“Robert’s your brother,” he finally stated.
Her jaw tightened, and her chest rose as she drew in a breath. “Half-brother.”
“Does Joel know about him?”
“How do you know about him?” she demanded, though she already knew.
“Noah.”
The unexpected answer fanned her anger and she balled her fists at her sides. “How dare you interrogate him!”
“He told my mom that he liked Joel better than his other brother.”
Her shoulders slumped slightly. Damn it, Noah!
“Does Joel know you have another half-brother?” he repeated.
“Yes.”
He tilted his head. “And how can I be sure that’s the truth?”
“Ask him.”
He paused and raised his brows. “Should I also ask him why you kidnapped Noah?”
“I did not kidnap Noah.” Kendra turned to brace her hands on the dresser. She hadn’t even heard her own whisper over the pounding of her heart. Because, technically, according to the law and the State of New York, and Michael Kabara, she had.
“Why are you scared of your brother?” Colton asked softly.
Her head jerked up to meet his gaze in the mirror. The hint of concern confused her. “Who says I’m scared?”
“Noah.”
She spun around. “It’s pretty despicable to ask your mother to do your dirty work.”
“I didn’t—”
Her loud snort of disbelief cut him off.
“Look,” Colton said, straightening from his sentry post at the door. “I don’t know how the subject came up, but she said Noah seemed concerned about Robert following the two of you to California, and he was afraid he’d follow you to Colorado, too.”
Kendra looked away, despair rising inside. She’d told Noah not to say anything! What had he been thinking?
She closed her eyes and steadied herself with a slow breath. He was just a kid, she shouldn’t get angry with him. Obviously it’d been a rough month, and while outwardly he appeared to accept everything she’d told him, she now wondered what else her little brother worried about.
Colton watched her like a hawk from across the room as she paced to the half open window to slam it shut. She stared outside and rubbed her arms to get rid of the chill that had nothing to do with the temperature of the air.
“Noah has nothing to worry about,” she said firmly, as much to herself as to Colton.
“What about you, Kendra?”
The soft words from directly behind her made her jump. She hadn’t heard him move across the room. Heat engulfed her limbs. Colton had her all keyed up. All his questions made her think about Robert more than she wanted to. She was angry that he’d found out so much and scared he’d tell Joel, yet conversely, she wanted nothing more than to turn into his arms for the security he’d offered up on the rock. The conflicting emotions were more than she could take.
“Please,” she whispered, eyes closed, voice raw. “Just leave me alone.”
After a long moment of half-hoping he’d force her hand and demand more answers, she heard the door click shut. She turned to make sure he’d left before releasing a soft sigh of dismay. Her legs finally succumbed to the trembling, and she sunk to her knees before crawling over to lean against the bed.
The same fear