"Just spit it out," Julissa Greene snapped, barely masking her impatience. Anything to end this conversation fast.
Savanna Russell remembered she was in a hospital. No need to make a scene—yet. Tilting her head, she painted on a thin, fake smile. "What brings you to the hospital? Abel sick or something?"
Julissa almost laughed at the hollow concern. "Would you care if he were?"
Of course Savanna didn't. Everyone knew she had only come for the thirty-thousand-dollar bride price she'd been scheming over. Julissa was ready to crush that hope.
"Where are your manners? Did I raise a brat who talks back to her elders?" Savanna's voice pitched higher, her hand darting forward to grab Julissa's arm.
Julissa's jaw locked, her patience fraying to a thread. "If you've got something to say, say it."
"Bring Abel out here and come back home with me. He's in that room, isn't he?" Savanna knew that if she got her hands on the boy, Julissa would have no choice but to fall in line. Without waiting for an answer, she tried to barge past.
Heart lurching for her little brother, Julissa stepped in her way. "We're not going anywhere. I told you on the phone—I'm married. Abel and I are doing just fine without you meddling."
"What?" Savanna whirled, her glare sharpening. "Married? To who? Who in their right mind would marry a broke girl with a kid in tow?"
"You're coming home with me. I've got a man lined up who's ready to drop thirty grand on a bride price for you. You should be down on your knees thanking me."
Ignoring Julissa's objections, Savanna shoved her aside and stormed into the room, searching for Abel. Terrified for him, Julissa rushed right on her heels.
They had no idea two men had been watching from a distance.
Dalton Williamson drew a sharp breath. "Boss, that woman's out of line. Want me to shut her down?"
Flynn Greene stood rigid, his brow deeply furrowed and temper clearly darkening.
Inside, Savanna froze at the sight of a little girl on the hospital bed instead of her nephew. Abel, spotting his aunt, bolted behind the curtain.
Savanna ignored the girl entirely, her voice ringing toward the curtain. "Abel, stop hiding. Come on, let's go home with Aunt Savanna."
Abel pressed himself against the wall, pretending to be invisible.
Julissa planted herself in front of him, meeting Savanna's glare. "We're not going back. Get used to it."
"You think you get a choice?" Savanna lunged, trying to shove her aside and snatch Abel, when suddenly a towering figure moved in, blocking her path.
She eyed Dalton with a sharp look. "Who the hell are you? Stay out of my business."
Julissa had no idea who he was, but the second she spotted Flynn at the door, an unexpected calm washed over her.
From behind the curtain, Abel peeked out. The moment he saw Flynn, he launched himself across the room and clung to his leg. "Brother-in-law, help! I don't wanna go with that wicked witch. She's evil."
Savanna's head snapped toward Julissa. "So you seriously went and got married?"
Julissa didn't deny a thing.
Savanna's gaze skittered to Flynn, thrown off by his sheer presence—tall, cold, and radiating an aura that made her stomach tighten. Then the truth clicked: Abel called him brother-in-law, and the little girl on the bed was obviously his. "Well, well. You shackled yourself to a man with kids from another marriage. How pathetic. I hand you a shot at a real marriage, and you settle for playing stepmom?"
"Watch your mouth and get out. Now," Dalton warned, his glance darting to Flynn, whose face was now carved from stone.
Savanna dismissed Dalton with a flick of her wrist and stepped right up to Flynn. "Really knotted that tie, huh?"
Flynn didn't blink. "Is that a problem for you?"
Seeing she was outmatched by these two men, Savanna switched tactics fast. "Look, since you went and married my niece, you'd best know our customs—especially since you're carting around baggage from a past relationship. Let me spell it out for you: taking a young thing like Julissa and sticking her with stepmom duty? You owe us at least thirty thousand dollars in bride price. Otherwise, I don't recognize this marriage."
"This has nothing to do with you. How dare you demand money from a total stranger?" Julissa's face burned, mortified by her aunt's sheer gall.
"It has everything to do with me—I'm your guardian," Savanna shot back, her eyes locked on Flynn, shameless and waiting.
"Thirty grand. Take it or leave it."
Dalton smoothly stepped between them, nudging Savanna toward the exit. "Why don't you come with me and we'll settle this bride price right now?"
Confident she was about to cash in, Savanna went willingly, pelting him with questions. "You his brother? You got the authority? I want the full thirty thousand plus gifts. He got a house? A car?"
As soon as they were gone, Julissa turned to Flynn, her cheeks flaming. "I'm sorry about her. She's my aunt. After my parents died, I lived with her family for a year. We don't owe them a cent. Please, just ignore everything she said."
Flynn didn't seem fazed at all. He ruffled Abel's hair with a casual hand. "Get your things. We're going home."
Julissa glanced at the discharge papers. "I haven't even filed the discharge yet."
"Already handled it." With that, Flynn scooped Kori up with one arm and took Abel's hand with the other, leading them out.
Julissa gathered up their bags and hurried after them, searching for her aunt and Dalton in the hallway. But the pair had already vanished.
Inside the elevator, she finally asked, "So, that guy—was he your brother or just a friend?"
