“Your father just handed me tea with whiskey,” she says, and she takes a small sip. “I could get used to this Southern thing.”

“Family meeting,” my father says, and I just look at him. “Kitchen.”

Olivia gets up. Walking to the kitchen, I look back and see that Casey has his hand on her shoulder, and he walks to the kitchen with her.

I sit on one of the chairs, and Casey sits next to Olivia. “We need to tell the boys what we are dealing with in case they see anything,” my father starts to say, and Casey nods his head.

“Already on it,” he starts. “I think Olivia should stay with me.”

“What?” Olivia whispers, and I groan.

“Just hear me out, darlin’,” he says. “Separating you two is the smart thing to do. If they want to get to you.”

“He’s right,” Olivia says. “It’s my fault that this is coming to your parents’ home. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you and your parents.”

“Olivia, I knew the risks when I packed my bag and brought you here. This is not your fault,” I say.

“I mean, in some ways it is. I should have just never come here,” Olivia says softly and looks at my parents. “I’m so sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault,” my mother says, and my father smiles at her.

“Family takes care of family,” my father says, and I lean over the table and put my hand on hers.

“Sister from another mister,” I joke with her, then look at Casey. “You can’t sleep with her. She’s your sister.”

“She is not even close to being my sister,” Casey says, shaking his head.

“Kallie,” my father says, and I look at him. “I get why you are angry.” I sit up now. “But you have to let Jacob do his job.”

“I’m not getting in his way. I want to stay out of his way. I want to be so far away from him that I moved to the other side of the country. If I could, I would even go farther.” I slap the table. “I want nothing to do with him. Not one thing. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t want to even hear his name.”

“Honey,” my mother says, and I look at her. “He lives here, and he is pretty much all over town.” She looks down. “Ethan, too.” I look at her confused. “His son.”