7

Ronan pushed open the door and walked into his grandmother's office without hesitation.

"Ronan?" Alicia asked, standing up from her chair.

He approached the desk and set a box of donuts on it.

Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Are you bribing me for something?"

Ronan stayed serious. "I know you hired an investigator to look into what happened to Kai. I want in, Grandma."

"I don't think so," Alicia replied after a pause.

"But it's happened twice now—twice! Someone tried to eliminate my brother. I could be next, don't you realize that?" Ronan's voice rose. He wasn't just being selfish—he genuinely wanted to help Kai.

"You think this is about inheritance?" Alicia asked. She wasn't convinced. In her eyes, it probably had more to do with how careless Kai could be.

"Yes. What else do you think? That one of Kai's friends tried to shoot him?" Ronan scoffed at the thought.

Alicia sat back down, troubled. Had she really blackmailed her own granddaughter into staying—and now brought danger into their lives?

She didn't want to believe it. But maybe she had.

"Let me help, Grandma."

"I second that," Andrew said, stepping in through the open door. He smiled at them, then nodded at the donut box. "My favorite."

He opened the lid and pulled out a coconut donut.

"I'm meeting with Ezra today. You can come," Alicia said.

"Great." Andrew wiped his mouth—the donut already gone.

"Not you," Alicia corrected. "Ronan and I will go. Kai stays home. In his room. Where he'll be safe."

"We don't know that he'll be safe," Ronan interrupted.

"He will be," Alicia insisted. Even if someone on the inside was helping the killer, they wouldn't get into Kai's room.

"What about me then?" Andrew asked, eyeing another donut. One more wouldn't hurt, would it?

"You'll take Elizabeth to the company. She still has a lot to learn. Bellamy will meet you there too."

"Bellamy Miller?" Ronan frowned. "Why would he be there?"

"You don't need to know everything," Alicia said flatly. Then to Andrew: "And don't eat in my office again."

_______

Betty had just finished breakfast when her brothers and grandmother joined the room. She stood, ready to leave—the bike outside already waiting—when Alicia cleared her throat.

"Elizabeth, Andrew will be taking you today."

Betty nodded without a word and turned to leave, but Ronan grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Out," she replied. "I want to ride my bike before going."

She didn't know why she felt the need to explain.

"No way. Someone's out there trying to hurt us. From now on, you only leave when it's time to go to the company."

Betty raised an eyebrow. "Are you my father?"

She yanked her arm from his grip. "Didn't think so. Besides, I didn't even want to be here. So if anything happens to me…" Her eyes shifted to Alicia. "It's her fault."

She walked off without another glance.

Andrew pushed his plate away. His appetite was gone. Out of the three brothers, he was the one who always noticed the little things. The shift in tone. The pain in someone's eyes.

Without a word, he got up, headed upstairs, washed his face, and came back down—composed and ready to work.

"I'll talk to her," he said with a small smile of encouragement, then walked out the door.

___________

Betty had just finished riding her bike, a little disappointed. Ever since that day she saw Bellamy with two kids, she'd been hoping to run into him again. But it never happened.

"Ready?" Andrew asked, holding open the car door for her with a small smile.

"Thank you."

Out of all her family members, Andrew was the one who made her feel the most calm and at ease.

Maybe it was because he never raised his voice. Or maybe it was just the way he always seemed so steady, never panicked. It felt good to her nervous system to be around someone like that.

While driving, Andrew glanced over. "So… what did my brothers talk about when you hung out with them?"

Betty shrugged. "Ronan only talked about business. Kai told me a few childhood stories."

Andrew tilted his head. "So no one told you the juicy parts, huh?" A knowing smile crept onto his face.

"Juicy parts?" Betty asked, frowning.

"Yeah. I'm going to spill all the tea."

"Stop."

"Why? Isn't that how people talk nowadays?"

"I don't know. And I don't care."

"You seem grumpy today. Did you sleep well?"

Betty shook her head. "I only sleep good in my own bed."

Andrew stayed quiet after that. He didn't know how to comfort her.

How would he feel, being forced to live with a family he barely knew?

Sensing the silence stretch too long, Betty spoke again. "Tell me."

Andrew looked over. "Tell you what?"

"The juicy parts. Or whatever."

He chuckled. "I knew you'd get curious eventually."

As they drove, Andrew shared everything from Ronan's childhood sweetheart who left with a promise to come back at eighteen—but never did—to Kai's chaotic love life and a few of his funniest accidents.

Betty smiled. "What about you?"

Andrew had just parked the car. For the first time, Betty noticed he didn't have a driver—unlike Ronan or Alicia. He did everything himself.

"What about me?" he asked, turning toward her.

"Do you have a partner?"

Andrew sighed and blew a strand of hair out of his face. "Not yet. I'm still waiting for my princess charming. But she's taking her sweet time."

Betty smiled. "Isn't it prince charming?"

"Who said it has to be a prince? I live with my brothers and my grandmother—I need rescuing, okay?"

They both laughed.

Andrew felt a strange warmth in his chest. For the first time in a while, he'd made someone smile.

"Let's go. Someone's waiting," he said, nodding toward her window.

Betty turned around just in time to spot Bellamy standing near the entrance. He looked around nervously before his gaze settled on the car.

Just then, Andrew opened her door.

"Thanks," she said, stepping out.

Together, they walked toward the building.

Bellamy greeted them. "Hey."

"Hey, Bellamy," Andrew said. "My grandma didn't tell me why you're here."

Bellamy's eyes flicked to Betty—just for a second—before he smiled.

"If she didn't tell you… neither can I."

_________

Alicia and Ronan waited quietly in Ezra's office as he finished reviewing the investigator's report.

When he finally looked up, a heavy sigh escaped him — the kind that spoke louder than words. There was nothing useful.

"There were no CCTV cameras near the place where Xavier was shot," Ezra said.

"The same at our property," Alicia added grimly. "Whoever did this knew every camera's location and managed to avoid all of them. Not a single guard saw anything."

"That's... really dangerous," Ezra said, sympathy softening his voice. He couldn't imagine how Alicia must feel, knowing someone was targeting her family.

"So, nothing," Ronan said, his irritation clear. Alicia had hoped for two full days of solid leads.

"Whoever it is, they're experienced. They know how to stay invisible. Your brother has to be extra careful."