Lexi leaned toward him. “Knowing everything you know, having lost Izzy, you still believe Garth didn’t blow up the oil rig?”

“Yes.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Maybe, but why lie about only that? Garth’s proud of what he’s doing to your family. He wouldn’t deny something that big.”

“Fine,” Skye said. “To go back to my original question, what do you want?”

He smiled. “Izzy. You want to shoot me here or should I stand?”

“We’re not going to help you get her,” Lexi said.

Apparently they’d already discussed that because she didn’t have to look at her sister for confirmation.

“You hurt her,” Skye said. “She didn’t ever want to fall in love. She didn’t want to take the chance. But she did and you devastated her.”

“I know. I’m not saying I deserve her, just that I love her. I’m not asking for your help. I’m asking you not to get in the way.”

“What could we do?” Lexi asked. “Izzy is her own person.”

“You’re the people she loves and respects most in the world. If you told her not to trust me, that I wasn’t worth it, she’d listen.”

“Then you don’t know Izzy. She never listens,” Skye told him.

“You’re wrong. She listens to both of you.”

“Interesting that you’ve figured that out,” Lexi said. “I’m not sure even Izzy is aware our opinion matters to her. At least not on a conscious level.”

“Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then,” he said.

Lexi smiled. “Meaning guys aren’t inherently insightful?”

“Something like that.”

Skye nodded slowly. “We won’t help, but we won’t get in the way.”

Tension eased. The bands around his chest loosened for the first time in days. “Thank you.”

The sisters stood.

“She won’t be easy,” Lexi said. “You’re going to have to convince her.”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Try bleeding,” Skye told him. “That will get her attention.”

KATHY TOOK THE COFFEE and sipped. “Nice,” she said with a smile. “You always remember.”

“It’s your favorite,” Garth said.

He didn’t have time to be here. He had meetings and was due to fly out to Germany in the morning. But he’d been unable to concentrate and had decided to visit Kathy before he left.

She frowned. “You’re sad.”

“I’m fine.”

She didn’t look convinced and touched his arm. “You’re sad,” she repeated.

Sometimes she surprised him. Most of the time Kathy was in her own happy little world, but every now and then she seemed to see more.

“I hurt a friend,” he admitted. “I didn’t mean to. Or maybe I did. I don’t know. I’m doing something and…”

He trailed off as her expression changed from concerned to confusion.

He gave her a smile. “I’m sad because of a friend.”

“Did you say you’re sorry?”

“No.”

“Say you’re sorry. You have to say you’re sorry.”

There was no point in having this conversation. Whatever moment had occurred was now gone. “I will,” he said, not meaning it.

“We have new kittens,” Kathy told him. “Five. I need to check on them.”

“Okay.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back next week.”

“Bye.”

She turned and walked away. He watched her go. Did she remember him after he left or did he cease to exist? What did she think about during her day? Did she recall the person she’d been before?

Knowing he would never get any answers, he left the pet store and headed for his car. But before he could reach it, he saw Izzy Titan walking toward Bronco Billy’s. She seemed to be alone.

Garth dropped his coffee container in a nearby trash can and hurried across the street, following her into the restaurant.

She was just being shown a table. He hesitated for a second, then walked toward her.

She saw him. Her face tightened and her eyes turned to ice. “Don’t even think about sitting here,” she snapped as she sat down.

He pulled a handkerchief out of his slacks pocket and set the white square on the table in front of her. “Truce?”

Izzy stared from the fabric to Garth and back. “I won’t pretend to understand the game,” she told him, wondering if she could slap him in the face the same way she’d hit her father. Something told her Garth would move a lot faster and she’d only end up hitting the back of the seat or something and hurting her hand.

“No game. I want to talk.”

“And I should believe you why?”

“Please, Izzy. Give me fifteen minutes. I didn’t blow up the oil rig. I did the rest of it. Sure. I was the investor in Lexi’s spa, I arranged for Jed’s horses to get doped. I tipped off the D.A. about Skye’s foundation, had a guy hack into her records and plant false information. The illegal arms being shipped? That was me, too. All of it.”

“I could so throw your ass in jail over this.”

“I’ll deny it all. But I didn’t blow up the oil rig. I had nothing to do with that.” He sat across from her in the booth.

“You just admitted you’d lie about talking to me.”

“That’s different.”

“Degrees of evil? Do you have a chart so I can follow along?”

“No chart. You don’t even have to talk, just listen.”

“Not talk? Have we met?”

He smiled. “I meant you don’t have to participate in the conversation.”

She stared at him. The smile was gone already, but she’d recognized it. It was the carefree smile Jed had used often when she’d been younger. She hadn’t seen it in years. It reminded her that Garth might be the devil, but he was also her brother. Perhaps only a half brother, but then Lexi was only her half sister. He was still family.

Somehow she’d forgotten that. They had a connection.

“Fifteen minutes,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Starting now.”

“Nick wasn’t a part of it. I told him I wanted to help you without taking credit.” He shrugged. “Nick used to think I was actually a nice guy and he believed me.”

“There’s a stunner,” she muttered, wondering if any of this was true.

“When he found out there was more going on, he was pissed. He told me to back off. I wouldn’t. He faced a real dilemma…tell you the truth and have you walk, or keep quiet until you had the surgery. You know what he chose.”

Izzy didn’t want to think about that-didn’t want to think about Nick or the secrets he’d kept from her. How he’d hurt her.

“He picked his friend,” she said.

“He picked what was right. If you’d known, you would have left in a snit and who knows when you would have gotten the surgery.”

She didn’t want to agree with that, but knew he was right. “He could have told me later.”

“When? While you were still in bandages? Afterward when he was falling for you? What would have been the best time, Izzy? When would it have been okay?”

She didn’t have an answer for that, either. There was no good time. She knew that, but so what? Nick had still betrayed her. Given the circumstances and all Garth had done to her family, she would guess that decision should make Garth a happy guy. So why was he taking Nick’s side? Was it another round in the sick game of crush the Titans?

“Why are you defending him?” she asked, figuring there was no point in avoiding the obvious. “You’re the one who told me he was working for you. You’re the one who came between us. You knew what was going to happen, so none of this is a surprise.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t count on Nick.” He leaned back in the booth and stared past her. “He never gets involved. I didn’t think you mattered that much to him. He told me to stop going after you and your sisters. I didn’t listen.” He returned his gaze to her. “Maybe I should have. He’s gone. We’re not friends anymore. He’s angry and disgusted with me.”

Garth actually sounded surprised and a little sad, she thought, refusing to pity him.

“Gee, you used your only friend to hurt people and you’re shocked he’s judging you. What an unfortunate time to be you.”

“Thanks for the sympathy.”

“You’re welcome.”

He picked up the handkerchief and stuck it in his pocket. “Give him a chance, Izzy.”

“Why?”

“Because we both love him.”

She blinked. “You can’t love anyone. You’re a cold, empty, ruthless bastard.”

“He was the only family I had. I played and lost. Our friendship is a casualty of war. I don’t like it but I can’t change it. It’s up to you. Take care of him.”

Oh, please. Was he serious? She was about to tell him exactly what she thought of him when she remembered Nick talking about his friend in South America. The one who had kept him alive. The man who had been like his brother. The one who shared Nick’s scars.

They had been tortured together and nearly died together. Nick had trusted Garth with more than his life and yet had rejected Garth’s current actions. That had to mean something. Even more confusing, what had happened to the man who had saved Nick from those frat bullies all those years ago? Where was the young man who had explained how to get the girl and fit in? Where was that Garth Duncan? When had he changed and why?

“You want me to take care of Nick while you still plan to go after me and my sisters?” she asked.

“I mostly want to take down Jed, but sure, you girls can come along for the ride.”

“That’s insane. You’re giving me advice and at the same time promising to ruin my family.”

“I have layers.”

“You have a desperate need for therapy.” She stared at him. “Nick’s your only friend, isn’t he? You don’t have anyone left.”

Garth shifted on his seat. “We’re talking about you and Nick.”

“We were and now we’re talking about you. What happens when you win? Who will you celebrate with?” Not Kathy. His mother wouldn’t understand. So who was left? Staff?

“I should go,” he said.

“No. Wait.”

What he’d done was unforgivable. She knew that, knew he had to be stopped. And yet there were hints of an actual person inside the dark, angry facade. Someone who was part of her family. Someone who might be worth saving.

“Don’t do this,” she said, reaching across the table and touching his hand. “Stop now, Garth. Come talk to Lexi and Skye. We can try to work something else out. We’re family, for better or worse.”

He pulled back and stood. “It’s too late, sis. Jed has to pay for what he did.”

“Agreed, but let us in. You don’t have to be alone in this.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”

“You’re not. You’ve lost everyone.”

He gave her that smile again. “I like to travel light.”

He was lying, she thought. Lying to cover being hurt and alone. He was so close to winning and knew he would end up with an empty victory. Only it was too late to stop playing now.

Without thinking, she scrambled to her feet and hugged him. He stiffened with surprise and didn’t hug her back. She stared up into his dark eyes, knowing in her gut this was the right thing to do.

“I’m going to save you.”

He took a step back. “What the hell? I don’t need saving. I’m winning.”

“I know. That’s why you need saving. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt too much.”

“I don’t worry. I get things done.”

She smiled. “Tough talk, big brother. Your life has just changed forever. You’re not going to know what hit you. But it’s okay. I’m going to do it with love. Lexi and Skye will take some convincing and Dana wants to introduce you to her favorite gun, but she’ll come around, too. This is going to be great.”

For the first time since entering the restaurant, Garth looked wary. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re wrong and it won’t be the first time. It’s late September. We need this resolved by early December so we can have Christmas together. That’s a lot of healing to get done. I’m not a great planner, but my sisters are.” She smiled again. “Thanks for coming by. I’m glad we talked.”

Garth frowned, then left. When he reached the door, he glanced back at her, as if trying to figure out what was going on. She waved at him.

She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t seen it before. The solution was simple-Garth needed to be a part of the family. Then he wouldn’t want to hurt them anymore. Just as important, he had to be stopped before he did something that really got him in trouble.

She wasn’t sure exactly how they were going to make this all happen, but they would figure out something. Poor Garth-he wasn’t going to know what hit him.

“SAVE GARTH?” Dana scowled. “No. I’m throwing his ass in jail. Whenever I get tense, I picture that and get all tingly inside.”

“I’m serious,” Izzy told her. “I talked to him. He’s worth saving. We have to figure out how.”

“You figure out how. You’ll have plenty of time after your sisters have you committed.”

Izzy waved the comment aside. “Don’t be crabby. This is the right thing to do. Think of how smug we can all feel when we’re together.”