Blindsided - A Stepbrother Romance Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

smiled too. “Shut up. Aaron and I are moving…to Pasadena.”
    “Pasadena? In California?”
    “Yeah. They were going to take Aaron away from me. My father stepped up. He’s got temporary custody of him and he asked us both to come and live there.”
    “Shit. I mean, that’s great for you and Aaron. I’m happy for you both. I’m just not sure what to do without you around here bugging me and shit.”
    Sam laughed. “You’ll probably get a lot more work done.” Troy works on race cars and builds engines for a living. He does it out of his garage, but he’s the best around so he gets a lot of business. He also spends a lot of time and money on Sam’s car, usually for free.
    “True story, I’ll be able to make a living.” Sam faked a pout and he laughed and then shocked her by pulling her in for a hug. She and Troy have shared almost every moment of their lives in one way or another, but physical affection was not the norm. The hug was awkward, but appreciated. Then Troy started talking about a subject they were both comfortable with, racing. “I’ve got a good friend in Pasadena who has a crew I’m sure he’d love to hook you up with.”
    Samantha smiled. Her racing was one of the big things she worried about leaving behind. She grabbed Troy in another hug and this one wasn’t awkward. “What would I do without you?”
    Troy looked sad suddenly and said, “I guess we’re going to find out.”
    **
    “Aaron!” It was nine a.m. on the day Luke was coming to pick up Sam and Aaron. Luke had text her and said he’d be there with the truck and trailer at noon. Sam had everything ready to go. She was excited but slightly nervous…and now she was pissed. She hadn’t gone to bed until after two a.m. When she did, Aaron was still up on the couch playing a video game. When she got up he was gone and his bed didn’t look like it had been slept in. She called his cell phone at least ten times but he didn’t answer. She was getting more pissed…and anxious, by the minute. She was standing out in front of the house now yelling his name. She didn’t really expect him to be out there but she had to do something. “Aaron!”
    Troy stepped out his front door looking slightly disoriented. His hair was sticking up and he was shirtless and in a pair of pajama pants. “Why are you yelling so early?”
    “My fucking stupid brother didn’t come home last night. My dad will be here in three hours. I’m going to kick his ass, I swear to God.”
    Troy ran a hand across his face and through his hair. “Shit. Okay. Let me put on a shirt and some shoes and we’ll go look for him.”
    Sam was so mad she was shaking. Aaron better not screw this up. If she found the little punk drunk, high or in jail she would literally kick his ass. “Thanks Troy.” She went inside and put on her shoes and met Troy in his garage. He was already warming up his classic GTO. Troy collected old cars that didn’t run and fixed them up so they looked better and ran better than they did when they were brand new. His shiny, black 1970 GTO was his pride and joy. Sam slid into the passenger seat and Troy said,
    “Where are we going?”
    “He’s been hanging out with Pinky’s crew, let’s try his place first.”
    “The warehouse or his house?”
    Sam looked at Troy surprised. Pinky Ferguson is bad news and Sam had told Aaron to stay away from him more than once. He’s a drug dealer and Sam suspected drugs weren’t the only things he was dealing. Aaron’s latest stint in juvenile hall had been for stealing a car. He wouldn’t give Pinky up, but she was sure that’s who he was working for. He rents out a warehouse on the outskirts of Phoenix and pretends to be in the body shop business. From what Sam heard it was more of a chop shop. “How do you know where Pinky Ferguson lives?”
    “I know everything that happens in this town,” he said with a wink. “So where to?”
    “If I had to guess I’d say Pinky’s not the type to invite