“She didn’t sell it to Colin. She sold it to me.”

My eyes snap over to her face. For the first time I notice how pale she is, the red blotches on her cheeks, the makeup that is normally covering her eyes now smeared across her cheeks.

“What? Why?”

“She showed up a couple hours ago, and I could tell she was scared. Terrified, Murph. The man with her...he just gave me a really bad feeling. So I went along with everything she said. Told me about my offer to buy the shop from her, and she just looked so desperate, I went along with it.”

My knees start to feel weak. “What did he look like?”

“Dark hair. Not very tall. A smile that would melt paint off the walls, and not in a good way. He wouldn’t let her leave his side. She kept trying to go to the bathroom, and he kept his hand on her leg the whole time.”

I can picture his smug face as she speaks. The way he fixed his tie last night on his way out of the house. Out of our fucking house. That asshole was in her room, and I did nothing. He took her right out from under us, and I was too busy moping to stop him.

I let out a groan, wanting to punch the wall again.

“I know who it was.”

She asked me to fight for her and I said nothing. She knew he was coming for her and I did fucking nothing. I pushed her away.

“Who was it?” Rafe asks, not even realizing he was behind me.

“That asshole came back for her. He was at the party last night. Tia, where did they go?”

“I don’t know. They seemed to be in a hurry. I asked about you...”

“What the fuck did she say?” I ask, unable to keep the tension out of my voice.

“She said, ‘water under the bridge.’”

Those words feel like knives, and for a minute I realize I might be too late. “How long ago was that?”

“I rushed right over, so...fifteen minutes ago? Where are you going?” she gasps as I push past her.

“I have to stop her.”

Ryder is standing near the garage door with keys in his hand. I hear the rumble of Logan’s bike as he turns the corner onto the driveway. Rafe must have called him because he has a serious look on his face like he’s ready to do whatever I would ask him to.

“I’m coming too,” Ryder barks.

I pause for a moment as I look at him. The idea to argue with him passes by as I watch him start up his car. He’s my brother, as much as Rafe and Logan, and as it turns out, even more so. If he were in trouble, I’d be on my bike in a fucking heartbeat.