Chapter 40

The mention of Latisha's name made Killian's tone turn sharp. "You can't even take care of yourself, and you're worried about someone else's family drama? Do you want to be locked up forever?"

"I don't care about getting out. Just please, check on Latisha for me. That fool would never say anything, even if Clifford was hurting her."

Killian paused. He hadn't thought of that. Latisha was pregnant. If Clifford did something to her and she...

"Fine, I'll call him. But you need to calm down. Even if Clifford doesn't love her, they grew up together. There's some history there. He wouldn't actually let anything happen to her."

"Don't be naive. That bastard doesn't have a heart. You can't count on him for anything."

Nikita had a point. Clifford was heartless. If he were truly madly in love with Yesenia, he would have divorced Latisha and married her by now. He wouldn't be stringing both of them along.

"Alright, I'll ask," Killian said, cutting her off. He hung up and dialed Clifford's number.

Clifford actually answered this time, but Killian found himself at a loss for words.

"What is it?"

Killian cleared his throat. "Nikita can't reach Latisha. She wanted me to ask how she's doing."

There was a two-second pause on the other end, followed by Clifford's mocking voice. "Why is the entire Stafford family so interested in my personal life?"

"Clifford, don't be like that. Nikita and Latisha are friends. It's natural for her to be concerned."

"Is it?" Clifford laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Killian, Nikita is your sister. I may not know her well, but I'm sure you do. You'd be wise to keep her on a leash. Don't say I didn't warn you."

After that, Clifford hung up.

Killian stared at his phone and sighed.

Nikita's personality was a bit too wild for a girl. She hadn't always been this way. Two years ago, their parents had tried to arrange marriage for her, and she had run away from home in a rage. When she returned, she had cut off all her long hair, started dressing like a boy, and announced that she wasn't

interested in men.

The news spread like wildfire, and every eligible bachelor in Etherea City kept their distance.

As her older brother, Killian had

never believed her. But over the past

two years, she had started acting more and more like a boy, street racing, clubbing, riding motorcycles. Even he was starting to have his doubts.

Clifford probably didn't believe it either, but recent events had likely put him on his guard. Nikita's

meddling hade

prompted the

father who had been away on

business, to fly back to Etherea City and lock her in her room.

Killian pushed the thoughts aside and called Nikita back.

"Bro, you have to go to her house," Nikita pleaded.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I'm serious. Please, just go check on her. I'm begging you."

"Absolutely not. What business would I have going there?"

"Latisha is pregnant! If something happens to her, could you live with yourself?"

"That has nothing to do with me."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Nikita threw open her window with a loud bang.

"Fine! Then I'm jumping!"

She had made the sound loud enough for him to hear, and it worked.