“I’ll pass on the information,” is all I say. Dax won’t want to touch this with a ten-foot pole.
“Like a good soldier would do,” Brennan says.
“What kind of business?” I only ask because Dax will want to know so he can confer with the real players, not this idiot.
“That’s something I need to discuss with the person in charge, not a soldier.”
My jaw clenches. I don’t tolerate disrespect, and if this were any other situation, my fist would have already connected with his face.
Little motherfucker. He hides behind his family’s legitimate import/export business, but he’s just a thug at heart. A bad thug, at that.
Without another word, I turn my back, walk away from him, and get in my car. I drive past Eden’s house, but there are two cars in the driveway, so I continue back to one of Dax’s houses right outside of Shadow Cove. It’s a nondescript ranch in a moderate family neighborhood. At least that’s what it looks like.
“Brennan is a piece of shit, and I don’t trust him,” I mutter when I get to his place. He’s on his computer and has his back to me. “He wants a sit-down to discuss new business.” I let the words hang, but Dax cocks his head to the side.
“Red flag,” he states.
I open my mouth to say more, but my phone distracts me. It rings and vibrates at the same time. I hear ‘security breach.’ That’s never happened to me before, so I’m immediately on alert, at least until I see that familiar gray Explorer parked in front of my gate.
The front door of the car opens, and she steps out. I lose my breath just from the sight of her, but she looks angry, which makes me smile. I’ll take anger over ambivalence.
She pushes on the gate, but it’s locked. I have the tightest security. No one gets on or off my property unless I allow it.
She says something to her friends, and the three of them push the gate, but it doesn’t budge. Curious to see what they are up to, I unlock it remotely, and it swings open.
They look around, stunned. Selene says something and gestures for them to go. Then she gets in the driver’s seat, so Iassume she told them she’s going to be the getaway driver in case something goes wrong.
Smart. I consider closing and locking the gate if they walk through it. It would be fun to watch them freak out about being trapped on my property. There’s no way they can climb the fence. It’s too high and has barbed wire at the top.
Eden and Cori not only enter my property but also go up the steps to my porch. Eden lifts a tote bag, turns it upside down, and roses fall out. She looks around and waves her middle finger. Then, she picks up a rose, throws it in the air, and kicks it.
“I see that one never played any sports,” Dax says from over my shoulder. His voice startles me, and I move away, only for him to move with me. “I’ve been standing there for two minutes, and you didn’t notice me.”
Ignoring him, I watch her and her friend kick the roses around. Eden puts her hand on the doorknob and tries to push it open, so I trigger the alarm. They both cover their ears with their hands and run back to the car. On the way, Cori trips, and Dax lets out a loud belly laugh while Eden pulls her friend back to her feet.
They dive into the car, and the driver backs out like a bat out of hell. I drop myself on the couch and laugh until my stomach hurts.
Minutes later, I look up and Dax is staring down at me with a raised brow.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh before. And how did they find your address? They’re brave.”
“The mayor’s daughter probably got it. She works for Sam Armstrong.”
Dax nods. He knows everyone in this town as well as I do, even though he’s not a resident.
“Why are they leaving flowers on your doorstep?” he asks.
“Not they. It’s Eden,” is all I say.
“You fucked her yet?” he asks, and my head snaps up. He stares and waits for an answer, but I don’t give him one. He’s never asked me about the women I’ve fucked in the past. “No? That taint of that dark-haired vixen is strong, huh?”
I don’t confirm it, but he hasn’t said anything I don’t already know. I could have had her if not for Lexi’s phone call the other night. I haven’t seen Eden since, but I’ve made sure she knows I’m thinking about her.
“So, what are you doing?” Dax asks.
“About what?” I already know what he’s asking, but I’m hoping he’ll take the hint that it’s none of his business.
“Don’t be an imbecile,” he orders. “You have a vixen problem and a daddy problem. Remember him? Her sheriff daddy? The one you bribed and blackmailed?”
