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“Glen?” Lana whispers, shock in her voice.
Glen?
A second glance reveals the resemblance between the two. I assume he must be one of her brothers. The man looks weary as he steps toward Lana. “I just got back from Melbourne.” His voice is drawn. “Lana, it’s about Dad.”
* * *
The hospital smells like death and sterility.
Lana walks besides me, her face strained, not saying a word. She hasn’t spoken since her brother told us about her father’s illness.
She finally breaks the silence. “What did the doctor say?”
“That a lung transplant costs money,” Glen says, falling in step with her. “The kind we don’t have.”
“All these years, you’ve known about this.” Lana’s tone is accusing. “Why didn’t you tell me anything? Why didn’t anyone say anything?”
“I wanted to,” Glen growls. “Believe me, I wanted to. But Dad wouldn’t let me. Why do you think I left home?”
Lana passes in the hallway. “I thought you left because of your new job.”
“What new job?” Glen is obviously frustrated. “I went to look for a job. They wanted me to keep lying to you. Nobody had the kind of money needed. That’s why I left. To look for a job. I’ve been working construction for the past four years. Been sending more than half of what I earn home.”
Lana stares. “Then what about the money Fred’s been borrowing?”
Glen’s face darkens. “I just found out about it. And about what they were trying to do.” He steps toward Lana and grabs her by the shoulders, his tone serious. “You need to stay away from Matt, Lana. The man is bad news. Whatever money is owed, I’ll figure out some way to pay it back. I’m back now. I plan to set up my own company with a friend. Don’t you worry about it. I kicked Fred’s ass and everyone else’s as well.”
Lana’s lower lip trembles. “Dad knew about it.”
Sadness seeps into her brother’s face. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry about all of this. Had I known, I would have taken you with me. If it means anything, ever since you told Dad and Fred that you never want them to contact you again, Dad has been inconsolable.”
I can see from Lana’s face the words do mean something to her, but I also know her. She won’t be won over so easily. Lana doesn’t let go of things so easily. Her family will have to earn her trust all over again.
Lana doesn’t talk much about her family, but I’d assumed all her brothers had been equally involved in this mess. Clearly Glenn is the only one who didn’t seem to have any knowledge until now.
The man seems weathered and quite mature. He is also far older than Lana, so I assume he must be her oldest or second oldest brother. He’s been polite to me, and he hasn’t pressed the issue as to why I’m tagging along. But I don’t plan to let my woman spend even one minute alone with the people she calls family. The last time she met them, she was broken.
I know how to protect what’s mine.
“I’ve arranged for the money,” Lana says. “My boss lent me all of it.”
Glen frowns. “Just like that?”
She doesn’t meet his gaze. Her hands tremble before she crosses her arms against her chest to hide them. “Well, no. I had to sign a twenty-year contract—”
“What?” I growl.
That scheming little bastard.
Grabbing Lana by her arms, I make her face me. “What did he make you sign?”
Lana freezes, and Glen stiffens behind her. “I-it’s a ten-year contract with the firm and another ten years working for him in any of his businesses he chooses to send me to.”
“And you signed it?” I thunder, wanting to wring Caleb’s neck. I knew he agreed to my proposal far too easily.
Lana blinks, confused. “Well, I didn’t have much of a choice, did I? He did lend me all that money.” She falters at the way I hesitate, her eyes narrowing. “That was his money, right?”
I don’t want to lie to her, and my silence gives away my role.
