Not really was the actual answer, but Cora sounded so happy that he wasn’t going to say that out loud. For a tiny moment, Grant thought about the stacks of cash in his brother’s safe. And he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted.

But that was dirty money and would lead to absolutely no good. Wesley’s current predicament was testament to that. “Yes,” he said.

Cora chuckled. “No, we can’t, but I love you for trying. I’ll enjoy this little reprieve and then maybe we can find a part-time helper.” She made a kissing sound. “Come home to me, Grant. I don’t need a full-time nanny. I just need you.”

Grant’s chest tightened. This was what he’d wanted for his brother and sister—a simple life with someone who loved them. “I love you. Kiss the kids for me.”

He ended the call and shoved himself off the couch. As soft as it was, it was no substitute for a bed. He’d fallen asleep on it last night and woken with a stiff back. He went to Wesley’s guest room and pulled back the cover on the bed.

And frowned.

There were no sheets on the bed. He checked the other guest room and found the same thing. The beds had been made up to look guest-ready, but they weren’t. He began picking up items in the second guest room—lamps, knickknacks. Every one of them still bore the price tag. He picked up a framed photo and realized it was the photo that had come with the frame.

This room was a model. It wasn’t real. The first guest room was the same.

This whole apartment was a fake. But intended to fool whom?

Grant found sheets on Wesley’s bed in the master bedroom and kicked off his shoes. He stripped off his clothes and went to bed in his boxers, half expecting masked men with guns to come in and shoot him, thinking he was his brother.

Cora had made him paranoid. But what if she was right?

With a sigh, Grant got up and opened the floor safe. He retrieved Wesley’s service weapon and set it on the nightstand. In the nightstand drawer was a full clip. He inserted it into the magazine and racked the gun to fill the chamber.

If Cora’s “bad guys” came, he’d at least have a fighting chance.

He turned off the light and stared up at the ceiling, hearing every bump and creak in the night. Tomorrow I’m getting a hotel.

Cincinnati, Ohio
Sunday, March 17, 11:50 p.m.

Dani checked on the boys when she went upstairs to get her coat. Joshua was curled up in the bed, his arms tightly clutching the stuffed dog she’d given him. And Michael was on the floor, just as Greg had said.