Finn cleared his throat and took his phone back. "I was just browsing."


    "Browsing?" Arabe scoffed. She wasn''t buying it. She''d heard him on the phone as she passed his door, and she''d bet anything it had been Evangeline on the other end.


    "You''ve actually fallen for her, haven''t you?" It was a question, but her tone was certain. Finn was her brother; she knew him better than anyone.


    He didn''t bother denying it. He simply nodded.


    Arabe frowned. She''d assumed his thing with Evangeline was just another fleeting romance, destined to end as quickly as all the others. Now, it seemed things had spiraled out of control. Fortunately, she''d been preparing herself for this possibility ever since Finn had publicly dered their rtionship.


    Rumor had it that Evangeline was cunning; it was no ident she hadsted five years with Soren. Finn might see himself as a master of romance, but against a woman like that, he could be out of his league. Her worst fears wereing true.


    "So, are you nning to marry her?" Arabe asked.


    Finn was silent.


    Seeing his hesitation, Arabe felt a small wave of relief. It was one thing for Finn to be infatuated with Evangeline, but the Lockridge family would never approve of a marriage. In a few years, he would be expected to enter into a strategic union arranged by the family. He could give Evangeline anything he wanted his time, his affection, his protection-but he couldn''t give her his name. As long as he understood that, the situation was still manageable.


    "How did it go asking about Theresa?" she asked, changing the subject.


    Finn shook his head.


    Arabe was surprised. "You two are that close, and you still couldn''t get a straight answer out of her?"


    "It''s not that. She doesn''t know where Theresa is, either."


    "How is that possible?" Arabe said, skeptical. "Victor already found out she was the one who helped Theresa escape. You''re telling me she has no idea where she went? Are you sure she''s not lying to you?"


    "I''m sure," Finn said, shaking his head again. "You know I''m a good judge of character, sis. I can tell when someone''s lying."


    She had to admit, that was true. Finn''s intuition had saved them from danger more than once.


    "Then what''s the n? Your deadline with Victor is almost up..." Arabe''s brow furrowed with a flicker of pity. Theresa was likely dead, and if Victor returned without good news, he would undoubtedly take his rage out on Evangeline. She''d heard stories about the cruel things Victor had done to her in the past. As much as she disliked Evangeline, as a woman, she couldn''t bear the thought of her suffering like that again. More importantly, she knew Finn would never stand by and let it happen.


    "Maybe you should take her and leave town," Arabe suggested. "At least until this blows over."


    Finn smiled faintly. "If we leave, what about you?"


    "This is between him and Evangeline," Arabe said. "Victor has no reason toe after me. Besides, it''s been years. Surely his feelings for Theresa have faded a little with time. Once he epts what happened, he''ll move on."


    Finn shook his head, a wry look on his face. "Don''t be naive, sis. If his feelings had faded, he wouldn''t have attacked her in public at the wee banquet."


    Besides, he knew Evangeline would never run. She was afraid of Victor, yes, but something deeper was keeping her in Serenity City. If not for that, she would have left long ago.


    Seeing the worry in Arabe''s eyes, Finn said, "Don''t worry about it. I have a n."


    Arabe started to ask what it was, but Finn was already on his feet, gently ushering her toward the door with a charming smile. "It''s gettingte. You need your beauty sleep. Nothing is more important than my beautiful sister''s rest."


    He showered her withpliments until she was back in her own room.


    Once she was gone, his expression turned serious. He walked over to his safe, opened it, and pulled out a silver handgun. His eyes grew cold as he stared at it. If Theresa was dead, Victor would hold Evangeline responsible. And against a man bent on murder, what options were there, really?


    He ced the gun in the bottom drawer of his desk. Picking up his phone, he looked at his chat with Evangeline, a faint, bittersweet smile on his lips. "Evangeline," he murmured to himself, "we have less than three days. Before we both might end up dead, let''s have a real romance. We might not get another chance."


    Just then, his phone rang. Assuming it was Evangeline calling back, he answered


    with a yful smirk. "What''s wrong? Can''t bear to be apart from me?"


    But the voice that answered was a man''s, low and steady.


    "Mr. Lockridge. It''s Glenn."