Safe and Sound by K. Sterling Page A

loved Kat but she was very unsettling. She was loud, uncouth and liked to touch and hug a lot. He had adjusted to the loud and the uncouth but the touching and almost violent hugging was still a shock. But she always warned them before she visited. She usually called one of them at least a week prior. “Kat?” Lane asked as he held open the door. She didn’t look right as she swept past him. “Is everything ok?” He asked and she waved dismissively.
    “Everything’s fine!” She insisted and Aiden’s head tilted as he detected a slight waver in her voice. Lane frowned at her back as she advanced toward Aiden. “Can’t I drop in and visit my favorite brother?” She asked as she flung her arms around Aiden’s neck. He groaned and gently patted her back. She laughed as she looked over her shoulder at Lane. “And you,” she teased before she gave Aiden another squeeze. He endured it and noted that she was shaking.
    “You’re implying that I’m your favorite brother,” Aiden murmured and Kat giggled as she leaned back. His lips twisted as he considered. “I don’t know my biological sister and I don’t like Stacey. She talks to me like I’m a child or behaves as if I’m not in the room. I think I can safely say that you are my favorite sister,” he decided and Kat sighed happily as she pulled him close for another tight hug.
    “God, I’ve missed you,” she said before she kissed him firmly on the cheek. “I adore you, Aiden,” Kat whispered. She released him then turned to Lane. “I suppose I’ve missed you too,” She skipped over to Lane and he caught her as she threw herself at him. Lane held her close and his jaw twitched. Aiden assumed that Lane was observing the same irregularities.
    “What’s wrong?” He asked and Kat shook her head and was about to offer a denial when Aiden cut her off.
    “You’re unwell. You’re pale, you’re shaking, you’re unsteady on your feet, you’re emotionally unstable. But not in your usual way,” he explained and Lane chuckled softly as he held Kat’s chin and searched her face.
    “What is it?” He asked firmly and Kat’s eyes shimmered as she bit her lip.
    “I think mom and dad are going to kill me,” she whispered shakily before she buried her face in Lane’s chest. He made a soft shushing sound as he brushed his fingers through her hair and rubbed her back.
    “No they won’t. You know they’ll always forgive you and support you, even if they’re disappointed,” he said and Kat shook her head.
    “Not this time,” she warned. “I’m pregnant, Lane.” Kat pulled in a shuddering breath and Lane froze.
    “They might kill you.” His voice was weak as the color left his face and his eyes turned into saucers. Aiden pushed his hand through his hair as he studied Lane. He was fairly certain Lane meant it as hyperbole but he’d seen plenty of cases where people were killed over less. And “honor killings” were still common in some parts of the world. “And the father?” Lane rasped and Kat shook her head.
    “He’s not going to be involved. He’d be a terrible father anyways,” Kat mumbled and Lane was about to argue. “He’s a Vegas magician. He’s always broke because he’s got an unbelievable coke habit and he’ll fuck anything that moves,” she said and Lane bit his knuckle to keep from yelling as he stepped away from Kat.
    “Excuse me,” he said softly. “I’m going to grab a bottle of wine from the fridge,” Lane said before he turned away.
    “I can’t drink that!” Kat said loudly and Lane glared as he reached into the fridge.
    “Of course you can’t. I was planning to drink it by myself,” he said. A moment later, the cork made a soft pop and Lane raised the bottle and nodded at Kat and Aiden before taking a long drink. He kept drinking until the need to cringe and shudder from the tartness of the wine became too strong. He twitched and gasped before taking another drink. Aiden chewed his thumb knuckle as he