been carrying the world on them for a while.

She came back to the table looking between us suspiciously.

I started talking football like that’s all we’d been discussing the whole time she’d been gone to put her at ease. I perked right the fuck up when I realized why she’d been gone so long. She’d brushed her hair and put some gloss on her lips. Still no makeup and I still liked it like that.

My phone went off just before lunch was over. I’d dragged it out as long as I could to give Tony time to do what I’d asked him to in that last text and it seemed to have worked because he now texted me back one word. ‘Done!’

I led the two of them out to the waiting car and didn’t say anything as Tony headed for my place. “Where are we?” She spoke for the first time when I let her out of the car.

I wasn’t about to have a brawl with her on the sidewalk, so I ignored the question as the doorman held the door open for us. Travis, having gauged the situation correctly walked ahead of us exclaiming over the building and the park across the street as if he didn’t notice her distress.

She didn’t stop questioning where we were until we reached my apartment and I opened the door and let them in. She stood stubbornly in the doorway even after her brother had walked in.

I took her hand and pulled her inside. “What are we doing here?”

‘Travis, third room on the left down the hallway.” I ignored her question and instead just took her to the room I’d set up for her. She took one step into the room and balked.

“What is all my stuff doing here?” She rounded on me and I stood my ground. This is what I’d had Tony do while we were at lunch. He’d got a few of the guys to help him no doubt.

He’d brought everything but the ratty furniture and left them in the room. It was mostly clothes and books and a few knickknacks that obviously meant something to her.

“I had them brought here. I told you, I don’t want you in that place.”

“And I told you that was none of your business.” That damn hand went to her hip and she squared off.

“I’m making it my business. If you’d stop being stubborn you’d realize I’m just trying to help you. You’re not going back, so there’s no use arguing. And take off that abomination; it’s an eye sore.”

I insulted her jacket in a bid to change the topic and take her mind off of the situation. I knew insulting her would get her back up and she’d have something else to fume at.

I let her rant and rave at me as we stood in the middle of the room facing off like two prized fighters. She had some good points. Like the fact that this was some unheard of shit.

We’d only just met, didn’t know each other and already I was moving her in with me. Her words! She was acting like I did this shit every day. What she didn’t know and couldn’t seem to understand is that I was just as surprised by my actions as she was.

Why do women always think that they’re the only ones at risk? Like men don’t have feelings as well? Like we don’t have the same fears as they do? What the hell is so wrong with me wanting to take care of her?

Shit, I forgot the bags in the trunk. Even as I thought it the doorbell rang. I went to answer the door and found Tony and the doorman standing there laden down with packages. “Thanks!”

I took the bags in both hands and headed back down the hall to find her standing in the same spot I’d left her in. I walked past her and dropped the bags on the bed, ignoring the scathing look she gave me.

“Do you really want your little brother staying in that place? Why don’t the two of you stay here for the weekend? You can’t still be afraid to be alone with me, not with him here.”

She gave me a look that said she didn’t appreciate being out maneuvered one bit, but I knew I had her when Travis entered the doorway all excited. “Sis have you seen the view from this place?”

He dragged her over to the windows and I left them alone, hoping the kid knew enough to go along with what I had planned. I looked at my watch and cursed under my breath. I had to go to the club. I had someone to fire.