Ellen Sue told me to rest, but that wasn’t happening. I couldn’t turn my brain off. My mind raced with everything that had occurred, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together that made up Paxton Williams and whatever in the hell he got me involved in.

It was all so surreal. Of course I’d heard of safe rooms before, even saw them on television, but his was nothing like I’d ever seen before. I knew Paxton had a place downtown as well, so how much money did he have? He was an accountant so I was certain he was good with money, but this cabin and the upgrades plus this underground hideaway had to set him back hundreds of thousands of dollars. Did accountants really make that much money? Where the hell was he?

The questions kept building inside my head. Frustration filled me, wanting to know where Pax was and get some idea of why Ellen Sue and I were in such danger we had to come down here. After the adrenaline rush of getting down here and talking to Ellen Sue, I felt the crash of it, but fought it away. There were too many unanswered questions. Worry, anger, sadness, and fear all ran through me. It made me feel a little bit better that Ellen Sue was in the dark as well.

It made me feel not so alone.

Loneliness never bothered me before. I was perfectly fine in my tiny apartment, living alone. I had friends, of course, and we went out on a regular basis, but it wasn’t like I had a slew of boyfriends. I had Riley, but he had his own life to live too. I guess I had gotten to this place in life where I wasn’t so wrapped up in a future with a man that I found satisfaction in where I was. Except now, Paxton had virtually secluded me from my already mundane life, and it really showed me what it was like to be alone.

At least this time, Ellen Sue knew how I was feeling. I could read the worry in her face, but she was able to relax which I couldn’t seem to do.

Even with the television in the background, nothing was soothing. I wanted to see Paxton. Yes, I really did. It was probably stupid and I’d kick myself later, but there it was in bold letters flashing bright. Seeing him would mean he was okay, then I could set my plan in motion to throttle him. Because, you know, when I did it, it would be justified.

Ellen lay asleep in the chair next to me without a care in the world. She must’ve lived this life with them over and over again, never worrying. It made me want to dig deeper into her experiences with Paxton. I knew his life growing up wasn’t easy, but she seemed to have an inside scoop. Not that she would tell me anything, but it was always worth a shot. The worst thing she could do or say was no.

Alarms started blaring through the room, and Ellen Sue popped up fully awake. “What’s going on?” I asked, watching her move swiftly to the corner of the room. Once again with her bat moves, she slid open the wall, pushed a button, and a screen appeared. She touched it several times as I raced to get over to her to peer over her shoulder.

The screen filled with several pictures of the house upstairs. The backs of male bodies appeared, then the feed cut out. “What’s happening?”

The loud buzzers stopped, but then softer ones came the same as when Ellen Sue opened the door to the place. A beast of a man stood there. He had dark hair with a trimmed beard that only made his face look more rigid.

Garrett Monroe.

“Come,” was all he said, and Ellen Sue went right to him and gave the big man a hug. They both waited for me to go first. I studied Garrett’s face for a clue and got nothing but a stone-cold stare.

I started walking but asked, “Where’s Paxton?”

Garrett said nothing to me, and I really wanted to smack him upside his head. I hated being ignored, it brought back so many memories of my childhood. Brushing it off, the quietness of the tunnels started to get louder the closer we got to the house.

Stepping through the door, there was a commotion of people, but the one person who suck out to me was Riley.

I raced to him, noting the blood on his shirt. “What happened to you?”

“Bullet.” Fear and panic melded together, stopping me from wrapping my arms around him. I had a million questions but couldn’t seem to form words. Instead, I gauged his shoulder. It looked as though it was just a trickle of blood and not a gush.

“Riley, now,” Onyx said from the kitchen, making me jump. He was a scary man. Oh who was I kidding, he was terrifying. He had on a black t-shirt with dark wash jeans. His arms were covered to his wrists in tattoos and even his neck had some. He wore a backward baseball hat that only made him look more intimidating instead of relaxed.

“I’m good. Need to get this looked at, and I’ll be right back,” Riley explained before turning from me.

He took off, but veered to the side to kiss a very pregnant woman on the top of the head. Was that his girlfriend? His kid? My niece or nephew? What the hell? Riley and I didn’t have secrets. Why did I not know her?

I stomped after Riley. “Who is she?”

Riley sat at the kitchen counter, while a man in scrubs examined his bullet wound. “That’s my girl, Melanie.”

“Is that your baby?” The words tumbled out of my mouth.

Riley smiled confidently. “Yeah.”

Onyx slammed his hand down on the counter making me and the woman who appeared next to me jump. “You fucker. That is not your baby, and you damn well know it. You’re the fuckin’ reason for this mess in the first damn place.”

“Technically, we don’t know for sure,” the pregnant woman piped up, rubbing her belly.

“Swear to fuck, Melanie, you better pray you didn’t fuck shit up,” Onyx told her, glaring. If looks could kill, that broad was one dead woman.

“It’s gonna be okay. No matter whose baby it is,” I added, looking at my brother and wishing I could climb inside his head to sort out what the hell was happening. I was confused, hurt, and worried. I looked at Onyx. “Where is Pax?”

He blinked but didn’t answer me. “Riley, gotta get you cleared then you and Melanie will be going to the guest room. We have a nurse full-time assigned to you, Melanie. When the time comes she’ll call the midwife.”

It was my turn to blink as Melanie and my brother nodded like this was a regular day in paradise for them. “Someone wanna clue me in here?” I asked to Onyx, Riley, Melanie, and Garrett who had joined us.

Garrett shook his head, stopping everyone from speaking.

“I deserve to have answers. Where the hell is Paxton?”

Garrett gave a half smirk. “That spunk. It’s gotta be the fight she’s got.”

I put my hand on my hip and gave him the stare. The glare every woman perfects that screams I’m done playing, asshole.

“Oh yeah, that’s it.”

“What’s it?” I fired back.

“You got that spirit that challenges a man. Pax’s got it bad for you I bet,” Garrett muttered as Onyx nodded, encouraging him on.

“Where is Paxton, and what the hell is going on that my brother was shot, this chick is pregnant, and y’all want to argue over her baby, and they have to stay here?”

“Paxton will tell you what he wants you to know,” Onyx replied but did so staring at Riley. The looks they exchanged let me know my brother wasn’t allowed to give me any answers.

“Then let me at him!”

“What’s your blood type?” Garrett asked me.

“A positive,” I responded. “Wanna tell me what the hell that has to do with Pax?” Fear was building inside me by the minute. “Was he hurt? Tell me where he is!”

The doctor looked at Garrett and nodded.

“Come with me,” Garrett said, holding out a hand. “What are you willing to do for Paxton?” Garrett asked, stopping me just in front of the stairs.

Tears filled my eyes. He couldn’t be hurt, could he? Just thinking of him needing something and not getting it felt like a punch to the gut.

“What does he need?”

Garrett studied me. “What comes from your heart.”

His face was blank. I couldn’t read him. After a short pause, he moved down the hallway and past the stairs to the downstairs bedroom. Opening the door, I gasped as I looked behind Garrett to find Paxton in a bed with a nurse and doctor hooking stuff up to him, including an IV stand with a bag of blood pumping into him.

“What happened?” I asked as I tried to rush to Pax, but Garrett held me back. “Don’t, Garrett. I need to get to him.”

“Let them do their jobs,” Garrett said on a huff. “I brought you just so you can see that he’s alive.”

Anger hit me like a wrecking ball. “You helped him take my life. And now, you want me to stand down while he’s hurt!”

“No, I want you aware. He may need more blood. We have more on the way, but if there isn’t enough time are you willing to give him your blood?”

Tears fell down my face freely. “I’ll give him whatever he needs.”

“He’s gonna need all you have to give,” Garrett told me eerily, and I knew this was much more than Paxton possibly needing my blood.

“What happened?”

“Not sure,” Garrett said before he moved to a chair in the corner of the room, and I stood because sitting just wouldn’t work. I needed to pace.

“Was he shot?”

Garrett nodded. “Twice. He took a hit to the shoulder that’s lodged in his collarbone and a bullet to the thigh. At some point, his leg was stomped causing more damage. He lost a lot of blood.”

“Will he be okay?”

“Doc says he’s stable now that they got the blood in him. Wanted you to see him before surgery. They gotta remove the bullets. He’s medicated so he’s not hurting. Say what you need to; they are transporting him to our Carsen Lane building where they’ll do surgery.”

“Can I go with him?”

Garrett shook his head. “I gave him my word you’d be safe. There’s no safer place for you than here.”

“Why am I in danger?” I asked, trying to piece the puzzle together.

“Not my story to tell. When Pax wakes up and returns, he’ll tell you what you need to know. Until then, you’re wasting time we don’t have. Talk to your man so we can get him transported. He refused to go there until he saw you. Coming here was the only way to get him calm.”

How was it I found my brother, Pax came home, and I had more questions now than answers? My mind was spinning. I walked to the hospital bed where Pax laid shirtless and covered in iodine. His chest was covered in tattoos that went down his arms. While I had seen him naked many times, I never studied his ink until now. He always called me his angel, and I took in the praying hands that were low on his abdomen and the cross covering his pec. Under the cross was a portrait of a girl. Her eye centered on his chest, and it reminded me of the way I once looked at him. A dragon covered his other pec and seemed to be protecting the girl.

“What are you protecting me from?” I whispered as I took his hand in mine. “Paxton Williams, you stay strong because I have questions.” I fought my emotions as he lay in front of me, taking small breaths with his eyes closed.

What I wouldn’t give for him to wake up and answer me?

Did it really matter? The why? No, right now with him laying helpless in front of me nothing mattered but Paxton waking up.

“I don’t even care that you smoke,” I whispered and felt stupid for saying it, but the words tumbled out. “You have to be okay so I can be the one to choke you and yell at you,” I softened, “and kiss you.” I leaned down and pressed my lips to his.

He didn’t move.

For the first time he didn’t kiss me. I missed it. Reality hit me hard. I craved Pax. I wanted him. I loved him. I needed him. It had always been him. Even after all these years, he got me without a single word. He was everything I needed from the past and in my future. He was why I was okay being alone because if I couldn’t have him I didn’t want anyone.

The realization was a hard pill to swallow, but it was the truth.

I just needed him to be okay so I could tell him. Why he followed me, why he took my money, why he made this cabin and kept me here—none of the why’s mattered. I just needed Paxton, however I could have him.

I couldn’t come this far to lose it all now. Garrett said he needed what my heart could give. It wasn’t my blood that would get him through, it was my love.

And he had it.