Sam? Autumn couldn’t remember a time when Vince hadn’t referred to Sam as “the idiot” or worse. Something was very wrong. Like maybe Vince had fal en and hit his head real y hard and not only given himself a black eye, but brain damage as wel . “He’s in L.A. Why?”
“I wanted to talk to him. When wil he be back?”
“Tomorrow night sometime.”
“That’s too late. I won’t be here.”
“Why?” She rose from behind her desk. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving town.”
“No!” Her jaw dropped. “Why?” Why was her life turning to crap al at the same time?
“I have to do something.”
“What?” She moved around the desk toward her brother.
“Nothing I can talk about.”
“Are you running from the law?”
“No.”
“An angry girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Boyfriend?”
“NO!”
She placed her hand on her chest, and concern for her brother pushed her own troubles aside. “I’m your sister. You can tel me anything, and I’l always love you. No matter what.”
“I love you, too, but there are just some things it’s best you don’t know.” He put up one palm. “I’m not going to talk about it. So don’t ask.”
>
Sometimes he was so secretive, it drove her crazy. “When wil you be back?”
“Soon.” He pul ed out a thick envelope. “Give this to Sam.”
The envelope was fil ed with money, and she gasped. “When did Sam loan you this much money?”
“Just tel him thanks.”
“What did you do?” She looked at the envelope in her hand and wondered why her brother would need so much money. Had he gotten kicked out of his apartment or gambled or hired a soldier of fortune from the back of one of his magazines? No, Vince wouldn’t hire someone to do his dirty work.
“Sam bailed me out of jail Monday.”
“What?” The possibility of jail hadn’t entered her head. Sam hated Vince. Why would he bail him out? “What happened? Are you okay?” she asked through a haze of stunned disbelief. Then she listened as Vince told her about getting into a fight with a bunch of bikers and getting arrested.
“Why didn’t you run away?”
He frowned. “I don’t run.”
“But that was three days ago. Why didn’t either of you tel me?” Okay, so Sam wasn’t speaking to her but, “Why didn’t you tel me?”
“Sam doesn’t want you to know. I think he loves you and doesn’t want you to worry about me.”