We’d looked pretty rough around the edges when we’d walked into town, our people skills lacking.

  I’d barely walked past the bar when the bartender shoved a glass of my brand of bourbon across the bar top. “I take it my brothers have arrived?”

  “Back table. I guess they don’t want to be seen.” Mark grinned and was shouted at from the other end of the bar.

  As I pushed my way through the crowd, I had one too many congratulations. Praise was getting old, especially when in my mind I didn’t deserve it. Poppy had even dropped off muffins, for God’s sake.

  “You did good out there, cowboy,” Tyler Florence said as I tried to pass him. “Saving that little girl. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  Tyler was a deputy, a nice enough guy, but he was a sheep following his boss, Sheriff Adam Young’s dislike of the Fox family. Since we’d never had a run-in with the sheriff’s department, the only two reasons for the hatred would be our reputation and the fact Adam’s family had tried to purchase the resort. His father had a land development company and from what I heard, had plans on turning the resort’s side into condominiums.

  But his personal conviction to run me out of town or put a bullet in my gut was something else altogether.

  “Just doing what any good person would do in helping out a fellow man.” It was best not to provide but so much information to Tyler. He’d take whatever I said directly back to the sheriff. I wasn’t in the mood for some pissing contest over God knows what.

  “Yeah, so I heard. I also heard the girl’s mother is staying at your place. I guess you think you’re the only hero around here. Shacking up with the sordid woman.”

  It wasn’t a good idea for any man to goad me, period. But in speaking about my woman that way, he’d crossed a final line.

  Now the dude had me pissed. I was in his face in a second. “You don’t talk about a lady that way. What’s it to you if she is staying with me anyway?”

  “I was just jiving you, man,” he said, real fear in his eyes.

  “I suggest you remember this is a public place, gentlemen.” The newer gruff voice was just as irritating.

  I slowly turned my head in the sheriff’s direction. I should have known where there was one, the other would follow. “I think that’s something you should mention to your man here, Sheriff.”

  “I don’t like you, Jagger. As you know, I don’t like the three of you boys. I think you bring shit onto this town and if I had my choice, I’d kick you out.”

  “Not your call. But I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe I’ll see if the other boys would like to purchase a few more pieces of property around here. I think you have your heart set on a few. I wouldn’t get your hopes up.” Maybe I was just fueling his guns, but I couldn’t help myself.

  There’d been tremendous speculation about the jobs my brothers and I in our former lives had performed, stories including we were part of some big mafia family. At least most of the townies had stopped googling our names in hopes of finding some dirt.

  I had a bad feeling the sheriff was keeping a file on the family.

  Of course he had a reason to hate me. I’d only found that out after moving here. Because of his hatred for me, I continuously egged him on. But that didn’t make it right that he was gunning for my entire family.

  “You shouldn’t have come here, Jagger,” the sheriff said quietly, as if for my ears only. “One mistake and I’ll lock your ass up.”

  I stopped only briefly, resisting all the nasty words that came into my mind. “Maybe you’re right, but I’m here now. I’m staying. Just try and force me to leave and you’ll regret it.”

  “Don’t threaten me, boy. I have friends in all the right places.” He laughed one of those maniacal sounds that likely put the fear of God into all the locals. Not me. He could threaten all he wanted, but he had no idea what I was capable of.

  No man was going to push me away from anything or anyone ever again.

  No matter how much he hated me.

  He was huffing behind me as I turned and headed toward the back of the bar. I couldn’t care less, but we owed it to the staff to keep the man and his family away from the resort. There were always bad business deals and while our father had taken great strides to keep the integrity of the resort, I’d had a feeling all along the Young family was planning something under the table.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Hunter asked as soon as I sat down.

  “My typical run-in with the sheriff and one of his goons.”

  “Boy, that man hates you. What did you fucking ever do to him?”

  I shook my head toward my brother. “I don’t know. I think it’s all about my sterling personality.”

  “He’s an asshole. We should ensure he’s not voted in at the next election.” Hunter had no idea how dangerous Sheriff Young could be. However, he was small potatoes in comparison to the Brockfords.

  “Both of you, just lay low. Okay? We don’t need to come up against the man. He has some powerful friends and you know how ruthless his father can be. Plus, with our father’s past history, we don’t need any unwanted attention drawn to the resort.”

  Past history. Our father had provided a trumped-up story about working from the ground up with a company where the other executives had turned rogue, engaging in criminal activity. He’d taken his share of the proceeds and skipped town to avoid possible prosecution, pretending he was someone else while raising three boys in Montana. Then he’d up and sold the place prior to bankruptcy, somehow managing to purchase the resort and spending millions of dollars in renovations.

  The three of us had decided to let it go, not grilling him any longer since he had only months to live. But I knew in my gut whatever bad deeds he’d done would come back to haunt the family one day.

  However complacent we’d become, I was surprised at Shephard’s declaration of peace. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I sat back, surveying the crowd and enjoying a few sips of my drink. I noticed the sheriff was talking to a few men in the crowd. My hackles remained raised. He was going to cause trouble. I felt it in my bones.

  “Not that this newfound brotherly love isn’t good for our mental stability, but why the hell did you want to meet us?” Hunter pushed after clearing his throat on purpose.

  “You got a hot date?” I asked him. “Another tourist fascinated by your engaging eyes?”

  “Very funny, but as a matter of fact, yes.” He grinned and I shook my head.

  “Your dick is going to fall off if you aren’t careful,” I told him.

  “I didn’t say I fuck all of them.”

  “Louder so the entire bar can hear you. Jesus, brother.”

  Hunter snorted. “At least I get some. Maybe things are changing for you though, huh?”

  I glared at him.

  “The two of you make enjoying a cold beer a moment of torture. Now, I have other plans as well so cut the chitchat. Denise is meeting me here for a couple drinks, maybe dinner. Unless you want her knowing your business and bugging you about getting together for a holiday thing, spill it.”

  What I wanted to avoid was her taunting me about being best man and any questions she had about Bella. Since she was an ex-detective, she never stopped asking questions.

  Seeing the many ways my brother had changed over the last few months had initially pissed me off. Now I knew why. Shephard had found true happiness and I’d been jealous.

  I laughed halfheartedly. “Then I won’t keep either one of you. As much as I hate to say this, I need your help.”

  Shephard placed his hand against his heart. “From us? We should be honored.”

  “Fuck you,” I grumbled.

  Shephard laughed. “Stop being so much like some grizzly bear stuck in a trap. Does this have anything to do with your houseguest?”

  “How is Bella adapting anyway” Hunter asked, but I knew the man was fishing.

  “She’s fine. She’s taken over the place. Even ripped down the goddamn curtains I hate.” At least I could smile. “Yesterday she came home with flowers for the kitchen table and made freaking chocolate chip cookies, for God’s sake.”

  “And so it begins,” Shephard mused. “Just wait until you’re seriously involved. Don’t forget to pick up your socks and underwear. What’s up?”

  The man was way too happy.

  “I need this kept quiet and I also mean from Denise. Okay? Bella needs help and we’re the only one who can provide it to her.”

  Shephard took a deep breath and leaned over the table. “You found out why she dropped in on our little town. Did you grill her on her last name too?”

  “Yeah, on both. She’s running from her soon to be ex-husband. He was abusive to her. I’ve seen the bruises. He also threatened her career, cheated on her, and is trying to take her daughter from her.” Bella had told me more of the sordid details, including finding her best friend in their bed with the man.

  “Ouch. Real nice guy,” Hunter hissed.

  “Yeah, he took a video of them engaging in some pretty kinky stuff and is threatening to release it like it’s from a porn movie.”

  Shephard coughed, spitting out part of his beer. “What the hell? Who does that shit?”

  Hunter gasped. “And why? He was the one who fucked up.”

  “She thinks there’s some contractual reason Joel asked her marry him,” I told them.

  “Like an arranged marriage? Is that what you’re thinking?” Shephard wiped his mouth with his sleeve, sitting back in his seat after doing so.

  “Yeah.”

  “She’s still married?”

  I glanced at Hunter. “For now. They are legally separated and the divorce should be final any time, but yeah, still married.”

  “You know the fact you’re hooking up could create difficulties for Bella.” Shephard waited so I’d absorb what he was saying.

  “We’re not hooking up.” I felt the agitation rising.

  “Then what are you doing?” Hunter had a damn smile on his face.

  “Trying to learn to live again.” My answer was at least honest. “And I am going to protect her. No matter what it takes or what it means to my life.”

  Shephard raised his glass. “A toast, Hunter. To our brother who just returned to life.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Jagger

  Maybe neither one of them understood what lengths I would go to in order to keep Bella and Cally safe.

  “The bastard had already texted and called her, threatening her,” I added to the conversation. “I think it’s only a matter of time until he does everything he can to track her down. He had ammunition to try and take Cally away and from what she’s told me, he’ll make good on his threats.”

  “Is he the child’s biological father?” my older brother pushed.

  “No. And he didn’t legally adopt Cally, but is trying to push that through the court systems as well. I think he and his father own people in Baltimore. They will try and get it shoved through. That will devastate Bella. I won’t allow it to happen.”

  “Blackmail is a powerful tool.” Shephard looked away. “You know, maybe Denise can help. She’s from Charlotte but maybe she knows something about the Brockfords.”

  “No,” I said way too vehemently. “Not that I don’t trust Denise, but I want to keep this between us for now. Until we see what we’re dealing with.”

  Shep was none too happy, but nodded.

  “The boy is in love.”

  I knew Hunter was just messing with me, but his frivolous attitude was the last thing I wanted to hear. “She’s a good person. She doesn’t deserve to lose her career and her daughter over a two-timing asshole.”

  Shephard nodded. “Agreed. What do you need from us?”

  “You guys have deeper contacts than I have. I want every scrap of dirt found out on the Brockford family.”

  “Why does that name sound familiar?” Hunter was asking himself more than he was of either one of us.

  “Big names in Baltimore. I don’t know otherwise. All I’ve found is glow and show. But they’re both associated with some corporate moguls accused of a few crimes of their own. A lot of corruption in Baltimore.”

  “Birds of a feather…” Shephard didn’t need to finish the statement.

  “What happened to your people, Jagger? Your handler should be able to help provide some information.” Hunter lifted his eyebrows after asking the question.

  I twirled the glass on the table. “Let’s just say I burned a bridge or two.” And I had. There was no way I could go back to the organization I worked for as a mercenary and when I’d been discharged from the Army, pretty much everyone was glad to see me go.

  “You do care about this girl. Don’t you?” Shephard gave Hunter a hard look as if cautioning him to lose the jokes.

  “Yeah, I do. She makes me feel alive again. I can’t explain it.”

  Shephard’s smile was almost embarrassing. “You never will, not really. When you’re used to living alone for so long, having someone invade your space leaves you anxious at first, breathless the next, and finally you find yourself head over heels in love. And you don’t even know how you got there.”

  “Well, shit. Now I know the signs to look for so I can run far away from any chick I start feeling that way with.” Hunter was thoroughly amused.

  Maybe I was feeling a little that way, but love wasn’t in the cards. “I’m not good for her, Shep. You know that.”

  “Why the fuck would you say that?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I insisted.

  “Yeah, I think it does. You retreated back into that shell of yours after the first goddamn few weeks of living here. Why?”

  I shrugged as an answer. Meeting them wasn’t about analyzing my mental condition.

  “Nightmares?” Hunter asked and this time, there was no look of amusement on his face.

  According to the contracts we’d each signed with different organizations, we weren’t allowed to discuss anything regarding the missions. All three of us had turned our military skills into a mercenary position, but I had no clue who they’d worked for or in what parts of the world they’d been. The three of us had tried to bury our experiences, but even though Shep was happy as could be, I sensed his darkness remaining.

  Was there a way to exorcise the demons that were covered in blood? That was the million-dollar question.

  “A few.” My answer was controlled.

  “Maybe you need to talk to someone,” Shephard suggested.

  “I don’t need a damn shrink.” My tone was harsher than I intended.

  “No, but you need to talk this out. Maybe Bella can help with that.”

  My laugh sounded anything but happy. “She has too much shit on her plate right now. She needs our help. Are you willing or am I going this alone? I don’t fucking care if I need to fly to Baltimore, I’ll get that asshole to stop hassling her one way or another.”

  I could tell by Shephard’s grin I’d hit all the hot buttons in his mind. Fuck that. My only intention was to get her the help she needed. Period.

  “Don’t do anything stupid, brother of mine. Let me make a few phone calls.” Shephard took a long pull of his beer. “But I can’t promise anything. I burned a few bridges myself. I’m going to get another beer and a glass of wine for my girl. You were fashionably late.” He laughed as he rose from the chair.

  “She has you wrapped around her little finger,” I told him, trying to pull the conversation back to something lighter.

  Hunter was staring at me like he used to do as a kid. He’d once told me I was the weirdest human he’d ever met. I had a feeling he still felt that way. Not that I could blame him.

  “Does Bella know you’re looking into her ex?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “You can’t start off a relationship with a lie.”

  “It’s not a damn relationship and it’s not a lie.”

  He laughed and lifted his glass. “You act like you have it all figured out. She’ll call you not sharing this with her or worse, killing the man, a lie and let me ask you something. Is she sleeping in your bed in your house where she currently resides?”

  I just glared at him.

  “That’s what I thought. You’re in a relationship.” He gave me a drawn-out smile before gulping his drink. “I’m just jiving you, man. You’ve been way off lately. More so than when we arrived. I’ve noticed you a couple times sparring with the sheriff. Is he giving you a hard time?”

  “Always. I think he has something on Pops.”

  Hunter breathed out. “Then we can’t let him destroy our future.”

  Future. I still wondered what kind of future I really had. “Yeah.”

  “Is there something else?”

  I twirled my glass. “Nothing that needs mentioning.”

  “Careful with all those secrets, bro. They will eat you alive. So with Bella, I can see some light in those angry eyes of yours. What’s wrong with enjoying her company?”

  “What’s wrong? I’m afraid I’ll hurt her,” I admitted. I’d woken up several times to find a lamp broken or a bottle smashed against the wall and I had no memory of doing so. What if I did something terrible in the middle of the night? I would press the barrel of a gun against my temple.

  “Then don’t. But that means you might need some help. It was forced on me after a few… incidents.”

  It was the closest he’d come to talking about his life before the resort. I knew better than to ask questions. The different ordeals the three of us had gone through would mostly die with us. It was not only a requirement, but the shit was way too personal.

  “Easier said than done. I think I’m violent during the nightmares.”

  His eyes drilled into mine. “Bella is a doctor, bro. She will understand if you talk to her. Maybe she can offer some psychological help, even if you don’t think you need any. If you’re worried about hurting her in any way, you need to ask yourself why the fuck you think you don’t need anyone’s help. Besides, I have a feeling she already cares a hell of a lot about you.”