Claimed by Three (27 page)

Kassius stepped around Cooper and into the house. Teague followed him. Kassius stopped in front of her. His expression was much too serious. This wasn’t going to be good.

“Kassius. Where’s Berenger? Are you here to join in the dinner-party discussion?” She kept her tone as neutral as possible. She had to know what they were going to do.

Kassius hooked a finger on his belt. “No. There’s no easy way to say this. There’s been a threat against you. You’re in danger, and you’ll be in danger as long as you’re with us.”

Sephanie worried her lower lip. She definitely noticed he hadn’t answered her question about Berenger. Was he going to keep that from her? Why would he do that?

“You’re sure you three can’t keep me safe? That even with my brother’s help, I’ll be in danger?” She tried to remain calm. She knew they wanted to keep her safe but wished they were more open with her about it. The thought that they’d hide Berenger’s injury made her angry.

“We can’t take the chance that we’ll fail to protect you.” Teague shook his head. “We have to make it look like we’ve broken up with you. The threat to you might go away if you’re out of our lives. Your brother’s going to get you to a safe place until we know for sure.”

She clasped her hands together in front of her. Whatever had happened to Berenger, it had to be very bad to scare them this much. But damn it, why weren’t they talking to her about him?

“Don’t you trust me?” She wanted them to tell her. There was no reason for them to keep it secret.

“Sephanie, we trust you. We’ve got to go if we’re going to make this look like we’re walking away from you.” Kassius reached out. His fingers brushed her cheek.

She stepped back as anger flashed through her. Did they not trust her judgment enough to tell her everything? “Well, go, but don’t expect me to be waiting for men who can’t trust me enough to tell me the full truth. Tell Berenger that I hope he’s not hurt too badly and that he recovers soon.”

“Sephanie, we didn’t…” Teague began.

“Sephanie, we can’t talk any more about it now, but we’re not giving up on this relationship.” Kassius’s voice hardened. “We’ll see you as soon as we catch whoever is behind this.”

The men left, and she stared at the door as it closed behind them. She wrapped her arms around herself when a cold feeling stole over her. An ache built low in her gut. Her eyes fell to the bags. She couldn’t help but see them as proof of the men’s distrust. It made her feel as if she was disposable, cheap.

Her throat tightened as she fought to control her emotions. She didn’t know which of her warring reactions would win out. Anger or the sickening sadness building inside her. The storm of feelings threatened to leave her sobbing on the floor in front of everyone. She didn’t want that.

Cooper turned. “Sephanie, listen. They didn’t think you’d go if you knew he was hurt.”

“And that’s supposed to make it okay that they kept important information from me.” She started marching away from him.

Sephanie felt the tears gathering, the burn of the pain ripping through her. She blinked, trying to hold it back. A quiet room. That was all she asked. She wouldn’t cry in front of him or any of the rest of her family, because the emotion was as likely to come out in a raging scream as embarrassing out-of-control sobs.

“Seph, they’re only trying to protect you.” Cooper grabbed her wrist to stop her from rushing away from him.

His words decided the matter of which emotion would win. At least for a short time. Anger surged forward as she spun on her brother.

“They only tried to protect me?” She jerked her hand free, smacked him on the chest, and took a slow step forward. “How? Did they make sure I understood everything that was happening? No, they treated me as if I was a brainless twit to be sent on her way to a safer place. Like I didn’t have any emotions or couldn’t possibly care one of them is hurt.”

“You can’t be mad at them for keeping you safe.” He stared at her.

“I’m not angry at them for keeping me safe! I’m mad they didn’t tell me everything. They didn’t include me. Yes, they told me why they were making it look as if they were dropping me, but they didn’t talk to me about Berenger. That’s more important to me than them sending me away. I needed them to be honest with me about it.” She heard footsteps behind her but didn’t look away from her brother.

“They care about you, Sephanie. They want you safe.” He reached out to cup her shoulder.

She knew he intended to comfort her, but she stepped away from his touch. He still defended them.

“Yeah, where was that caring when they decided I didn’t deserve to see Berenger would be all right? I deserve more than that, Cooper.” She put a hand on her hip and waited. He’d probably offer some other damn reason for their behavior.

“I’d say she deserves more too.” Paine’s voice came from behind her.

“Paine, they’re the target of the attacks. She can’t stay near them. The men who attacked Berenger threatened her specifically.” Cooper looked over her shoulder.

“And it’s too fucking hard to sit down with me, talk, and explain it all. Better to get me away from them and drop my things here as if I’m a whore.” Her throat tightened with the emotional pain ripping through her. She realized she was overreacting, but it hurt so much that they’d intended to walk out without telling her about Berenger’s injuries.

Cooper paled and then reddened. “You are not a whore.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s done. I’m out of their lives.” Her voice quavered. She swallowed, desperate not to cry in front of him. Them. She knew someone other than Paine stood behind her. She could hear the sound of feet shuffling, and it was more than one pair.

Everything seemed so bleak. She had trusted Kassius, Berenger, and Teague. Her chest tightened on a sob, and her breath hitched. She’d expected better of them. If they didn’t trust her, was there a future for them?

“Don’t make any decisions you’ll regret, Sephanie,” Cooper cautioned.

She waved her hand vaguely and lurched away from him. Past Paine, her mother, and her sister. She had to find that room. Her shoulders trembled. She tried to breathe slowly, but her eyes burned. She could hardly see as she hurried down the hallway. Her chest ached as she struggled with the tears.

She went into the first room she found, a guest room, stopping only to ensure the door closed behind her. The room blurred in front of her when the tears began to flow. She kept moving until her knees bumped into a piece of furniture. She sat and let the drops run down her cheeks.

Her shoulders shook with racking sobs. She wiped at the tears, desperate to stop the water still streaming from her eyes.
Why?
The question burned through her mind. Why hadn’t they given her time with Berenger?

She felt numb after the tears finally dried. Later, she knew she’d feel the hurt and anger again, but at the moment, she welcomed the dull haze. It made it easier to think and deal with the necessary details. She knew everyone worried about her, especially with the threat. Her mind focused on the specifics of the problem in front of her. She needed to wash her face and start moving forward, beginning with finding out where she’d be going.

Sephanie wandered into the kitchen to find her mother, her sister, her brother, Paine, and Lawson sitting at the table. She didn’t know where Brand, her other brother, was, or maybe they’d forgotten to call him when they’d set up the family meeting. Her mother, sister, or maybe both had been busy while she’d cried. They all had cups of tea in front of them and a couple of platters of food on the table.

Sephanie took one of the available seats and accepted the cup of tea her mother poured for her. Wrapping her hands around the mug, she took a few deep breaths. She didn’t fool herself this would be easy. This was only the beginning.

“Where do you intend to take me?” She looked up and sought her brother’s eyes. He would have a plan and already have a location secured.

“It’s not in the city, and I won’t tell you until we leave. Is what’s in your bags enough for a week or so, or should I send for more?” Cooper met her gaze, his so sober she knew he considered the threat to be more than a possibility.

“I don’t know. I didn’t pack them.” She shrugged. The thought made her wince, but she refused to linger on the pain. She had to think about getting out of the city. There would be time later to think about everything Kassius, Teague, and Berenger had done and if they could rebuild the relationship. She was sad and angry, but she wasn’t willing to give up on it completely.

“Why don’t you take a look and see? The bags are still in the hallway. I can get them for you.” Cooper smiled at her.

“Let her have some time, Cooper. This is all piling onto her suddenly. You’re rushing her.” Her mother scowled at Cooper.

“It’s all right. If he thinks there is a serious threat, I won’t put any of you in danger.” She forced a smile as if everything was normal but knew she didn’t fool anyone.

“You should have some time to adjust without being rushed out of here,” her mother said, and reached over to hold her hand.

“I won’t have you hurt because of the mess following me. I’ll deal with it and get on with my life.” She stood and walked back out into the hallway.

She knelt and opened up the bags to begin going through them, but froze when she saw the clothing on top of the second bag. She drew in a hissing breath, and every muscle in her body tensed.

Son of a bitch.
The bastards had put in the clothing Teague had bought. The clothes symbolized their mistrust and the secrets they tried to keep. She clenched her hands. If they were in front of her, she’d swing at them without hesitation.

She grabbed that piece of blue clothing and ripped it out of the bag. Below it, another piece of the offending attire rested within the case. A small scream of rage escaped. She pulled every piece of clothing Teague had purchased out of her bags and tossed them down beside her. Intent on making sure she hadn’t missed anything, she searched through both bags.

After she gathered up the garments Teague bought, she marched into the kitchen. There was a nice appliance in there she planned to use. The shredder recycler would take care of these things.

“Whoa, Sephanie, what are you doing with your clothes?” Cooper stood from his chair and moved to intercept her before she reached the machine.

“Not my clothes. Teague bought these, and I’m not keeping them.” She tried to step around him.

Cooper closed his eyes but somehow managed to block her way. She didn’t know how he did it, but he kept her away from the shredder recycler. He didn’t grab her but became an obstacle she couldn’t get around.

“Damn it, Cooper, move.” She glared at her brother.

“No, give me the clothes. You don’t wish to see them. Fine. I’ll take them. I don’t want you doing something you’ll regret later.” Cooper held out his hand.

“Cooper, I don’t know what’s going to happen with the relationship, but looking at these clothes, I know I can never wear them without remembering today.” She sighed heavily. When she came back, nothing would be as it was before.

“All right, I’ll take the clothes. You won’t have to see them if you don’t want them.” Cooper gestured for her to hand over the clothes.

“Why does it matter?” She couldn’t help wondering why he wanted to stop her.

“I kind of feel responsible for what’s happened. I was in the hospital room with Berenger while he spoke with the police. Once he told us what the threats were against you, I told him whatever his feelings for you were, he should put your safety first.” Cooper grimaced.

“You didn’t make the decision, and you didn’t force them to keep the truth from me. There are so many other methods they could have chosen. A public fight would be so much more believable than what they pulled.” She handed over the clothes and walked back to the hallway to see what was left in the bags.

She stopped in the hallway when she remembered the necklace. Her breath caught in her throat as she thought about taking it off. She reached up and touched the metal. No, she couldn’t give it back. Even though she was angry and not sure how they’d make the relationship right again. With a sigh, she continued down the hall.

She knelt once more in front of the bags. Other than the clothing Teague had bought, there weren’t many complete outfits in the bags. She found two pairs of pants, too many pairs of underwear, one shirt, and a dress and shoes stuffed between everything else. If she hadn’t been furious at what they’d done already, this would have set her off.

She had actual paired outfits at their home. All they had to do was take them out of the closet, but they brought her this crap and kept the better part of her clothing. She needed more clothes. She folded what she planned to keep, put it back in the bags, and pulled out the rest to put in a bag. Her mother would keep them until she came back.

She picked up the mostly empty bags while holding the bundle of assorted clothing. While she strode back into the kitchen, she thought about what other clothes she’d need.

“Mom, do you have an extra bag? They didn’t give me back half my things, and what they did put in doesn’t make much sense.” Sephanie glanced at her mother as she stopped inside the kitchen.

“I’ll get something for you.” Her mother stood and left the kitchen.

“So do you think you have enough clothes?” Her brother turned in his chair to look at her.

“No, it’s like they grabbed what was closest to hand. I have maybe two outfits in there. I’ll need at least two more, preferably three or four more outfits, even if this only takes a short time.” She clutched the armful of assorted clothing tighter.

“Maybe the fact that they didn’t bring everything should tell you something about their future plans.” Cooper leaned back in his chair. He looked smug, like that confirmed something he’d suspected.

“It tells me they’re lousy packers. As to future plans, I’m focused on getting through this temporary forced vacation before I think about anything else.” She narrowed her gaze on her brother. He could be more supportive. Maybe show some anger toward them. He had too much sympathy for their side of the situation.