Sydney’s taste is still on my lips as I go back inside. I’m hard as fuck but I’m glad I didn’t push it out there.

I finally got to feel her. I finally let her know what I want from her, and she can’t deny her own desires anymore. Not after what happened out there. It was so fucking dirty, so wrong, and yet I loved every single second of it. She’s twenty years younger than me and my stepdaughter, but none of that’s going to stop me from taking her when I want her.

I couldn’t push it though. If I went further, we’d risk getting caught. We were right outside, and although it was a secluded part of the yard, her uncle is still on the offensive. I don’t know if he’s watching the house or not. I have to assume that he is. I can’t risk letting him catch me with Sydney.

That would ruin everything. If he saw me with Syd, he’d absolutely destroy this family, and I can’t have that. Julia doesn’t deserve it and neither does Sydney.

I need to be careful. I’m in a very dangerous situation now, and although that thought does excite me, I still have to play it cool. I’m used to dangerous situations from my life as a SEAL but that doesn’t mean I can get away with absolutely anything.

I go into the bathroom and splash some water on my face, trying to calm down. I wanted to stay out there with Syd, tell her what I think of her, let her know what this isn’t just physical for me, but I couldn’t. If I stayed there another second, I was going to fuck that delicious tight little pussy until she screamed, and I couldn’t have that. I couldn’t risk getting us caught just because I needed to sink my cock deep inside of her.

I look into the mirror and shake my head. It’s fucking insane to want a woman like this. I’ve never experienced it before. I can’t believe what I’m willing to risk for Sydney, and I don’t think she even realizes it yet. She has no clue how important she’s becoming to me, but I’ll show her, sooner or later.

I just need to figure out a safe way to do it.

As I leave the bathroom, cock finally less hard, I glance outside and catch Syd sunning herself again. Her perfect fucking body looks so good it almost gets me rock hard again, but my phone starts ringing at the perfect moment.

I walk over to the counter and grab it. “Yeah?” I ask, surprised at how annoyed I feel.

“Connor, it’s Mack.”

I pause for a second. Mack is one of the guys I hired to look into Evan. He’s a friend of mine in the security business, and one of the guys that I trust the most.

“What’s up?” I ask him.

“I found some info on that target.”

“Good. What do you got for me?”

“Seems as though your man, Evan Hall, is hiring a lot of guys.” Mack doesn’t sound too pleased about this.

“How many?” I ask him.

“I’m not sure. But Connor... he’s not hiring legit guys.”

I frown, looking down at the kitchen counter. There’s a note from Julia on there, written in her hastily scrawled handwriting, ordering me to do the dishes.

“What’s his source?”

“I’m not sure,” Mack says. “I’m guessing mafia, but it’s hard to say. My contacts aren’t all talking.”

I sigh, shaking my head. This is very bad. If Evan is hiring muscle from the mafia or any other gang, that means he’s getting serious, and violence is going to break out soon. You don’t hire guys from the underworld if you don’t plan on using them. Maybe Evan doesn’t know that, but I suspect he’s aware of what he’s getting himself into, and he doesn’t care.

“What can you do for me?” I ask Mack, although I know the answer.

“Not much,” he admits. “I can get you some more guys, but Connor, this shit is going to get expensive real fast.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“I’m giving you a discount because you’re a friend, but these other guys won’t. You’re going to put them in danger, and they’re going to want double pay.”

“I know that,” I grunt. “I appreciate your help, Mack. I’ll work something out.”

“Do you have any platoon buddies left?” he asks. “Any guys you can count on that might do the job for cheap?”

“Not really,” I admit. “A few guys in Texas. One guy in Boston. But I couldn’t ask them to do this.”

Mack sighs. “Listen man. Get some cash. Or get out of town. I don’t think these guys are going to hold back. I don’t know what you’re involved with, but my advice is to run and run fast.”

“Thanks,” I say. “You should back off now. Don’t get any more involved.”

He hesitates. “You can still count on me, man,” he says. “I want to help.”

“I don’t want you to get tangled up in this. I’ll work it out.”

“Call me if you need anything,” he says. “Don’t hesitate.”

“I won’t.”

He hangs up the phone and I toss mine over onto the couch before drifting toward the sink. I turn on the water and pick up a dish, but instead of cleaning it, I smash the fucking thing on the floor.

Rage flows through me. I can’t believe Evan is hiring some fucking mafia goons to come after his own fucking family. He must be fucking stupid if he thinks he can control them. If he unleashes them on this house, they’re going to kill everyone, and probably do worse to Sydney.

I have to figure this out, but Julia is making things as difficult as possible. If she opens up her checkbook, I can keep us safe, but she refuses to see the danger that’s right in front of her. I don’t understand it.

I drift back over to the window and watch Sydney for a second, trying to work out this problem. I need to convince Julia, but it doesn’t seem like anything is going to knock her over the edge. Maybe she doesn’t think her brother is capable of hurting her and her family.

But I need to prove that he is capable of it. Actually, I need to prove that he’s planning on doing exactly that.

An idea hits me as I stand there. I run over and grab my phone, calling up Mack.

“Hey, Mack,” I say. “I actually do need a favor.”

“Sure man. What’s up?”

“Can you come watch over this house for a couple hours? I have an errand to run.”

“Sure,” he says. “Got nothing better to do.”

I grin to myself, excitement coursing through my veins as my plan begins to really form in my mind.

“And one more thing. Do you still have that recording equipment?”

* * *

Evan’s office is surprisingly easy to get to, especially when I start telling people exactly who I am. Apparently, being married to Julia makes me somewhat famous in Rydell Electric, and doors just start opening.

I’m ushered into Evan’s office about an hour after I left the house. His secretary shuts the door as he looks at me from behind his desk, a sick smile on his face.

Evan is a weak man and I can see it, but that makes him dangerous. Weak men are willing to do things that they shouldn’t, violent and dangerous things, just to prove that they’re stronger than they appear. Weak men are far more dangerous than strong men, because they can’t be reasoned with.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Powell? Or should I say, Mr. Hall?”

I frown. “I didn’t take her name.”

“I guess you wouldn’t.” Evan’s hair is cropped short but he’s balding, slowly receding up front. His skin is paunchy and he’s out of shape by maybe twenty or thirty pounds. He looks like he works too much and doesn’t take care of himself at all.

“I know what you’re doing,” I say, getting right to the point. No reason beating around the bush.

He cocks his head at me. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I know you’re hiring guys. Dangerous guys.”

He shakes his head. “I’m totally lost.”

“Listen to me, Evan. I know the kind of men you’re hiring, I’ve worked with them, I’ve fought against them. You can’t control them, not really.”

That sick smile comes back to his face as he leans across his desk. “Who says I want to control them?” he asks.

I frown at him but don’t break eye contact. “You’re making a mistake,” I say. “This is your family. Don’t you understand that?”

“Fuck my family,” he says. “Fuck Julia, fuck her little twat of a daughter, and fuck you, too.” He laughs and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.

I don’t know why, but him insulting Sydney is the worst part of that. It shows me that he doesn’t place her outside of this conflict. He’s probably willing to hurt her to get what he wants.

“Did you leave the note on our door?” I ask. “Did you send that deer head?”

“Probably,” he says, shrugging. “Who knows?”

“And what do you think you’ll do if your father finds out about all this?”

“Let him.” Evan says, laughing. “That old senile fuck can’t stop anything. I’ll kill you and Julia, and then I’ll take the whole company. How expensive do you think it is to cover up a murder?”

I stare him down, completely surprised that he’s being so open. He’s definitely not aware of the recording device I’m wearing, otherwise he wouldn’t be saying this stuff.

I don’t have anything I could take to the police, or at least nothing that would stick. He could easily buy himself out of it, and that would tip my hand. But that’s not why I’m here.

“You’re making a mistake,” I say again, standing.

“Why are you married to my sister, Connor?” he asks. “And tell me the truth.”

I look back at him, shaking my head. “We love each other.”

“No, that’s not it. My sister doesn’t love anybody. Except for maybe her daughter.”

“You’re her brother.”

“Yes,” he hisses, standing suddenly. I can see the anger and the ever-weakening sanity behind his wicked smile. “I’m her brother, and that bitch has gone out of her way to take from me since the day we were born. I’m taking it all back.”

I watch him for a second, but I know there’s nothing I can do. I didn’t really come here to reason with him anyway. He looks like a caged animal, practically frothing at the mouth, ready to leap over the desk at a moment’s notice. He’s desperate and angry and probably blames all of his troubles on Julia. He probably thinks his life would be better if she were completely gone.

He’s so dangerous. It’s incredible that Julia can’t see it, but he’s probably good at hiding it around her. Better for her to think he’s the normal lovable Evan, not this psycho that he’s slowly evolved into.

But I have what I need. I just shake my head at him then turn and leave. I shut the door behind me, sighing as I go.

I feel bad for Julia and Sydney. I genuinely do. Sydney especially never deserved any of this shit. She barely wants to be a part of this family, and she’s actively trying to get away from it and to become something else. But they just keep coming at her, even if she doesn’t realize it.

I’m going to save her. I’m going to get her away from this. But first I have to convince her mother that there’s a problem if I’m going to properly protect her. Maybe I’ve tipped my hand a little to Evan, but it’s worth the tradeoff.

He knows I’m aware of his plans, which is bad because I’ve lost the element of surprise, but the sacrifice is worth it. At least if Julia listens.

I’ll convince her. I have to. I have no other choice.