ASHLEY

I turned sharply at the creaking of the floorboard. I jolted off Axel and sat up quickly.

I looked at him and back at the floorboard. Then I sensed Carson and Brody's presence immediately. "Looks like your brothers are coming in," I said, trying to hold back laughter.

"Are they?" he said, a small smile curving at the edge of his lips.

"Why are you not bothered?"

"Brothered? Should I be? Oh, I should be!"

There was something fishy about the way he spoke. He probably knew that they were ...