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Chapter 1

Why did every woht be the one always announce at the worst possible ti a street at the edge of Mustang Valley, Arizona, on a sunny, early spring day He had just left his now ex-girlfriend, Cindy, in tears because he’d had to tell her he was never going to have any children He’d explained that to her at the beginning but she e his mind He’d had to remind her hethe relationship like that She’d told him she understood and held no animosity toward him, but she was obviously very hurt

Callum stepped into Executive Protection Services, LLC still la what had happened What else could he have done? He would have hurt his ex-girlfriend more had he continued on with her When Cindy sat him down for The Serious Talk, she’d told him she wanted children and she wanted theical clock ticked on and she felt she had to ht for each other She had hoped he felt the saive her children She hadn’t anticipated how unbending he was on the matter And the truth was that he did not love her They would have ended their relationship eventually, since she wanted a fa it out? He never had serious relationships ootten the impression he would with her? He had told her as much He almost shuddered as the door closed behind hih the entry with its vacant reception desk toward an office in the back

He had enough going on without having to now feel guilty for hurting Cindy He was still reeling from the news that his half brother, Ace, had been switched at birth and wasn’t really his biological sibling Not by blood Who would do such a thing and why? The why of it really twisted his mind Charles, the owner, chief executive officer, president and whatever other titles a guy like hilass desk The lack of clutter and nearly bare walls prettypersonal Good business head That’s why Callu for paperwork Charles did

“It’s about tiot here” Charles stood and moved around his desk

“I had to take care of soh his ned recently in his life, ever since an email hadthat his oldest brother, Ace, was not a biological Colton Since then, his father, Payne, had been shot—and now the cops even suspected Ace

Charles stopped before him and cocked his head “Well, that sounds like you When you need to take care of so it—not even your boss”

“I broke up with irlfriend,” Callum said

“Another one? The hot blonde? What’s wrong with you?”

Callum put his hands up “She wanted kids”

Charles’s brow creased a little “What is it with you and kids? They’re harmless and adorable Who wouldn’t want them?”

“Not me”

“Why not? They can be challenging soh that”

Charles had two young kids He had a wife and a nice house A real family man “Why did you call me here?” Callum asked in irritation

After considering hi, d

o you realize that?”