Hot 4 (Multiple Love)

"Me too, Carm," I say, shocked that she's talking about Mom. Since she passed, it's like there's been an unsaid rule that we don't bring her up. I know it hurts me to talk about her. Maybe Carm feels the same way.

"Anyway. Keep safe and keep happy," Carmella says. "I have to go. There's a meeting starting in five."

"Sure. Thanks for calling, and congratulations."

When we hang up, I stare at my phone for a while, still unsettled by the conversation. My sister is getting married to a man that Dad introduced her to. Does she really love him, or are my boys right? Is she just living her life to please our father?

I hope her choice is real and driven by her heart.

But now that she knows my truth, how long do I have before Dad finds out?

I shiver at the thought of how mad he'll be when he does.

The confrontation is coming, and when it does, it's going to be big.

26

It's Saturday morning, and I'm stretched out in bed reading, with Kane and Karter by my side. Holden and Harris have been on a night shift. When my phone rings, Karter reaches for it on the shelf and hands it to me. It's Natalie.

"Nat!" I squeal. It's been over a week since I last spoke to her, sharing my gossip about Blake and his outburst, and about Carmella’s engagement. She'd agreed that my life was turning into a bad Brazilian TV show, and we'd laughed at how ridiculous everything was, even though behind the laughter was a layer of anxiety that couldn't be shifted.

She always makes me feel better, even in the most stressful situations, and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about me.

"Connie. Your dad is on his way to you now."

I sit up straighter, not sure that I've understood correctly. "What?"

"Your dad is on his way. He called my mom, ranting about how I've been a bad influence on you. He told her that he's disgusted with the life she's letting her daughter live, and she should be ashamed of herself. Then he said he's not going to be making the same mistake with you. He's on his way to do whatever he has planned, to extricate you from the boys."

"He's on his way here? How does he know where I am?"

Karter and Kane both turn quickly at my words, leaning in closer.

"That's just it," Natalie says, as though she's pondering that herself. "How did he find out?"

"Maybe Carmella told him."

Natalie whistles long and low. "You really think your sister would do that?"

Shaking my head, my mind skitters over our conversation. She didn't threaten to tell Dad, and her concern for what will happen to me when he did find out seemed genuine. "I wouldn't have thought so, but maybe. Maybe Dad tried to visit my apartment and called her and put her under pressure. I could believe that."

"Who else could it be?" Natalie asks. She doesn't want to believe my sister would be capable of outing me either.

"Blake, I guess. He's the one who's mad about it. Maybe he thinks that involving my dad will break us up."

Kane mutters an expletive and slides out of bed, instantly searching for some clothes. "Not sweatpants," Karter hisses. I guess they're already thinking about how to make a good impression on my father, who will absolutely never come around, even if they were billionaires wearing fifty-thousand-dollar suits.

"Would he really do that?"

"I don't know. I've met him twice, and both times he's been violently opposed to me being with his sons."

"He wasn't too happy about my relationship either," Natalie says. "But Conrad has the upper hand in that sibling relationship."

"Lucky you," I mutter.

"How long have I got?" I follow Karter and Kane, scrambling to find clothes.

"I don't know. Maybe five hours, maybe five minutes. Who knows where he was when he called Mom?"

"Shit," I mutter. "Well, thanks for the heads-up."

The sound of a horn interrupts our conversation. "Where are you Nat? It sounds busy."

"I'm on my way to yours," she says. "I'll be there in three hours. You didn't think I'd leave you to deal with all of this by yourself, did you? I just hope that I get there before your dad."

Even as my heart swells with love at my best friend's loyalty and protectiveness, I know that her leaving behind her kids and driving all this way is crazy. "Turn back now," I say. "Seriously. I have the boys for support. I'll be fine."

"No way," she says. "We're going to deal with this shit. Then I'm going to hang out with my bestie. The babies are fine. They have three daddies to take care of them."

"Yeah. I guess so. Okay, well, I'll see you soon. Drive carefully."

We say our goodbyes, and Karter and Kane shake their heads. "This has our dad written all over it. He didn't get what he wanted, so he's going about it another way." Kane reaches for my hand, pulling me closer.