Page 29 of Never and Always
“I disagree.”
I huffed. “Of course you do.”
Then his face turned serious. “Piper, you aren’t alone in this. Tell me what happened last night.”
I ran a hand over my hair and huffed out another breath. “You’re tenacious.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet, babe.”
I’d never liked any man calling me babe…until now. I wasn’t telling him that. “He was looking for my brother. He wanted me to give Chance a message. Apparently, Chance owes his boss money.”
Everett cursed.
“This is nothing new, Everett. My brother is a gambler, with no employment. He’s often in debt, and often looking for money.”
“Which is why he came to see you?”
“Yes,” I said tiredly.
“What’s going on?”
I jerked and looked up. Somehow Ro and Caden had come in without me even hearing them open the door.
Caden looked between Everett and me, then crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Why are your hands grazed?”
How could he even see them? God, the man was in the right field since he saw everything that went on in the hotel.
“Her brother’s in town,” Everett said.
Ro’s lips flattened. “He’s bad news.”
“Apparently, he owes money to someone not nice. One of his goon’s attacked Piper last night in town.”
Both Ro and Caden stiffened.
“I’m fine. Everett was there and helped me.”
“We need to find your brother,” Caden said.
I sank back in my chair. “He’s not returning my calls.”
“I’ll find him,” Caden said darkly.
“And whoever he owes money to needs to know that Piper has protection, and isn’t a part of this,” Everett added.
“Guys, I appreciate the concern, I do, but I can take care of myself.”
Everett rose. “Even when guys twice your size attack you with a knife.”
“Knife?” Ro’s tone was sharp and lethal.
Caden’s face hardened even more.
“We know you can take care of yourself,” Everett continued. “Doesn’t mean you’re going to.” He brushed a thumb over my cheek and stepped back.
Ro and Caden shared a look.
“Everett’s right,” Ro said. “We’ll help out.”
