I stayed in Will's cozy arms, wishing I could never leave them. But I knew that somewhere there, behind my back, Vincent was waiting patiently for my attention. I heard him muttering something with Dylan. When I turned my head slightly and looked at them out of the corner of my eye, I saw that both focused on the screen of the Macbook that was laying on the desk.

In the meantime, Will slowly and unnoticeably began to let me free me from his embrace. First, he loosened it a bit, patted my head, then put his hands on my shoulders and gently began to push me away. I didn't protest very much. Part of me wanted to get this conversation over with.

I reluctantly turned to where Vince was sitting behind his huge desk with Dylan leaning over his shoulder. Will patted my back and thus directed me towards one of the chairs that I took with a heavy heart.

Vince looked up at me, then at Will, and when he was sure that our moment of comfort was over, he cleared his throat and stood up. With his one hand, he grabbed his laptop, with the other, he smoothed out his shirt, which wasn't wrinkled at all, and went around his desk so that in a moment he was sitting in the armchair next to me.

I was surprised that he didn't stay in his place. As he was there, behind this huge counter, the authority was coming out of his ears, even more than usual. I thought he might have wanted to keep this advantage over me, at least for the time of our chat.

And then I remembered that it was Vincent and he didn't need a stupid place behind the desk to arouse respect, fear, and combinations of many other feelings of this kind in people. Especially when it came to me. Besides, I wasn't sure at all whether to have him here next to me, so close, was any better.

"I need your help, dear Hailie," he began. He put his computer on his lap and started tapping on the keyboard again to looked at me after a moment. "I'd like to understand what happened. It's important, all right?"

I nodded, biting my lip, then quickly added "Yes".

Then he unveiled the laptop screen to me and I wasn't surprised to see the recording from Mrs. Hardy's bakery. I knew that Dylan would immediately share it with the other brothers and I kind of expected that he had sent it to Vincent and Will so they could watch it before they got home.

"After school, you went to your friend's place to study together. What were you doing in the bakery then?" he asked simply, but I immediately started to stress. Vincent's interview was like a minefield. One false move and I'm dead. Especially since, after all, I had something to hide. What's more, I had to satisfy him with my explanations enough to be able to throw the light at Leo's case in the end. Suddenly it seemed like an impossible mission.

"We took a break and felt like having something sweet..." I mumbled, glancing surreptitiously at Will, who took off his coat and hung it over the arm of the couch. He was sitting on it now, checking something on his phone, but I was sure he was actively listening to every word we said. Is he going to be angry with me? Well, with my brothers, one could never expect or take anything for granted.

"It's okay, there's nothing wrong with that," Vincent reassured me, and I was glad that he had no problem with it but at the same time I was feeling a bit pitiful about myself because of how dependent on his opinion I was.

"Her bodyguard is another moron," Dylan said. I forgot for a moment about his presence. He sprawled in Vince's chair behind his desk, but he moved a little backward and tilted his head back. As a result, he stared at the ceiling, undoubtedly also cocking his ear. "He didn't even know she left the apartment."

Vince was apparently already informed about this case because he just looked at me and I felt obliged to stand up for this poor man.

"Vince, it's not his fault. I... I left the phone at Mona's. It was charging." I explained, also describing to him how I accidentally chose another exit from the building.

He looked at me with an unreadable expression, and finally sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"I may not have said it clearly enough before, but it is your responsibility to always have your phone with you. Your tracker is not there for fun. Keep that in mind, please."

I nodded quickly.

"If you have a low battery problem, carry a power bank with you. We've got plenty of them all over the house. Ask Eugenie and she'll for sure find one for you," Will said gently, looking up to peek at me.

Vince nodded and continued.

"However, the bodyguard has to have eyes everywhere, and while guarding you, he cannot rely only on the application. I don't care about which exit you choose to leave the building. For me, it could even be a window. This man's job is to know where you are at all times. If he missed your little trip to the bakery, it means he is not doing it well."

I lowered my head.

"I don't want him to have problems because of me," I mumbled, playing with my fingers.

"It's his fault, Hailie. I'm glad that his inattention came out today, and not another time with way worse after-effects."

Despite his words that made some sense, I still felt responsible for the inevitable troubles that the bodyguard would have to face.

"Who is this kid?" Vince asked another question, going to the point. He was now pointing his finger at the computer screen, where the video from the cameras was stopped when I entered the place with two of my companions.

"A friend from school. We met him at the bakery," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Then why are all three of you getting inside together?" Vincent asked seeming to be totally at ease. I knew that I had to choose words very carefully as he's going to pick apart every one of them.

"I mean, we met him in front of the bakery. He suggested that we have a sit inside," I corrected myself, pretending that my previous answer was simply an understatement.

"He's the son of the owner," Dylan broke in again.

"Mhm," Vince muttered and replayed the recording until the moment when Leo served us our sweets. "What are they talking about here?"

"Oh..." I started and fell silent, suddenly feeling a surge of panic. That's when Mrs. Hardy tried to make Mona and I leave, and Leo said "They know". Jesus, what shall I say to him now? I didn't think about it. In the end, I just mumbled, "I don't remember?"

Vincent looked at me expectantly, then pointed to the next frame of the recording.

"Here your friend is clearly introducing you to his mother, isn't he?" he pushed. On the screen, Leo was pointing at me and his lips were moving clearly. Hailie Monet. You didn't even have to be an expert in lipreading.

"Uhm, well... yes," I admitted. There was no point in lying about it.

Dylan's hand hit the desk, causing a loud bang.

"So that bitch knew!" he called out with disgust. "She knew who Hailie was before that red-haired fucker showed up! Why didn't she make her leave? The bitch wanted to use her!"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," Vincent growled meaningfully at him, apparently irritated by his young brother's impulsiveness. He gave him a look, then focused back on me and spoke calmer, "Hailie, did this woman ask you to stay?"

They were now blaming Mrs. Hardy. It terrified me tremendously because the last thing I wanted was to make her life even more difficult, so I immediately shook my head. In the beginning, I planned to hide the real version of events from my brothers, but it wasn't good, so I quickly started modifying it. I had no choice. I had to admit a few things. I had to act wisely and denying facts blindly was everything but wise.

"No. I swear, Vince, she didn't want to use me. She told us to leave. It's me... I insisted to stay," I confessed quietly. In the end, I lowered my gaze because it was getting harder and harder to endure his sharp eyes in which I certainly wasn't going to see approval.

"Wait a moment," Will, who, as it turned out, suddenly was standing behind me, interjected. I didn't even hear his footsteps and how he was rising from the couch. He put his hand on the back of my chair and frowned at my head from above. "Did you know that the bakery would be robbed?"

I watched my hands with the greatest interest and nodded. I imagined Dylan's eyes were furious now, Will's disappointed, and Vincent's suspicious and stern, so I really didn't feel like making eye contact with any of them.

"What is it now, a comedy show?" Dylan laughed, briefly and without a hint of humor.

"So why did you agree to stay there?" Will continued as if he didn't understand.

I sighed. You only die once, I had to try to get out of it somehow.

"Leo told me to better leave because soon people who work for my brothers would be there and that it probably wouldn't be a nice visit. I didn't believe him, I thought he was lying. I know that not everyone likes you and there are many stupid rumors about you." I glanced at Dylan, or rather towards him, but so that I still could not see his eyes, then shrugged and lowered my head again. "Apparently, Leo was telling the truth."

I heard Will's sigh and after a moment I felt his hand on my head, gently stroking my hair. I was grateful for this soothing touch because it showed that I still had support in my favorite brother, even if he was temporarily unhappy with some of my decisions.

"You shouldn't have gotten involved, little one."

"I know, but I really thought he was lying."

There was a moment of silence and I could see from the corner of my eye that Vince resumed the recording and watched what was going on there. Did I manage to convince them? Maybe. If I had to admit that the whole trip was planned from the beginning, they wouldn't be so forgiving. It's better to pretend it all was a coincidence.

In a moment, Vince spoke again.

"Why didn't you inform them immediately who you are?" he asked as the camera captured the gangsters' entrance.

"I... I think I was waiting for the right moment," I stuttered.

He pointed to my bruised cheek.

"It wouldn't have happened if they knew your name right away."

This time I sighed.

"I know, yes, next time I will be introducing myself to everyone immediately," I murmured with literally just a tiny little bit of irony.

Vince shook his head, giving me a look that clearly warned me against overusing that tone with him.

"No, Hailie. Next time you have to be smart, think straight and analyze the situation. In most cases, revealing your identity will work in your favor, but not always. Remember that."

Then there was silence again. Finally, the recording showed my fall and Will narrowed his eyes and leaned down to take a closer look. This was obviously not the first time he was watching it, but it was only now that he realized that I also hit my head lightly, because I felt the tips of his fingers brushed my head in search of a bump. I shuddered when he sensed a painful bulge. He took away his hand immediately and put it back, but this time on my neck and back to stroke it soothingly. I felt shivers of pleasure.

I watched Vincent put the computer away and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Is that it? Did my version convince him? I won't get it?

So... maybe we can move on to the next part of the conversation?

"Vince?" I whispered.

"Hm?"

"Why are you stealing money from an innocent woman?" I blurted out without thinking.

Vince's eyes grew colder than usual. Slowly, he leaned back in the armchair, crossed his legs, and in a split second transformed into his formal twin.

"How do you know, dear Hailie, that this woman is innocent?"

"Leo told me everything," I said carefully.

Vince raised his chin higher, staring at me indifferently.

"And how do you know that this Leo is not lying? At least half of the debtors consider their debts to be unjust."

I bit my lip. Well, I couldn't tell him that Leo's eyes were gleaming with honesty, that his words caught my heart and that I had been thinking about him since the first day he accosted me at school.

"He didn't say the debt was unjust, only that it belonged to his brother."

"Then why isn't his brother paying it back?" he asked skeptically.

Vincent was either totally indifferent to the misery of others, or he had no idea about this case. Or both.

"His brother is in rehab," I replied, suddenly realizing how little I really knew about all this. I should have gathered more information from Leo.

My brother rolled his eyes.

"Well then, if he can't clean up his mess, his family will have to do it. That's how things work in this world."

I winced and my currently hypersensitive cheek ached.

"But... but it doesn't make sense," I mumbled, also frowning and collecting my thoughts.

Vince tilted his head with polite interest and stared at me like at an engaging tv program.

"What makes no sense?"

"Where is the logic? If you borrow money from someone and then run away, will I also have to give it back for you?" I asked, perplexed and incredulous.

I heard Will's soft laugh. It's nice that I managed to amuse someone.

"Don't worry, little sis," Dylan said, winking at me. "You have four more brothers. Each of us will chip in and we'll be fine."

He didn't make me laugh.

But Vince smiled at that. Gently but still.

"You're lucky, Hailie, because you were born in a family where profits are created, not debts. However, if you ask whether as a family we share responsibility for each others' actions, then the answer is yes. You have already experienced it yourself. The man who attacked you and Tony didn't pick you by accident. He wanted to hurt you to get revenge on me. However, it also means that if you have a problem that you can't solve, I will do it for you," he explained calmly and patiently.

I have to admit that having Vincent on my side indeed was giving me a lot of strength.

A moment of silence resounded and after a short time, my eldest brother finally rose from his seat, apparently not having much more to say to me.

"Vince..." I started again. I couldn't let it go, I had to finish it. For some reason, I also wished I'd been alone with him.

"Hm?"

Maybe I'll ask him tomorrow? Maybe on the weekend? Maybe there will be a moment when he'll be in a good mood and everything will be easier...

"M-maybe you would agree to talk to Leo?" I asked very quickly and I was sure I was speaking unclearly, but apparently it was understandable enough because I heard Dylan's reaction immediately.

"Unbelievable," he grunted, shaking his head and raising his eyes to the ceiling again.

I gazed steadfastly at Vincent, who looked down at me with an emotionless face while my other brother continued to complain.

"I can't believe this kid asked you for it! What a..."

"Dylan, shut up!" I growled at him finally, losing my patience. "I didn't talk to you, did I?!"

I usually did my best not to irritate him. I was an amicable person and didn't want to complicate my life with unnecessary conflicts, especially with someone like Dylan.

But he simply asked for it, he asked for it! He was a master of pushing my limits, and then he usually blamed me for getting angry with him. Just like now.

At first, he was stunned that I had the audacity to speak to him like that. Ugh, the Great Mister Untouchable. He narrowed his eyes and began to bore into me.

And then he suddenly smirked, so dangerously, that I knew his rapid change of mood didn't bode well.

"Why so aggressive, little sis?" he asked and tilted his head. He was still sprawled in Vince's chair. His smile widened even more. "Does little Hailie have a new lover?"

I boiled with rage. God, how stupid Dylan is!

If there was no wooden desk between us, I would definitely go for his throat.

"Leo is my friend. Same as Marshall," I explained coldly, trying to calm down. I wanted to show to my two oldest brothers that I behave well because I knew that I still had a chance to talk to them normally.

I mentioned Marshall because all my brothers associated him and for some reason accepted him as my friend without unnecessary suspicions.

"Oh. Is that why he stood up for you and got beaten because of it?" Dylan sneered.

"And you praised him for it," I reminded him bitterly.

"Because I thought it was just a nice gesture, but now I understand why that dude was playing the fucking knight," he snickered and looked up again, then added gruffly, "If I knew, instead of praise he would get another bruise."

"Vince!" I groaned tearfully to my guardian, who stood and listened to our exchange with raised eyebrows. I think I begged him to defend me.

"What exactly do you want from me, Hailie?" He asked. Now he leaned against his desk so that he was directly opposite me, but with his back to Dylan. He also folded his arms.

Well. His attitude showed that he was still ready to hear me out. Now I just have to articulate my request accordingly.

"I would like you to agree to meet Leo."

Vince didn't show in any way that he'd heard what I said. He was still looking at me just as indifferently and didn't even budge. I ignored another one of Dylan's snorts.

I got up. I approached my eldest brother. I saw him watching my every move. I wrapped my hands around his arm. Vincent's biceps were not as muscular as Dylan's, but he certainly didn't lack strength. I was so close to him that I could smell the scent of his strong masculine perfume. I almost clung to his side and lifted my eyes at him, trying to muster the most beautiful and innocent look as I could.

"Vince, please."

He looked down into my gaze and I saw small signs of gentleness in the depths of his own soul. He was certainly surprised by my familiarity because I never had the courage to cuddle to him.

Suddenly he looked away from me and took a deep breath. His hands were still firmly crossed on his chest and he didn't loosen them even in response to my embrace. After a moment he moved his eyes at me again and then I was sure that I could see some leniency in them.

And then he shook his head and my heart stopped.

I tightened my grasp on his arm even more and I was about to whine that please and that why not, when he spoke.

"Hailie, I don't want people to think they can get to me through you. I don't want them to use you."

We shared a mesmerizing connection. I drowned in his cool, bright eyes, and he endured my pleading ones.

"I won't let anyone use me, I promise," I assured him firmly and surely.

Somewhere in the background, Dylan snorted for the thousandth time.

"With your naivety? Sure," he laughed darkly at me.

I could've taken a deep breath and ignore him, but instead, I chose to open my mouth to snap again at the most annoying of my brothers. But before I could say anything, Vincent was first.

"Be quiet, Dylan."

"Well, it's true, you know that. If I wanted to get to our family or just to you, I'd use her without a second thought. She's so easy to manipulate," Dylan replied, and my eyes glazed. I immediately lowered my head so that nobody would see. I simply just got sad...

"Get out," Vincent said sharply over his shoulder, treating our brother with a sample of a menacing look thrown from under his furrowed eyebrows. In a second he added even louder and harsher, "Now."