“Harlow, your other stalker has proven to be more elusive than we had thought. They’re smart, whoever they are. We still have no clue what this is about or why or anything really. Luke’s death answers one of the whos but not the whys, and right now, that could be an important part to figuring out who this second person is. If we figure out Luke’s motive, we can determine who else might have shared in that and helped him. There was a business card found in the dead PI’s office and it’s for a biker bar not far from the trailer park your mom lived in. I’m going to head over there a little later today and poke around, see what I can dig up. I’m almost a hundred percent sure it starts here and has something to do with your mother.”
I’m sure he prepared for the worst, figuring this might be something that I’d freak out about, but I’m honestly not sure if I could be surprised by anything connected to my mother. I squeeze his hand, trying to reassure him as best I can that I’m here and I’m safe. “What I don't understand is how he got the card. Why did he have it? And why was his file all hard copies? Was there no computer or electronic evidence stored anywhere?” Okay, maybe I’m not as cool as I thought; by the time I voice the last question, there’s a small hint of hysteria in my voice. But it’s not my mother’s involvement that’s the upsetting part. It’s just kind of hitting me again that we just know so little about this, and one of the people who wassupposedto have some answers is dead, leaving behind no solid trail as to what he discovered, or how, or from whom.
Thomas sighs again. “According to Jake, the PI had taken a trip out here not long before he was found dead. And therewasa computer, but it looked like someone had tried to destroy the hard drive. He’s having Forensics see if they can get it working again. Until that happens, we won’t be able to check for back-up copies.”
“Can I come with you? It might help to have an extra pair of eyes.” He adamantly shakes his head, his hand already clenching mine more tightly.
“No, I’ll take my brothers, and I would really like it if you stayed here, inside, where it’s safe, for now. This could be the epicenter of it all, and I don't want to make it easy to get at you. Plus, there’s no way that Jacinta would let us leave her behind if you came too.”
A small sigh of disappointment escapes me even though I know he’s right. “Okay, but I want to know everything when you get back.”
He smiles, looking a little relieved that I didn’t argue. But I’m not that stupid girl in a horror movie who doesn’t listen and gets themselves killed. I like my life even more now with my new family. I won’t risk that, and I certainly won’t risk Jacinta. He’s one hundred percent correct that she’d never let the family go on some kind of sleuthing adventure while leaving her behind.
“Thank you.” He leans in and kisses me, and without a second thought, I wind my arms around his neck and try to encourage him to lie back on the bed with me. I never did get my make-out session on the plane.
But a bang down below has him jumping up, pulling a gun out of the back of his pants, and moving to check the noise out. Shit, I hadn't even noticed it tucked under his shirt in the back of his jeans.
I stay put until he calls me, but I can hear more than one voice. “It’s okay; it’s just Holden and Oliver,” he shouts.
When I get down the stairs, I find them poking around in my clinic.
“Hey, babe, are you okay?” Holden looks up as we enter, concern clouding his eyes, his jaw taut with tension. “It must be a bit of a shock to realize Luke was behind so much of what happened.” He comes over and pulls me in his arms, and I relax into his hold.
“I’m okay, I promise,” I mutter into his chest, and I feel him reassuringly run his hands up and down my back. Oliver is still poking around, peeking in drawers and opening cupboards.
“What’s that?” Oliver asks, pointing to a locked and barred cabinet.
“That’s the drug cabinet. Mostly tranquilizers and sedatives for the horses, but there are also antibiotics, vaccines, and things for smaller animals too.” His eyes widen in surprise, and I chuckle. “Did you think it was all pretend? Iamlicensed here, and I’m sure Chuck will have me checking over everyone as soon as possible. Not to mention how busy I’ll be if the neighbors hear that I’m home.”
“Well, as long as you can do all that with me around, that’s fine,” Thomas warns, and I roll my eyes.
“Yes, General Hardass.” I salute him, and the sound of Holden and Oliver’s laughter follows me out of the stables as they hurry behind me.
ChapterThree
Thomas
Leaving Harlow behind at the Bostons’ house was harder than I had imagined. Lunch was a fun and rowdy affair until Chuck’s parents arrived. They were cold and rude to Harlow even as they kissed my and my siblings’ asses. Maybe it’s a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, considering our initial reception of Harlow, but it grated on me to see people treating her that way.
“Fucking hell, how are Nana and Poppy friends with those two?” Jaxon grumbles, his nose wrinkled in disgust. I only partially listen to him, having no real answer to give and needing my attention focused on the directions the navigation system is giving me.
“To be honest, I think it had nothing to do with them and everything to do with Chuck and Melinda being friends with Dad. And on some not-so-small level, Harlow herself. Poppy once told me that when she moved in with them, Chuck’s parents were awful to her, so they took it upon themselves to treat her very differently. I think that’s the reason they kept going back. Nana and Poppy spent more time with her than they ever did those old stuck-up assholes,” Declan says. He’s sitting next to me in the passenger seat, his body turned to look at the others in the back.
“Well, surely that’s a tick on the plus side of her coming to live with us.” Kai sounds happy about that, but Jaxon clears his throat.
“About that… How serious are you all about her? I mean, we haven't had a conversation since we started to ‘woo’ her.”
“Fucking Jacinta,” Oliver cuts in, but we just ignore him.
“How are we all feeling about this harem thing we’ve got going on? Especially now that it’s in the media?” At Jaxon’s words, the car erupts into chaos. Everyone’s talking over one another, their shouts loud enough that I can’t hear myself think.
“Hey. Hey!” I shout before pulling into a vacant parking spot on the side of the road. His timing is terrible, but Jaxon has a point; it’s something we need to talk about, and I have a feeling it’s going to be a short conversation. Turning so I can see everyone, I take charge. “One at a time, alright? Are we all in with Harlow?” The loud yes echoes in the car despite my one-at-a-time instruction, and smiles simultaneously appear on my brothers’ faces. “Well, I guess that says it all.”
“I have a proposal then.” Jaxon squirms, looking a little nervous. I’d tease him if that weren’t so significant. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen himnervousabout a woman before. In lust? Definitely. Smarmy and totally self-satisfied after a hookup? Fuck yeah. But nervous… That’s a new one. I kind of like seeing him that way because it says to me that my brother is being sincere, not that I really needed confirmation of that.
“She was so devastated when she got those rejection letters, and my heart almost broke for her. We’re all doing what we love, and the thought that she can’t is unacceptable.” There are murmurs of agreement from the rest of my brothers, the sound quiet enough that none of us really interrupt Jaxon. “Jacinta wants nothing to do with the count’s house across the road. I’m not entirely sure why. It’s not like it’s a connection to our mother or anything, but anyway, she’s more interested in the overseas properties. Plus, you know she loves our place. Dad isn't ever going to be able to budge her, and whoever manages to keep up with our sister is going to have to accept the fact that they’re going to have to live there. Being that there is a potential relationship on the horizon if Harlow’s matchmaking works, that puts us in an awkward position. I don’t want to hear my sister having sex. Oh, fuck, now I’mthinkingabout my sister having sex!”
“For god’s sake, Jaxon, get to the point,” Oliver growls between gritted teeth. He’s never been able to handle suspense, and with the way this conversation is going, we’re all going to need brain bleach if he doesn’t refocus.
