Tex glanced at his watch with a frown. It was ten at night already, he was not happy. Abby, as usual, was the reason for his worry. She was in college and despite her being a responsible adult he couldn't help but constantly fret over her. The fact that she was taking night classes only added to his many worries. With another sigh he glanced at his watch. If only she'd let me pay for a bodyguard. He felt another grey hair come into existence.

He'd been willing to hire a whole security company for her, but she wouldn't have that. She didn't want to stick out at college or work. No, Abby wanted to be a regular person, which is hard to do if your brother is a tycoon. He'd made his share of enemies in business world and most of them were less than pleasant. He glanced at his phone. No call from Abby and the time was now nine thirty at night. His gut churned.

"Come on Abby, call." He stared at his phone waiting for her to call. Another ten minutes passed before his phone rang. Hurriedly he answered. "Abby?"

"Tex?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeh, just going to my car. You know how these late-night classes seem to drag on." Abby's voice sounded off to Tex.

"You sure you're ok?" He stood from the chair in his office. "I can come pick you up if you want me too."

"Nah, it's fine. Teacher kept us longer than planned. You still up for our movie night?" The sound of clipped footsteps made Tex's hair stand on end.

"Of course."

" Um, did you order the pizza." Abby's voice dropped slightly. "Call in the order…I'll be there soon.

The sound of running footsteps and heavy breathing echoed in Tex's ear. His chest tightened, and he hurriedly grabbed his hat and keys. Something was not right. With his phone pressed tightly to his ear he hurried out of the building to his waiting Cadillac. He couldn't wait for Abby to get to her car.

"Stay on the phone Abby." He strode to his car and hurriedly slipped inside. "Keep talking."

"Nothing's wrong." Her voice was strained.

"Don't lie to me, kid." He cranked the car. "Who's out there with you?"

"No one, I'll be there soon." More heavy footsteps sounded over the phone."Everything is fine Texas. I promise. Just hurrying towards the car. Might rain."

"I don't believe you. Where are you parked?"

"Where I usually…"

Tex jerked the wheel as a clattering sound flooded his hearing. His hands turned white from gripping the wheel.

"ABBY!" He yelled into the phone and ran a red light. "Answer the phone!"

There was no sound of his little sister's voice. He pressed on the gas and channeled some of the racing he so loved to watch. His mind was going as fast as his car. What had Abby gotten herself into now. The phone remained glued to his ear as he tried to listen to any background noise. He heard scuffling and muffled voices in the background and then a sharp scream before a click. Someone had hung up on him.

He clenched his teeth as he ran another red light. The minutes felt like hours and Tex wanted to rip his hair out as he drove through town towards the college. He'd long ago memorized the lay out of the college's parking lots, just in case Abby needed a lift. It wasn't hard for him to find his way to the parking area Abby usually used. No one was there. His gut churned like a racer trying to turn right.

The parking lot was abandoned, no cars were around, and the only light was from street lamps dotting the area. A chill crept up Tex's spine as he pulled his car into a parking space. Abby's normal parking space. His keen eyes cut along the expanse of the college lot, empty. Pocketing his keys, he slipped out of the car to investigate. With every step his heart felt heavier. Something wasn't right. He paused for a moment as something caught his eyes on the ground. The tycoon strode forward and scooped up the item, Abby's phone. His heart dropped.

"Abby?" He called out past the lump in his throat. Furtively he searched the area for his baby sister. Carefully he clenched the phone in his fist. Where could she be?

He searched the area for anymore signs of her. The tycoon felt his world spinning as he scavenged the parking lot. For ten minutes he searched until he found Abby's school books scattered and torn. Blood was spattered across a couple of the torn pages and he felt bile rise in his throat. He let his ears search for any sound of her. Faintly in the distance he heard a scream and he threw caution to the wind. He would know that scream anywhere. It was Abby!

Hold on I'm coming! His mind screamed at him to go faster as he ran through the parking lot. He tried his best to not make too much noise. With his heart in his ears he rushed towards the growing screams of his sister. It took him close to ten minutes to find where she was located. Fury rolled through him as he came around the corner of a building. He was sure he'd never been so angry in his life. With only a few seconds to spare he texted Marshall for help.

"Come on, Abby. Just give Jim a little kiss." A gruff voice floated over to Tex's ears.

"No!" Abby's voice was firm and bolstered Tex's courage.

"Don't be an idiot." The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed through the area.

"I…said…no."

Tex slipped his hand into his jacket carefully as he inched forward. Hearing his sister in pain urged him to hurry to her aid. He ducked behind a bush to get closer to Abby and her attackers. His new vantage point enabled him to distinguish how many people he was facing. Under one of the streetlamps was a grey mustang with four boys standing a few feet away from it. Abby was being held in the middle of the group, both her arms being held behind her back by one boy and the others circled her.

The group was acting like vultures, circling and yelling various things at Abby. Tex felt his gut churn angrily as one of the boy's tug at Abby's shirt. He was going to skin them all alive and then let Marshall handle them. He checked his jacket again for his trusty gun. It was there, he heaved a silent sigh and inched forward again.

"Come on, Abs." Another boy grabbed her chin to get her to look at him.

"I said no and that's final." She kicked out sending the boy sprawling. Tex smirked, that was his Abby, a fighter.

The sound of ripping fabric and firm slaps sent Tex over the edge. He leapt out of the bushes and onto the nearest guy. Without second thought he clipped the guy on the back of the head with the butt of his gun. The punk crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. One down and three to go. He turned towards the scuffle occurring near the mustang. Abby was being dragged by her hair across the asphalt and towards the mustang. His blood boiled. They were not getting away.

"Stop. Right. There." His voice was firm and full of authority. There was no hesitation as he leveled the gun at the three delinquents holding his sister captive.

"Tex…" Abby's voice was strained. Blood seeped from a split bottom lip and her shirt was ripped from the right shoulder down the side. He didn't bother reigning in his anger.

"Let her go."

"Don't think so." The one gripping Abby's hair smirked at him. "In fact, I think she'll make good company." He jerked Abby's hair and drug her further.

"That's right. I think she can come with us." A tall muscled boy stepped in front of Abby and his accomplice.

"I was afraid you'd say that." Tex didn't sound sorry in the least. "You just made this a lot harder on yourself."

"That thing probably ain't even loaded."

Bang! Silence reigned in the area for a split second before there was a yell and the sound of someone hitting the ground.

"You were saying?" Tex stepped over the boy that had been blocking his way.

"You're insane!" The boy pressed a hand against his bleeding thigh. "She's just a girl!"

"That girl is my sister." Tex kept walking until he was facing the last two boys. "If you want to live. Let her go." He raised his gun again.

"We're going to sue you!"

"I'd like to see you try." Tex waited for them to release Abby.

"I like her." The one holding Abby threw her against the mustang with his hand against her throat.

"I warned you."

"You're crazy!" The one boy charged Tex. With practiced ease Tex pistol whipped him across the temple.

"Tex…Help." Abby called for him as she was shoved inside of the car.

Bang! Bang!

"Abby…" Tex ran forwards, gun holstered safely inside his jacket once more. He shoved the now unconscious boy off his sister and to the ground. His first concern was her.

"Tex." She clung to her brother like a lifeline.

"Shh, I'm here. You're safe Abby. I promise." He tugged his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders.

"Are…they dead?"

"No, but when our lawyers get done they'll wish they were."

Abby trembled like a leaf as he tugged her close to him. No sound came from the four boys that Tex had dealt with effortlessly. For a long while there was silence between the siblings other than the occasional sob from Abby. Finally, Tex spoke again.

"You're getting a bodyguard." His voice brooked no argument.

"Tex…"

"No argument. This just proves my point that you need someone keeping an eye out for you when I can't." He ran a gentle hand over her hair. "You know I'd do anything for you, but I can't always keep an eye on you. You're my closest family Abs. I can't lose you."

"Alright." Abby stammered out before the sound of a wailing siren cut through the night.

"That would be Marshall and an ambulance for those boys."

Sure, enough he was right. The head of Dinoco security pulled into the parking lot with a few police cars and two ambulances. Tex and Abby both gave their statements and the police escorted the boys to the hospital.

"Didn't realize I was cleaning up trash tonight." Marshall grumbled as he and Tex waited for Abby to be treated.

"Thanks for coming on short notice."

"It's my job."

"Still, thank you. I want you to pick out a bodyguard for Abby. She's not saying no this time."

"Good. It's high time she had one." Marshall shook his head. "She's as stubborn as you are."

"Are y'all discussing me again?" Abby limped over to the pair.

"Of course." Tex tugged her into a side hug. "What's the verdict?"

"I'll live." Abby's voice was low.

"She needs to rest. Get a checkup up for tomorrow." The EMT worker walked over. "Take care miss."

"Time to head home Abby."

"We still on for pizza and a movie?"

"Of course. Let's head home." Tex walked Abby back to his car. "I'll get Marshall to have one of the boys drive your car back to the house."

"Ok." Abby paused as they slid into the car. "Thanks for saving me Tex."

"Anytime Abby. I'll always protect you. Just remember that next time."

The ride home was silent, but Tex knew that next time Abby would know who to call. Maybe she'd finally get it through her thick skull to call him first before she got into trouble. Knowing Abby, he would just have to be ready for any sort of trouble. It was his job after all to take care of her.