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Paigeelse?"

"Just one " Heto have a probleether before," she said

"Not in quarters as close as these, and not withher pen on the table "I asked to be assigned to this team," she said slowly and deliberately "I care about Darcy and I want to be a part of keeping her safe As long as you do your job, I don’t give a rat’s ass who’s in charge You ent, Alex, but in private, you’re not all that"

4

D arcy unpacked three pairs of linen slacks, jeans, several shirts, and five pairs of shoes, all black As she held up her third black T-shirt, she felt her lips twitch Dear God, she really did dress like a rock star groupie in

Not the best tiht as she carried her clothes to the closet What with her being abducted the last ti she would be doing all her future purchases online But maybe she could try a color other than black Maybe--

A knock on the door interrupted her mental list "Come in," she called

The door opened and a very pretty, very pregnant woe brown eyes She held a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other

"Hi, I’ured you’d need solanced at the bedside clock "It’s barely eleven in the "

"Sure, but you’re still on East Coast tirinned "Trust et Drink early and often" She set the bottle and glass on the dresser "Wow You have a lot of clothes And they’re gorgeous I’oods store What a nightmare Nic and I both really want kids, but I have to tell you, unless he plans to carry the next one, this is the end of the line for me"

Brenna lowered herself into the roohed "Better Now, you look confused What didn’t I explain?"

Darcy sank down on the edge of the bed "Who the hell are you?"

Brenna grinned, then started to laugh "Sorry Brenna Marcelli Well, technically Brenna Giovanni I live in the next house over, which is about two hters I run Marcelli Wines I have reat, but that’s another story"

Darcy felt as if she’d been caught up in a tornado "Okay Am I in your room?"

"Nope You’re in Katie’s She has much better taste I shared a room with my twin, Francesca, and let me tell you, you don’t want to stay there Very scary wallpaper"

"You’re one of four sisters?"

Brenna nodded "Katie’s the oldest She’s hter, Valerie Francesca is my fraternal twin She’s married to Sae, and tho are nearly two and a half Mia, the youngest of us, has just graduated froetoith a master’s in world domination She starts her job with the State Depart with friends, enjoying her last suood-looking naval officer "I thought being in a political family was complicated, but we’re easy coht hand on her swollen belly "Don’t worry They won’t quiz you on the various relationships for at least a week But this can’t be tough duty You’re used to hanging out at state dinners I could never do that I’m way too opinionated"

"I avoid state dinners That’s ine what itwould be so public Ianony who you are," Darcy said lightly

Brenna’s expression turned sy Are you doing okay?"

"I’lanced at the marks on her wrists "I would think they did But you’ll be safe here There are tons of us to protect you Not that I could really do uy until he screa Just toss him a Q-Tip and he’ll take on any enemy"

"A Q-Tip, huh? What could he do with an actual weapon?"

"Conquer the known civilized world Oh!" She pressed down on her belly "Someone’s awake It’s time for soccer practice" She felt around on both sides of her stomach "Just the two feet, I think There can only be two I couldn’t taketwins The doctor swears there’s just the one heartbeat, but they’ve been wrong before I’m a twin, my twin had twins, and I fire Francesca didn’t even show until fifteen ained exactly twenty-seven pounds I am a freak of nature"

Darcy wanted to be sy If Brenna was an example of the Marcelli sisters, she couldn’t wait to meet them all

She heard footsteps in the hallway Grand? Are your feet swollen?"

Brenna raised a foot "Pretty much all the time since late June"

"When are you due?" Darcy asked