“Starting now?” I jabbed, and he fought against a smirk.

“Sometimes we think we know someone, but we don’t really know them at all.” He swallowed hard as he tossed his jacket onto my pile of dirty clothes. Over his shirt he wore a black holster that looped over his shoulders where the gun had been concealed against his ribs. “Help me.” He turned his back to me, and I reluctantly reached up his nearly six-foot frame and pulled the straps from his shoulders, removing the holster from his back. When he turned to face me again, he pressed his lips to my forehead, and I let my eyes fall closed, knowing that trusting him was my only choice. His hand slid into my hair, and the pad of his thumb trailed lightly over my cheekbone.

“He’s my friend,” I mumbled, trying to reason with him.

“Well, your friend doesn’t take a fucking hint.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m just going to be less subtle than the last time we spoke. I don’t trust him. You stay put.” I was left gripping a gun against my chest, holding my towel in place, and wondering if this was the day the past caught up with us.

“Colin,” I whisper-yelled after him, but he was gone.

I listened to his footsteps descend the stairs as I clutched at the aching heart in my chest. What was I doing?

I rushed into my closet, setting the heavy gun on my dresser as I grabbed a pair of jeans and a tank top. I pulled on my underwear, not bothering with a bra as I threw the rest of my clothing on. As I rushed from the room, I froze at the top of the stairs, gazing down at Jacob, who stood just inside the door, a cocky smile on his face. Amanda stood to his side, and Colin was below, his back facing me as he turned his head to look up at me, a serene smile on his face.

Everyone seemed calm as I slowly walked down the steps to what felt like my execution, careful not to dislodge the weapon from the back of my jeans as I cursed myself for bringing it along. But that look in Colin’s eye terrified me. When most people would get flustered or lose their cool in a perceived dangerous situation, he seemed relaxed and at home.

“Hey, Annie.” Jacob ran his hand through his messy dark hair, and my gaze flicked to Colin, whose muscles ticked over his jaw.

I smiled back at Jacob as I stepped down beside Colin. “Hey,” I replied nervously, tucking my wet hair behind my ear. Colin’s arm went around my waist and against the gun I concealed below my shirt. He looked down at me, a ghost of a smile on his lips when he realized that I had brought it. Guilt turned my stomach at the challenging look in his eye. When you’re at the end of your rope, it doesn’t matter if you’re one inch off the ground or one hundred.

“So…you didn’t come by last night. I was worried.” He put his hand on his chest, and I looked down at my bare feet, not wanting to focus on his bloodshot eyes. The smell of marijuana and cigarettes hung heavy in the air around him.

“I don’t think that’s wise, Jake.” Colin laughed sardonically, and I knew he was well aware of Jacob’s state.

“I promise I’ll have her home before dinner.” He glanced around the entryway. “My dad’s a cop, so…not like you need to worry.” He turned to me. “Is your dad home or something so I could talk to him?”

“A cop?” Colin stiffened beside me, and the metal from the gun dug into my lower back. I stood up straighter to compensate as I tried to figure out a way to get us all out of this situation alive. At least he knew that I hadn’t told Jacob why I was here.

“He’s out of town. I’m in charge.” Colin smiled down at me, his eyes dancing with a twisted power that made me recoil.

“I think it’s nice. She should spend time with her peers. It would be good for her,” Amanda chimed in, a bright smile covering up her dim mind. Dumb as a box of fucking rocks. Way to pick ’em.

“How old are you, boy?” Colin’s gaze locked onto Jacob, who shoved his hands deep into his jean pockets. If this was going to be a pissing match, I wish they had the decency to let us ladies step out of the way first.

“Old enough.” Jacob’s eyes narrowed as he looked Colin over. “How old are you?”

I grabbed Colin’s belt at the small of his back to keep him from taking a step forward. He could have easily pulled from my grasp, but he did me the small favor of stopping himself, at least for the moment. “Jake is eighteen,” I spoke up. “He’s only a few months older than I am.” I tried to keep my tone even. Colin cleared his throat as they stared each other down, neither backing down, and the temperature rose about ten degrees.

“So…” Jacob nodded his chin to Colin, and I knew he was taking note of the fact that we were polar opposites of each other. Colin was tall and athletic with dark hair and blue eyes. I was a good half a foot shorter, thin, and blonde. Honestly, Colin and Jacob looked more alike.

“I have to help clean up from the party.” I kept my face expressionless, something I’d learned from Colin. Jacob nodded as his eyes ran over us, and he rubbed his hand over his jaw. That was my moment. I could tell Colin to fuck off or let him continue to run my life. I was playing blind to the facts, and no one else was willing to budge. I did what I could to quickly defuse the situation.

“Yeah, whatever. I just wanted to talk. Maybe later?” Jacob looked hurt, and I wanted to tell him I wasn’t avoiding him, but explaining the truth seemed impossible. My pretend brother is a sociopath who likes to control every aspect of my life because he thinks I need to be watched like a child.

“Yeah…maybe.” I smiled as I stepped toward him and out of Colin’s grasp. Amanda pulled open the door, and Jacob took a step back, stumbling over his own feet.

“Can I stop by tomorrow?” he asked as I continued forward.

“If I’m not busy, I’ll come see you.” I smiled, but inside I felt like I was dying. “I’ll be around.”

Jacob stepped toward me and hooked his arm around my neck. I froze, hoping he wouldn’t reach lower and find the gun. He was just being an ass to get under Colin’s skin because they didn’t like each other, and the ugly truth hurt.

As he pulled back, I forced a smile, slowly closing the door on him, on us.

“Amanda, give us a minute.” Colin’s eyes narrowed as I turned to face him. “In fact, go take care of your shopping. Annie won’t be able to join you today. The house is a disaster.” She looked like she was going to interject, but instead she walked around us and out the front door. Coward. I knew she was never a match for him. We stood, frozen in time as we waited for the sound of her car. I thought about opening the front door and running after Jacob, but what would be the point? Neither of us was any match for Colin. My eyes dipped fractionally toward the knob, and he smiled.

He took two large strides toward me, and his hand circled my neck, pinning me hard against the glass. He pushed against my trachea, but with controlled pressure so as to not cut off my air supply completely. He was making sure I understood who was really in control. His forehead fell against mine, and the mint of his breath was all I could smell or taste.

“You have no idea what you’re doing.”

“I’m sorry.” I tried to shake my head, but my movements were restricted by his hold.

“You will be, sweetheart,” he threatened in that dark, gravelly voice I had heard from the doorway of his office when he was with Amanda. I sucked in a ragged breath, and the gun dug into the top of my backside as I pressed against the wood. His nose skimmed along the line of my jaw, and my heart stopped. Colin was a predator. He enjoyed the thrill of having power over others. It was engrained in him as a child, and while I didn’t know the depths of his depravity, I knew enough to be worried.

“W-why are you acting like this?” My voice cracked as I spoke, and I saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.