Page 66 of Spock’s Snare

It doesn’t matter.

I finally understand what Puma is trying to build here. Not merely a motorcycle club or a business empire.

A family.

The realization settles deep in my chest. I’ve spent so much of my life standing on my own that being surrounded by this kind of fierce, unconditional connection feels almost foreign. I’ve always had my dad, but it has been only the two of us for a long time.

When Spock’s knee presses against mine beneath the table, I wonder what it might feel like to belong here, too.

The image has barely formed when Juliet sets down her coffee mug and turns toward Spock and me.

“I finished the background checks on Paul Scaro and Steven Blackwood.”

Spock’s knee remains pressed against mine as his entire body tenses beside me. The change is subtle enough that I doubt anyone who doesn’t know him would notice. His shoulders stiffen, and his attention locks on Juliet.

I lower my fork. “You found something?”

“A few things.” Juliet glances between us. “I know Blackwood is the one you’re most interested in because of his behavior at the construction site, but I want to start with Paul Scaro.”

A chill works its way down my spine.

Scaro hired my company to construct Riversedge Apartments. He’s demanding and impatient, but that describes half the developers I’ve worked with. Until now, I’ve had no reason to suspect he might be involved in anything beyond the usual pressure to finish a project on time and under budget.

“What about him?” I ask.

Juliet leans her forearms on the table. “Scaro has ties to Red Rock Construction.”

My stomach tightens. “What kind of ties?”

“He’s used them for several projects over the past six years. Two apartment complexes, a small shopping center, and a luxury housing development on the edge of Henderson.” She pauses. “Red Rock was the primary construction company on all four projects.”

I stare at her, trying to make sense of the information. “Then why didn’t he hire them for Riversedge?”

“That’s the question,” Juliet says. “From what I can tell, Red Rock bid on the project.”

My appetite disappears.

Across from us, Puma stops eating. Alisa’s gaze shifts to him before returning to Juliet. Wildcard sits back in his chair, his expression losing the relaxed warmth it held only seconds ago.

“Did their bid come in higher than Chloe’s?” Spock asks.

“I haven’t been able to access the full bidding records yet,” Juliet replies. “But I found enough references in emails and permit documents to confirm that they were competitive.”

Spock rests one arm along the back of my chair. The gesture looks casual, but I feel its possessive weight surrounding me. “Could be Scaro didn’t trust them.”

“It could,” Juliet agrees. “Maybe something happened during one of their previous projects. Cost overruns, delays, poor workmanship. There are plenty of legitimate reasons for a developer to change construction companies.”

“But you don’t think that’s the only possibility,” I say.

Her expression turns grim. “His reasoning could be more nefarious.”

The word lands like a rock in my stomach.

At the next table, Colt lets out a triumphant yell while Mal accuses him of cheating at some game they’re playing with packets of sugar. Their laughter clashes with the tension gathering around us.

“Like what?” I ask.

“I don’t know yet,” Juliet admits. “That’s why I think someone should talk to Scaro—or at least keep an eye on him. If he has a problem with Red Rock, we need to know what it is. And if he hired you because he’s working with Red Rock, we need to know that, too.”