See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)

by Jordan Ford

  He gives me a knowing grin. “I bet you will.”

  Slipping out, he steps back to watch us reverse out of his garage before sliding the door closed. I’m guessing we’ll never see him again.

  I don’t know what my life’s going to look like now.

  All I can think about is getting Chris as far away from all this as possible. Thankfully Riley and Kade are onboard.

  “Get some shut-eye, Ry,” Kade mutters. “You’re driving next.”

  As Riley leans his head back, I gaze out the window, my eyes tracking every movement I can. The stolen truck will have been reported by now. Dean Hancock will know we’re missing. The dock will be swarming with police. They’ll find the dead guy who shot Chris, and who knows what else.

  It won’t take long for them to be sweeping the area, knocking on doors, asking questions.

  A police siren wails behind me and I flinch, looking out the back window. It passes through an intersection and keeps heading straight, not noticing the jalopy we’re driving out of town.

  My shoulders stay tense and alert until we cross the state line. It’s not until after midday, when Riley takes the wheel, that I eventually manage to fall into a light sleep.

  I gently rest my hand on top of Chris’s chest. It rises and falls beneath me, calming my nerves and reminding me that she’s keeping her promise.

  For now, I don’t have to live without her and if I can have my way, I can keep saying that for a really long time.

  #41:

  Looking Forward

  Christiana

  I wake on a gasp, my eyes popping open to reveal a pale glow highlighting the rustic furniture around me. It’s morning. The blue threadbare curtains do nothing to mask this.

  I’m alive. I’m safe.

  I swivel my head on the pillow to see the room is empty. Distant noises of tinkering remind me I’m not alone. My guardian angels are close by.

  A smile twitches the corner of my mouth and I sit up slowly, rubbing my arms against the morning chill. Brushing my fingers over my wound, I wince at the fact it’s still tender. The bruising has come in, purple and intense, but the stitches will dissolve soon and it’ll be a distant memory to my body.

  But never to my mind.

  It’s been over a week and I’m still plagued by nightmares. I wonder how long they’ll last.

  Easing out of bed, I grab Trey’s big sweatshirt off the end of the wooden frame and pull it over my winter pajamas. The cabin is freezing; I’ve been wearing double layers to bed, plus thick woolen socks.

  In spite of the doctor’s orders, the guys stopped in South Dakota and spent a few hundred bucks stocking up on clothing and supplies. They guessed my size and did pretty good, but I still prefer wearing Trey’s sweatshirts, and I think he kind of likes me doing it too.

  Zipping up the hoodie, I bunch it around my neck and pad out the door, walking across the wooden floor in search of my anchor.

  I find him on the front porch. He’s holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate and looking down at Kade and Riley. They found an old motorcycle in the shed and Kade’s now tinkering with it. Tools are scattered around him, his fingertips imbedded with grease.

  Apparently when we arrived, the cabin was empty and looked like it had been that way for a very long time. Riley has no idea what happened to his uncle. I can sense it’s unsettling him. Maybe being here reminds him of his mom too much. Trey told me Ry used to spend summers up here with his mother. His uncle taught him how to fish in the lake and track animals in the forest.

  Riley hasn’t talked about it but I’ve caught him staring into the distance, a muscle working in his jaw, a troubled frown crinkling his forehead.

  He snaps out of it pretty easily, but Riley’s good at putting up a front. Plus he’s been kept pretty busy with this place. I have no idea how long we’re going to be here but even if we only stay a month, there’s a lot of work to do to make it habitable.

  The barn out back is fully loaded with all kinds of equipment. The guys haven’t been through it all yet but according to Trey, Riley’s uncle took self-sufficiency to a whole new level. I took a tentative walk around the cabin yesterday and found an overgrown orchard and what looked to be a chicken coop. There’s probably a vegetable patch somewhere beneath the snow too. Not that I know anything about growing vegetables.

  Not that we’ll be staying here to do that.

  The thought makes my stomach surge.

  Riley’s sawing up wood, preparing panels to continue fixing up the back of the house.

  We arrived when it was dark and Trey carried me inside, using the new blanket he bought to create a clean bed for me. We were all so exhausted we collapsed in different parts of the house and didn’t wake until after lunch the next day.

  I don’t know where Riley and Kade slept, but Trey lay down beside me and was still there when I stirred. He’s remained by my side every night since, like a night watchman keeping vigil.

  I kind of love it and hope he never stops.

  “Hey.” I wrap my arm around his back and rest my cheek on his shoulder.

  “Morning, beautiful,” he murmurs, kissing my forehead before passing me his mug.

  I take a sip, my lips rising. He’s put cinnamon in it.

  “How you feeling?”

  I nod. “Better each day.”

  He smiles at me. It’s sweet and perfect. I have to kiss it.

  As usual, he takes his time, deepening the kiss and holding my face like I’m precious before pulling away from me. His nose brushes mine.

  “You been working hard?” I whisper.

  He nods, gently fingering the blisters on his hand.

  This is so unreal. We’re city kids hiding out in the wilderness. We don’t know anything. But somehow, between the four of us, we’re going to figure it out. I have to believe that.

  “Got some wood chopped this morning.” Trey grins.

  This is the first time in his life he’s had to step up and physically work for his survival. By the glint in his eye I can tell he loves it. I rest my hand on his arm. Even through his jacket and woolen sweater, I can feel the hard muscle beneath. He’s strong from years of playing hockey, but this work’s going to turn him into a mass of strength and beauty.

  My insides quiver with the thought, heat rising in my cheeks.

  Thankfully Trey doesn’t notice. He’s back to watching Riley and Kade.

  “I’ll go help Ry in a few. It’d be good to get the back of the house repaired this week. It’ll make things warmer for sure, and then Kade can move into that room.”

  “Considering Ry’s uncle was a hermit, he built a fair-sized cabin.”

  “Yep.” Trey nods. “Perfect for us.”

  “Fate?” I whisper.

  His lips twitch. “Maybe.”

  Taking the hot chocolate out of my hands, he sips it and looks out at the horizon. It’s amazing. Pine trees stretch as far as the eye can see, broken only by great slabs of granite—The Rockies. Snow covers the mountain peaks. It looks magical. Peaceful.

  Staring out across that vast greatness does something to my soul. I’ve always been a Miami beach babe, but something about this place makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay. It’ll keep me safe. Hidden. Alive.

  “Can we stay here forever?”

  Trey wraps his arm around my shoulders and rubs my arm. “Do you want to?”

  I snicker and shake my head. “We can’t.”

  “Why not?” His gaze is deep and intense as he tries to read my mind.

  My eyebrows pop up. “Come on. This is temporary until we figure out…” I shake my head. “We can’t hide forever, Trey. What about life, college, a future?”

  “You won’t have one at all if you’re not careful.” He clenches his jaw.

  “What about justice?” I whisper.

  He closes his eyes, dipping his head and letting out a heavy sigh. “It’s too risky. What if you’re shot on the way to the courthouse? What kind of justice is that?”<
br />
  I blink and look away from him. “He’s my father. Do you honestly think he would have killed me? The only reason I got shot is because his thug was trying to kill you.”

  “He aimed a gun at your head, Chris. From what your mom was screaming, he’s killed before.”

  I wince and shrug his hand off my shoulder. Rubbing my forehead, I dodge the crushing weight of that truth by changing the subject. “I hate that name, you know.”

  “Huh?”

  “Chris.” I make a face. “It’s just…not me.”

  “Oh, yeah? Then who are you?” His playful smirk is back, challenging me to smile.

  I can’t resist the pull of him and a smile crests my lips as I hold out my hand. “Ana. It’s nice to meet you.”

  He takes my fingers and pulls them to his lips, kissing my knuckles like a French gentleman. “Nice to meet you too, Ana.”

  The way he says my name sends tendrils of pleasure curling through my body.

  “Would you guys quit it with the romance already? Trey, get your ass down here and make yourself useful!” Riley shoves a pencil behind his ear, adjusting his cap before picking up the saw again.

  Trey gives me another kiss and passes me the rest of his drink. Jogging down the steps, he looks comfortable in his jeans and boots, the collar of his winter jacket catching on the breeze as he picks up the spare tool belt and clips it on.

  Damn. That’s just all kinds of sexy. I lean against the railing to watch him, ignoring the fact I want to get cleaning. The place is filthy. I know I’m not much of a housekeeper, but if Trey can chop wood I can figure out how to de-slime the bathroom and kitchen. I can wash floors. If I can handle the Eton locker room, I can handle this place too.

  I sigh, trying to decide how much I love that idea.

  My mind jumps to my house in Miami. Nannie always worked so hard, making sure it shone while we bustled around her. The walls were white with gold trim. The marble floor was hard and unforgiving. The six-bedroom house was large, lavish…and nothing like home compared to this beat-up cabin in the woods. With a little work our hideout could become a refuge in the middle of nowhere.

  It’s safe. Inviting. In spite of the winter chill, there’s a warmth here I can’t explain.

  Last night we huddled around the fireplace, Riley stoking the flames while Kade told a story. We ate beans out of cans that were probably ten years old. Trey’s arm was around me, keeping me close, protecting me.

  And we laughed. We joked. We talked, just like we did in the guys’ room at Eton. It was a surreal moment, but once again reminded me that I felt more at home with these three wayward guys than I’ve ever felt in my life. In spite of our circumstances, we were a family.

  But can we really stay here forever?

  We’re kids. What do we know about owning a property like this, making it sustainable?

  People are going to be looking for us. What about the school? Kade’s and Trey’s parents?

  The three of them are putting their lives on hold…for me.

  It doesn’t feel fair.

  Biting my lips together, I gaze down at the trio. Riley and Trey start laughing over something one of them said. There’s so much trust and history between them. You’d have to be blind not to see the connection.

  Eton Wolves, brothers for life.

  It’s the perfect mascot. Wolves are a pack…just like these guys.

  Kade stands and I turn my gaze on him. He’s wiping his hands on a rag, staring down at the bike with a look of longing I don’t quite understand. His chest rises as he pulls in a heavy breath, then holds it. He turns to gaze out across the mountain view. His body seems tense, his movements jerky.

  I can’t see his face.

  I don’t know what he’s thinking.

  But I can’t help wondering if one member of this close-knit pack doesn’t want to be here.

  #Kade:

  I don’t think I can do it.

  I love my brothers. I don’t want to hurt them, but I can’t stay trapped in these mountains.

  I’ll go stir-crazy up here, living life like some backwards farmer.

  I need a city.

  Hot girls.

  Parties.

  Drinks.

  I can’t do cozy cabin life.

  Trey loves Chris. He’ll do anything to keep her safe.

  But those rules don’t apply to me.

  She’s not my girl.

  Not my responsibility.

  Trey won’t want me to go though. He’ll see it as breaking trust.

  But he’s not my boss.

  He’ll lecture me about the risks. People will be looking for us. Showing my face outside of this isolated nowhere could lead to trouble. Big trouble.

  But I didn’t sign up for this.

  I acted in the spur of the moment, helping Trey out because he was desperate.

  Now I’m not sure I did the right thing.

  I look down at the bike I’m fixing up. It’s gonna be my ticket out of here, but maybe not just yet.

  I’ll give it a little time. Wait for the hype to die down. Wait until the police aren’t looking anymore. It’ll be safer then. I can head away from this place and find some action. Something to keep me entertained.

  Rubbing my hands with the rag, I’m grateful that Grandpa Wade let me hang out in his workshop when I was a kid. He taught me everything he knew about engines. He was the only one who ever understood me. Too bad he had to be the first to die. He and Grandma were a reprieve from the string of annoying nannies. Once they died, my parents sent me to live with my other set of grandparents—sticks so far up their asses they could barely sit down. Since then I haven’t been emotionally attached to anyone.

  I glance over my shoulder and spot Trey and Riley carrying a plank of wood around back.

  Except maybe those two.

  Gritting my teeth, I ignore the pang in my stomach and crouch back down to keep working on the bike. I’ll give it a month or two, but if we’re still stuck on this nowhere mountain, I’m gonna have to leave the pack…be the lone wolf I used to be.

  Keep reading to learn more about Kade’s story, SPEAK NO EVIL…

  Coming in January 2017

  SPEAK NO EVIL

  Kade Kingsley is sick of hiding out in the middle of nowhere.

  He should be having a good time, partying and living it up, not playing bodyguard to his best friend’s runaway witness girlfriend.

  When he decides to leave the mountainside he’s called home for the last two months, he promises to be careful. He knows the stakes are high, and he knows that the makeshift family he’s leaving behind is counting on him to come back.

  What he doesn’t count on is getting mugged and left for dead.

  And he definitely doesn’t count on being rescued by a girl with secrets of her own…secrets that rival his.

  As Julienne Bishop, a down-on-her-luck girl hiding from an abusive ex-boyfriend, nurses Kade back to health, an uneasy bond forms between them. They need each other, even if they don’t realize it, and even if they have a hard time accepting it.

  Because danger is coming at them from both sides, and they must figure out if they can trust each other.

  Before it’s too late.

  **SPECIAL OFFER**

  If you’d like to find out details about the next Brotherhood novel, including an exclusive short story about Christiana, you’re welcome to sign up by following the link below.

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  Note from the Author

  This story has been in my head and heart since I was sixteen years old. That’s over two decades now. I tried writing it all those years ago (it would have been my very first book!) but my computer died and I lost everything I’d written—hours’ worth of work. I was heartbroken and didn’t try writing anything again until I was in my early twenties.

  I’ve publis
hed numerous books in the last five years, including a large collection under the pen name Melissa Pearl. Throughout that time, this story has never left me. I sometimes wonder if this was all meant to be. See No Evil has been challenging to write, and I needed the experience and all the things I’ve learned to be able to pull it off.

  It’s adapted and grown over the years. The cast changed and two more books were born. I always knew Trey would have close friends at his boarding school and they would help Ana together, but I didn’t expect to fall for his buddies and want to write their stories too. I’m so excited to write the rest of this trilogy and see the wolf pack complete.

  Romantic suspense is my absolute favorite genre to read. Because of that, I think I’ve been a little afraid to venture into this trilogy. It’s much harder to write than contemporary romance—so much more potential for plot holes and errors, weak storylines, and lame execution. I really wanted to write something brilliant for you and, like Trey and Ana, I’ve had to overcome my own fears in order to publish this book. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. I hope you will continue on this journey with the wolf pack and the girls they bring into it. There is so much more to be revealed, mysteries to unravel, and chances for these Eton Wolves to become men.

  Thank you to everyone who has taken part in bringing this project to life: Cassie, Rae, Beth, Kate, my amazing team of proofreaders, my brilliant advanced readers, my Songbirds and Playmakers, the authors who constantly encourage and teach me, and all the other people who have taken a chance and read this book.

  Thank you. I love and appreciate you all so much.

  Thank you to my family for putting up with my stresses and whines as I strove to complete this project that kept trying to get the better of me.

  And thank you to my heavenly father who helps me rise above my fears, talks me through my low points, and reminds me every day that his grace is enough.