Jagger rubbed his jaw, never blinking as he studied me. “Why not? I could use a little target practice.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Hunter was more than eager.

  “Then I’ll tell you what I’m thinking after I have a conversation with a guy who needs a little pushing into speaking the truth.”

  “Why don’t I come with you?” For Jagger to ask meant he was extending an olive branch.

  “What the hell? I could use a wingman,” I told him.

  For the first time since I’d arrived in town, Jagger smiled like he had when we were kids. Maybe the infuriating, bratty woman was teaching me about letting go.

  And enjoying life.

  “The three musketeers,” Hunter said under his breath.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” I said, laughing. But it felt good to have them on my side.

  He headed for the door, stopping long enough to glance from one of us to the other. “Are you guys coming? We do own a fabulous resort now. We might as well get some benefit from it.”

  “He’s right. Let’s do this downstairs. I could use a drink after listening to that shit,” Jagger said.

  “Fine. Did you find anything in your search for our bad employee, Hunter?” I threw open the door, still angry. My father always managed to make me angrier than anyone I’d ever met. Damn him.

  “There is no direct link to anyone I can find,” Hunter said casually as we headed down from our offices to one of the bars. “However, I’m eager to hear your ideas of how to draw them out.”

  “It might just include someone who can help us. But I have faith that you will.”

  Jagger choked on purpose. “The beautiful and talented park ranger. Now I see what’s happening to you, buddy. I like the new you.”

  “Don’t get used to it.”

  As soon as we were in the elevator, I leaned my head against the back wall. I was tired, but this time for all the right reasons. Letting go with Denise had allowed me to fall asleep. It was such an anomaly I’d had a difficult time waking up fully.

  “Well, you’re in a damn good mood,” Jagger shot out at me. “Did you get laid last night?”

  “Very funny.” I had my eyes closed and I could honestly fall asleep standing right where I was.

  “Why, shit. I think he did. Was that the first time in like a hundred years?” Hunter was pleased with himself.

  The ping of the elevator didn’t stop Jagger from continuing to dig. “It’s that cop. Right?”

  I laughed and took long strides off the elevator. “You know she’s not a cop. You already said it. She’s a park ranger.”

  “But they have similar duties. Right?” Hunter was pushing, which was something he’d done since he was a kid.

  Only I wasn’t in the mood to play his little mind games. We were here to work. And to dig through the monotonous paperwork in attempting to locate the person responsible for stealing our hard-earned funds. Now I really wanted to laugh. We hadn’t provided anything in way of compensation to the cause.

  “To a point. Yes. But they are more involved in search and rescue.” I was finished with this hunt and find routine. My brothers were both good at it. But they were making me smile. That wouldn’t have occurred just a week prior.

  “She’s something special?” Hunter asked, giving me a little wink.

  Why lie? “You have no idea.”

  “When do we get to meet her?” Jagger asked. I always believed the man had something up his sleeve.

  “Soon. Since you’re right and she’s going to help us play detective.”

  “I like where this is going.” Hunter was way too excited.

  We strode through the hotel lobby and Hunter seemed to know exactly which bar he wanted to go to. “I suggest for now we just stick to the topic.”

  “I think it’s good she’d going to help. Maybe she knows something about the people working here or can find out. Employee records and all,” Jagger said with amusement in his tone.

  “She is very talented at her job. You know,” I mused as I thought about what I was going to suggest. “I think I’ll ask my favorite park ranger to help us in dealing with her associate. She deserves to have a little payback fun.”

  “The man is getting wild. Watch out.” Hunter could tease with the best of them.

  Jagger rolled his eyes. “Well, I’ll get to meet her anyway. I’m curious. Why was the conversation with Pops so cryptic? He doesn’t want anyone arrested for a crime?”

  “I don’t think so. He alluded to someone who was down on their luck. That’s where we look.”

  “Well, that shouldn’t be too tough to figure out,” Hunter said and headed down a corridor. I knew the bar he was going to. It was quieter and would allow for some privacy.

  “Maybe not, but we need to be careful with this. Upsetting the applecart any more than has been done already won’t help us during the middle of tourist season.” The bar wasn’t busy at only four in the afternoon, but as soon as we walked in, there wasn’t a person inside who didn’t turn in our direction. We were still considered an anomaly in town, outsiders who the locals wouldn’t take to or trust for quite some time.

  “He’s going to become a businessman yet,” Jagger chided.

  I gave him the finger.

  Hunter obviously had a favorite table, leading us there without hesitation. I took my time sitting down, observing the bartender, who I’d seen had been with the company for years. Most of the employees had, which made the search that much more unpalatable. Someone in need. Who the shit did my father think he was kidding?

  I wasn’t into charity. This was a business. I might be military trained, but just giving up a portion of a company because someone was down on their luck wasn’t something I would ever be interested in.

  “Careful?” Jagger repeated. “We need to bring the hammer down. We can’t run a business this way. Down on their luck or not.”

  “You need to have and show more compassion.” Hunter had suddenly become the voice of reason? I almost laughed. He’d been the carefree one, the kid with no understanding of how the world worked. Now this.

  Kid.

  He was no longer a kid even if he was several years younger. None of us were.

  “We check to see how many of our employees are having a tough time then meet with all of them.” Jagger’s comment was nearly interrupted by a pretty waitress stopping by our table. “Or that pretty woman of yours does.”

  What I found interesting was that she already had three dark amber drinks on her tray, each glass with two ice cubes. Perhaps the three of us were far too much alike. Same profession. Same drink. Same love of muscle cars and motorcycles.

  I’d seen Jagger riding on a Harley this morning and I’d almost gone over to check it out. I shook my head and sat back. Maybe I’d been doing nothing more than fighting with myself over the years.

  “Will there be anything else, gentlemen?” she asked, clearly already setting her eye on Hunter. He was the most handsome of all of us. He also had the least number of visible scars.

  Although I knew he was hiding the horrors he’d gone through with humor and continuing his playboy-like tendencies. Jagger was similar. Only his rage was increasing.

  Like mine.

  We were carbon copies of self-destruction. Yeah, it was time for significant changes. That’s why we’d been brought here by Pops or by fate. Great. Now I was becoming philosophical.

  “I see both my brothers work fast.” Jagger was grumpier than usual.

  “Meaning what?” Hunter laughed.

  “You never enter a city without picking up a chick or two. Employees are off limits.” Jagger glared at him.

  “I’m not fucking anyone, bro. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been working sixteen-hour days since we got here. I can’t say the same for either one of you.”

  Jagger puffed up. “Don’t fuck with me. You’re not my keeper.”

  “Stop the crap. Both of you. We don’t need to be at each other’s throats.” I couldn’t believe I’d made the statement. I wasn’t a peacemaker no matter what my mother had tried to instill in me all those years ago.

  “You’re the oldest. They look up to you. Make peace, not war.”

  I’d laughed at her words then and I was laughing at them now.

  I was shocked both shut up after my exclamation.

  They also watched as I took a power swig of my drink and checked my watch.

  “I have a toast,” Hunter stated. He’d already lifted his glass. “Don’t fuck with me on this.”

  I had to laugh. Today had turned out entirely different than I’d thought it would. I followed the gesture, smirking at Jagger.

  “What’s the toast?” Jag asked.

  “Here’s to new beginnings. May we find happiness and love in this little town of Danger Falls.”

  Hunter was the optimist of all three of us. Love.

  Since when did bad men get a chance on loving someone?

  CHAPTER 26

  Denise

  One day.

  That’s all it had taken to see a significant change in Shephard. I wasn’t suggesting it was just because of my crazy, passionate, and amazing ability to fuck the man. Or that my compassion had blown him away. It was also because he was gloriously excited about being back in the world where dangerous men ruled.

  And bloodshed was an everyday occurrence.

  I knew that to be the case because both he and his brother were way too excited about challenging Cane. I couldn’t lie that after all the shit I’d gone through with the man that I wasn’t interested in watching him squirm. However, I also wasn’t prepared to lose my job at this point.

  No matter how rich Shephard was, or how enjoyable it would be for him to keep me tied to his bed.

  It was near dusk and for a change, both of us were officially off duty. Thankfully, the other associate had returned looking all happy from a fabulous honeymoon.

  Something I could never see happening. Nor was I certain I wanted one.

  Cane liked a particular dive bar. When I’d told the two giants of men the news of where he was, I’d be damned if the two of them didn’t dress like they were in a recent remake of Deliverance. I might just have fun with this.

  The moment I’d met Jagger, I couldn’t help but notice the resemblance was crazy. No wonder the single women in town were falling all over themselves for a chance at one of the other two.

  The rumor mills were still active, the entire town assuming I was taken. Or more to the point, the hunky man with the broad shoulders and dazzling eyes had been stolen. Women could be so catty.

  We stood outside the bar for a few seconds. Jagger had ridden a Harley to the monumental event, which I’d thought hysterical. He still looked like a real mountain man, his shoulder-length hair and longer beard sexy, but adding to his dangerous persona. The brothers were very much alike.

  “Just remember, don’t break his bones. A little blood is fine.”

  “You heard the lady,” Shephard stated. “However, we’re here for a reason. We don’t leave until Cane tells us what we want to know.”

  I nodded and walked in first. When a chick appeared with two big guys by her side, the locals inside the bar took notice. I suspected they all knew who the two burly men were. They even parted ways as if they sensed there was going to be trouble.

  Cane wasn’t tough to spot. He was playing pool as badly as he did almost everything else. No, we would never be friends. He was the kind of guy that grated on my nerves.

  “Cane,” I said while he still had his back turned. He was leaning over the table with a pool cue in his hand.

  He shifted to a standing position, barely giving me a glance. “Why are you here? Don’t you get enough of hating on me at work?”

  “I need to ask you some questions.”

  “Unless you’re here to agree to go out with me, this is my time, Denise. My time,” Cane said. I noticed there was a distinct difference in his tone. He wasn’t nearly as arrogant as usual.

  “Not in this lifetime,” I told him.

  “Then leave me the fuck alone.”

  Both Shephard and Jagger were obviously not patient men. I wasn’t shocked when Jagger had Cane by the throat, tossing him back against the wall. The thud was louder than the horrible music.

  Cane at least had the good sense of throwing up his hands. “What do you want from me?”

  I eyed Shephard. The big man had made it clear he wanted to be the muscle on this, but I wasn’t ready to give up the helm just yet.

  “Who was the asshole you were talking to when I found you on that ridge?” I asked. I still had a plastic smile on my face. For now.

  “I already told you. Family. He was asking for money.”

  “You mean the guy by the name of Konstantin Obechov?”

  Yes, I’d shocked him for once since the two of us had met. It wasn’t that tough to find out about him and his true family heritage. I also hadn’t been surprised when Shephard had told me.

  “He’s family alright. Your cousin. I never knew you had such a colorful past.” I could feel the tension creeping up in the man. Good. If Shephard was right, he’d sold us out.

  “Now, you’re going to explain exactly why your cousin, who is loyal to a man named Boris the Butcher, was really doing hassling you.” Jagger was very good at getting a man’s attention. He dug his fingers into Cane’s neck with a second’s worth of hesitation, also opening his leather jacket so the jerk could see his weapon.

  Meanwhile, Shephard was entirely comfortable, standing with his arms folded just enjoying the moment.

  Cane sputtered and pretended as if he was dying.

  I walked closer, shaking my head. “You’re done in this town, Cane. I will make sure of it. Your days are numbered.”

  “Fuck you.”

  That was the wrong thing to sputter.

  Shephard didn’t waste any time, getting in the man’s face. “You have ten seconds to tell me what Konstantin wanted. If you don’t, we’re going to take a long walk on the trail. Tonight.”

  “You can’t do that,” Cane managed to huff out.

  “Yes, we can, and we will. You have no understanding of what you likely did.”

  Shephard was much calmer than I would have been or was for that matter. To think he might have shared any information on me or on Shephard was repulsive.

  “I can’t talk to you. They’re watching.” Cane was obviously terrified. I could tell by the look in his eyes.

  “Who’s watching?” Jagger asked.

  I glanced around the bar, seeing only locals.

  “A group of them.” Cane was now sweating.

  “Let’s take a walk outside,” Shephard stated, already turning toward the door. He chose the back door, heading there immediately. The dive bar backed up to a bank of woods, few other businesses in close proximity.

  Cane was driven against the exterior wall, Jagger finally letting go.

  I wasn’t surprised when Shephard eased his weapon from his jacket, placing the barrel against Cane’s throat. As he’d done before, he crowded the man’s space. “One last time, Cane. I’m not fucking around with this. What did you tell Konstantin?”

  Cane was shaking and I almost felt bad for him. “I… He’ll kill me.”

  “I’ll kill you if you don’t talk. I’m not a man who has patience. I suggest you listen to what I’m saying.”

  My associate was almost blubbering. “He wanted to know where you lived. I didn’t know.”

  “So let me guess,” I said. “You told him where Shephard could be found. My place.”

  “I had no choice. He was going to kill me.”

  “You always have a choice, Cane. Why didn’t you tell me?” What in the hell was wrong with the man?

  “Because they’d know. You don’t understand.”

  “Is Boris in town?” Jagger asked.

  I was certain Cane would drop to the ground if Shephard hadn’t been holding him.

  “I… I think so. I don’t know him. I walked away from my family. Can’t you see that? I wanted nothing to do with their violence.”

  Shephard growled, driving the cold steel harder against his neck. “Not good enough. You placed Denise in the line of fire. Do you understand what that means?”

  “No.” Cane wasn’t the brightest guy.

  “It means if I see you another time walking the streets of Danger Falls, you’re a dead man. Do you get what I’m saying?”

  “Yes. Yes, sir.”

  “You’re certain of that?” Shephard pressed.

  All Cane had to do was nod and I’d had enough. I didn’t wait for Shephard to share his displeasure. I threw a hard punch right in the asshole’s face.

  The cracking sound indicated I might have hit the bullseye. Good.

  As soon as Shephard backed away, putting away his weapon, Cane raced away into the darkness.

  “You let him off easy, bro,” Jagger said.

  “It’s not in our best interest to start killing off the locals.” Shephard brushed his knuckles down my face. “One tough lady. Aren’t you?”

  “I have to be.”

  “Not always. You can let someone else be your champion.”

  I leaned in, lifting my head. “Are you volunteering?”

  “Please. Get a room,” Jagger huffed before walking off.

  “I like your brother. He reminds me of a grumpy guy I know.”

  “You’re two-timing me already.” He pulled me onto my toes.

  “I doubt I could get away with it.”

  He swatted me on the bottom. “You seem to forget I claimed you.”

  “Is that legal?”

  “In my world it is.” I sensed he was returning to business in his mind. “This is going to be dicey. You need to go stay with your friend until it’s over.”

  “Why? If good ole Boris the Butcher is to come in with guns blazing, he’ll do it at my house. I’ll be safer at your place.”

  “I won’t put anything past him and we don’t know what Cane told him. You’re not arguing with me.”

  “And you’re going to sit in my cabin and wait?”

  “I know how Boris operates. He’ll arrive at night.”