Chapter 1 circumstances were crazy

her gaze shifted from me to Cain. She pointed a finger in his direction. - It was you who brought him and Aline together. Who put them together in Iran and then let them go to the bar... - Calm down. - I stood up, keeping my arms and hands loose. When you're as big as me, you learn the best way to stand without looking so threatening. - Yes, I slept with Aline when we were in Iran, and she was working, but Cain had no way of knowing I would do that. Hell, I didn't know I was going to do that. - You are my employee... - Cain began. I also cut it. - Aline is an adult. Was it stupid? Yes.

But I didn't force her or take advantage of her. I didn't bother to mention the fact that she kissed me first or that the reason I gave in was because she thought I didn't want her. Firstly, I wouldn't do anything to make either of them think better of me, and secondly, it wasn't her business. "It has nothing to do with the agency anymore," I continued. - That's all between Aline and me. - I gave the snarling woman a moment to absorb what I said before saying the words that ripped through me like a knife. - And it's over. You know it. Cain glanced at me but didn't ask. The expression on Freedom's face disappeared. - You mean she didn't come to you? Didn't you ask if she could stay with you during your tantrum? I felt like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped on me. - What are you talking about? Now, I saw the concern beneath the anger. "Sunday morning, she threw a fit after I told her that I-" Freedom's voice faltered, her eyes darting to the side, but not before I saw a flash of guilt. - She's gone. We went to the bus station to look for her. Our parents and I try to call her, but the phone is off. We called the police, but she is an adult and there is no evidence of foul play. My hands balled into fists as fear and fury fought in my chest. Freedom didn't say that, but I could guess what she said to Aline on Sunday morning. It was by no means a coincidence that they got into a fight just hours after Freedom told me about Aline being a virgin. Yes, I had left and hadn't spoken to Aline since, so that was my fault. Truth be told, I knew Aline well enough to know that if Freedom had told her about our entire conversation, Aline would have been even more angry at her sister for betraying her than she was at me for leaving. - I tried calling the phone company to get her call and text history, but there was nothing after Saturday night, nothing but our calls and texts to her. I went back to our apartment in Stanford, but she's not there either. All of her things are still there. She only took some things from our parents' house. Her credit cards were also unused. The way Freedom was explaining the situation made me think that this was how she was trying to convince the police officers why they should be looking for Aline. I was worried about Aline, but it honestly seemed like she was upset with her family and decided to take some time to calm down. - Then, on Monday, Aline took money from her trust fund. Money. No surprise that Aline had a trust fund, but it was neither here nor there, as my mother liked to say. It seemed to me that she really didn't want to be found and was smart enough to know how her family would try to locate her. Again, I couldn't really blame her, even if logic wasn't doing anything to make me less anxious. - None of her friends have seen her? - Cain asked. Freedon gave him a dirty look. - If they had, do you think I would be here, talking to him? "Would they tell you if she asked you not to?" - I asked before thinking better. Freedon looked at me. - Of course. They know how worried we are, they would have told us if they knew where she was. All our friends know that Aline doesn't always think about things. Freedom said "our friends", which made me wonder if Aline had any close connections that weren't as close as her sister. I didn't ask, though. Freedom already looked like he wanted to kill me because of my question. Well, my question and all. "Maybe she just needed some time to think," Cain offered. - She had just been through something very terrible. "That's why she shouldn't be there alone," Freedom countered, clenching her fists on her hips. - On her best days, she can barely take care of herself. Now, she needs us even more. I remembered thinking something similar about Aline when I met her, but those circumstances were crazy. Besides, I wasn't her brother. I couldn't imagine one of my brothers treating me like that. Or me treating any of them like that. My sisters would castrate me if I ever suggested that they weren't adults and completely responsible. Maybe that's why I felt the need to say something. - She's twenty-two years old, she's not a child. "You know what," Freedom took a step toward me, "if you just kept your dick in your pants, none of this would be happening." Aline would be home with us, where she belongs and not out doing who knows what. She was right... But I couldn't take all the blame for that. Aline would probably still be at her parents' house if Freedom had minded her own business too. But I wasn't crazy enough to say that, Freedon had that "murderous" look that I had seen in my sisters' eyes at various times throughout their childhood. I liked my balls right where they were. Fortunately, Cain intervened. "Let's look for her," he said. - No charge, of course. Let's make sure she's okay. - Don't worry. - She shook her head. "If you don't know where she is right now, then I don't want anyone in this room near her." - She pointed at me. - Specially you. And then she was gone. TWO Aline Until I moved out of my parents' house earlier this week, I hadn't realized how many of "my" friends were actually friends of Freedom or our parents who simply became mine by association. They liked me well enough, I didn't doubt it, but their loyalty wasn't to me. At school, I was much younger than everyone else and we didn't share common