“I have no idea about anything anymore, but it’s odd that all the names are foreign. Is there an eastern European community in Hamiltown?”

  The big guy steps forward, and his brow furrows as he looks at the page. He doesn’t speak.

  “I’ll ask Hutch if he knows anything about this.” Dirk squints one eye up at me. “If you don't mind?”

  Shrugging, I hold out my hands. “Go for it. I hadn’t seen my uncle in years, so I’m sure Hutch knows more than I do about his business dealings.”

  Hana bursts through a different door, chasing a bouncy orange tabby cat. Her cheeks are pink, and her blonde curls are slightly frizzled around her face.

  She looks better than she has in a long time. “Is it okay if I run down to the stables? I want to photograph the horses.”

  I look from her to our guards–I’m pretty sure Hutch told them to keep an eye on us, Mr. “I promised to protect you.”

  Big and Tatted clears his throat, and Dirk gives him a nod. “Scar can walk down with her. Just to be sure everything’s okay.”

  “I don’t think we’ve met.” Crossing the room, I hold out my hand. I appreciate Dirk’s offer, but I still look out for Hana. “I’m Blake van Hamilton. Hana is my little sister.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Dirk steps to the side. “Blake, this is Oscar Lourde. He’s our tracker, bounty hunter, go-to scary guy. Nobody’s getting past him.”

  My eyes go from Dirk to the tall, muscled man covered in ink. His long hair is tied up in a samurai bun, and a messy beard covers his cheeks. He watches Hana with a lowered brow and wolf eyes… and something more I’m not sure I like.

  “Is he mute?” I tilt my head to the side, trying to catch his attention.

  Oscar turns his gaze on me, and it chills me to the bone. I want to believe Hutch wouldn’t work with anyone dangerous, but I don’t feel entirely safe around this guy.

  “I can speak.” Scar’s voice is deep and raspy. “When there’s something to say.”

  “Okay, then.” Chewing my lip, I glance at a smiling Dirk. “My sister’s a photographer. She’s also, a bit… How do I say it?”

  “Special.” Scar’s heavy boots scuff on the floor. “I’ve got her.”

  With that he leaves us alone in my uncle’s office. As soon as he’s out of sight, I turn wide eyes on the younger Winston brother. “He’s safe, right?”

  Dirk presses his lips together, shaking his dark head. “No way, he’s a badass with some serious baggage. He’s scary as fuck, but he won’t hurt your sister.”

  Exhaling heavily, I go to my uncle’s chair and drop into it. “What’s going on around here, Dirk?”

  “I have no idea, but we’re going to find out. I’ll start with the names in this book. I’m pretty good at finding things on the dark web. If your uncle was mixed up in something shady, I’ll find it. There’s always a trail.”

  “So you’re still a computer genius?”

  Dirk was always handsome, not as tall and bulky as his brother, but lean and muscular. Smart and sexy–if that’s your type. Apparently my type is arrogant, bossy jarheads who slam you against the door and kiss your face off. I shift in my chair just thinking about it.

  “Yep, and now I’m trying to use my skills for good.” Dirk winks, giving me that dimpled grin that makes all the girls swoon. “What’s new with you? Still modeling?”

  “God, no, I only did that to pay the bills.” I stand and walk around my uncle’s office, looking up at the bookshelves. “I’m not tall enough, and I don’t have the right body type for modeling. I’m too curvy.” Looking over my shoulder, I wonder if I have another secret admirer. “I’m surprised you even knew I did that.”

  “I wouldn’t have known, but I found my brother’s spank bank one afternoon looking for a computer manual.”

  Heat rushes to my face, and I turn away before I blow my tough girl façade. “Whatever.”

  “So what’s your story? It’s been a while since you visited Hamiltown. Catch me up.”

  Dirk is only two years older than me, and when we were younger, we were friends. “Well, I finished at Columbia, got my degree in psychology.”

  “What?” He pretends to be surprised. “Why psychology? I thought you’d go into fashion merchandising or something like that.”

  “I don’t know. It interested me. I guess I thought it might help me understand people better.” My mind drifts to all the people I don’t understand in my life, from my mother to Hana to Debbie…

  “Did it work?”

  “Nope.” We share a light laugh. “What about you? You came back here to work with your brother, the asshole? I thought you’d follow your father to Wall Street. You always had the brains for it.”

  “I’ve got the brains, but I also have a soul.” He shrugs. “I’m not into hookers and blow. Besides, Hutch isn’t so bad. He’s stubborn and hates admitting he could be wrong. But he will, and it’s interesting work.”

  “Interesting?” It’s my turn to show disbelief. “What in the world ever happens in Hamiltown?”

  “You’d be surprised. Last week we caught a guy flashing old ladies.”

  “No!” I cry, placing my hand on my chest. “Not in wholesome Hamiltown!”

  “Come to find out, he was autistic.” He makes a thoughtful face. “He still has to keep his pecker in his pants, though.”

  Snorting a laugh, I shake my head. “Why aren’t the cops dealing with these things?”

  “You know how it is. Everyone calls Hutch. He’s their guy. They get what they need, and nobody gets a record or goes to jail. He’s the original neighborhood cop.”

  “But he’s not a cop.” I hold up a finger. “He’s a private investigator.”

  “Try peddling that crap around here.” Dirk gives me a wink. “How’s your mom?”

  “Same as always, doing her best to spend all her money. Shopping in Milan and Paris, skiing in St. Moritz. When she feels guilty, she works on the spring charity gala.”

  “Reminds me of Pop. He only ever cared about his shit. Sometimes I wonder why he even had kids. Then I remember my mom.”

  “Your dad should’ve hooked up with my mom.”

  “Who’s to say he didn’t?”

  I feel like we should open a bottle of rye and make an afternoon of reminiscing and comparing notes, but I remember the reason we’re here.

  “So what are we going to do about Uncle Hugh?” I exhale softly, my chest heavy. “Where is he, Dirk? Do you think he's been hurt?”

  “I don’t think so. My guess is he might be hiding out somewhere.”

  “But he asked us to come home. Why would he do that if he was running away?”

  He nods. “That’s where my theory falls flat. I don’t know, but I can tell you Hutch won’t sleep until he finds him. That man is like a father to him.”

  I’m comforted by his words, and I believe they’re true.

  “What’s happening here?” The low voice jump-starts my heart, and I turn quickly to see the devil himself standing in the doorway in loose jeans and a black tee stretched taut over his muscles.

  Hutch looks different to me today, and when his green eyes rise slowly from my waist over my breasts to my eyes, it’s like a caress that stokes the fire smoldering in my belly.

  “Got something for you.” Dirk hands over the book.

  Hutch opens it and quickly scans the pages. His dark brow lowers, and he glances at me briefly before passing it back to his brother. “See if any of this corresponds to a direct investment company called RDIF Kazan.”

  “RDIF Kazan.” Dirk nods and heads out the door, leaving me alone with the brute.

  Crossing my arms, I study him. “Do you know what that’s about?”

  “Last night, you told me Victor Petrova had embezzled from your father’s estate, and it finally started making sense. I think your uncle was watching this investment fund, following the money to see if it led back to Victor.”

  My arms drop along with my jaw. “You think he was trying to recover what was stolen from us?”

  “Maybe. It would fit with the numbers, the theft. Your uncle liked to do things on his own. He would say ‘ignorance is safety.’”

  “Do you think…” A knot grips my throat, and I take a breath. “Do you think they killed him?”

  “I don’t know. I hope not.”

  A sob hiccups in my chest, and Hutch closes the space between us, crushing me in his embrace. I grip his arm, surrounded by sage and citrus and the warmth of his body.

  “I can’t lose another person I love.” My voice is small, and pain like knives stabs my stomach.

  I feel pressure at the top of my head, and I hear him inhale deeply before answering. “I won’t stop until I find him, and I won’t let anyone get away with hurting him. That’s my promise to you.”

  Closing my eyes, I nod, doing my best to collect myself. Clearing my throat, I step back and wipe my eyes with my fingertips. “I’ll help you. I think that must be why he wanted us here.”

  “I know why he wanted you here.”

  I look around the office, unsure if we know anything. “Why?”

  “I told you. He wanted me to keep you safe, and most of these guys are located in New York City. It was the worst place you and Hana could be if something went down. They could use you as leverage.”

  “So what now?”

  “Now it’s our turn to follow the money, and the good news is we’re some badass mother fuckers.”

  My lips press into a tentative smile. “That’s something.”

  He slides his hand along my arm. “It’s more than that. Now let’s find your uncle.”

  7

  Hutch

  “You were right.” Dirk turns his laptop screen where I can see it, sliding a finger down each of the names in the ledger. “They’re all partners in the investment group.”

  “Track them down. I want to know where all of them were the night Hugh disappeared.”

  “You think these guys do their own dirty work?”

  “Probably not, but we’ll start at the top and work our way down.”

  It’s after dinner, and Hana and Pepper are in the living room playing Mancala. The noise of glass beads tapping on wood mixes with their soft squeals and laughter.

  Scar stands with his back to the archway watching them, and Blake said goodnight, going upstairs to shower. I’ve done my best not to imagine that scene since she left us, her naked body under the spray.

  “Feels like a real breakthrough.” Dirk shakes his head. “But I can’t believe it would be this easy.”

  “One of us needs to go to New York.” I look from my brother to our silent partner in the doorway.

  Seconds tick past, and Dirk exhales a laugh. “I guess you mean me, since I’m the only one not completely whipped around here.”

  “It’s not like that. Hugh asked me to keep an eye on his nieces.”

  “Which Scar and I are fully capable of doing.”

  Standing to my full height, I look down at my little brother. “I also have another commitment. It seems you told Pepper she had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting me to throw the first pitch at her softball game?”

  Dirk holds up both hands. “Hang on, that’s not what I said.”

  “It’s pretty close.”

  “Fine.” He shakes his head. “I’ll go to New York. A visit to dear old Dad might be the perfect excuse for poking around a shady Russian investment group.”

  “Hell, he probably does business with them.”

  “Nice.” Dirk slides his laptop into a slim case and punches Scar’s shoulder. “You ready?”

  The big guy pulls his lip ring between his teeth and nods, glancing back once more to the girls sitting on the floor. Hana’s in white sweatpants and a red cropped sweatshirt that looks like it’s been washed too many times.

  When she sees them leaving, she hops up, and the shirt rises to show off a tiny gold hoop piercing her navel. I’ve never seen a wolf salivate… til now.

  “Pepper, time for bed.” I step to the door, giving the low order.

  Pepper runs to me, and I catch her in a jump. Hana lingers behind a moment, watching us do our usual, loud grunts as we squeeze each other good night.

  “Night, Uncle Duke!” Pepper cries over my shoulder, and Dirk gives her a high five.

  Then he punches Scar’s shoulder again. “Come on, bro. Looks like I’m pulling an all-nighter.”

  “Goodnight, Hana.” Scar’s voice is smooth, almost civilized, and Hana’s cheeks lift with the ghost of a smile.

  “Remember to think about those photos.” She walks slowly to where he’s standing. She’s so delicate next to him. “It’ll be fun. Not nearly as painful as all those tattoos.”

  He looks down. “I don’t do photos.”

  Her voice is soft but unexpectedly strong. “Try something new.”

  He straightens, and follows my brother out the door without another word. Hana watches him go before walking slowly to the stairs, not looking back.

  I’m not sure if I’m happy or annoyed by this development. From what I know, she’s an addict and a loose cannon, and the last thing I need is my best tracker distracted by whatever bad shit follows her around. I need his head in the game.

  Still, if he’s keeping his eye on her, that’s one less person I have to worry about.

  Exhaling deeply, I look up the stairs. And I’m a fucking hypocrite to talk about being distracted. Blake has my brain all twisted, but at least she’ll cooperate with me. In her way.

  Turning I head to my bedroom, thinking about our next steps. My mind hasn’t shut off since the day Hugh disappeared. Hell, it’s been running like a computer in the background since the night I discovered that dead body in his trunk.

  I feel more certain than ever this shit is connected. The question is how.

  Stripping down, I step into the shower. Tonight I’m not as tense thinking about her, and I hope some of these pieces will come together under the hot spray.

  My hair’s wet, and I’m standing at the desk in my bedroom in only my gray sweatpants. As I expected, halfway through my shower, I got an idea and needed to sketch it out. I’ve drawn a triangle on a blank sheet of paper. Petrova, the RDIF, and the van Hamilton estate are at each point with Hugh in the center. My bet is on money laundering, and Hugh was building a case.

  Snatching up my phone, I text Dirk what I’m thinking and what I know from my conversation with Blake last night. He agrees it appears to be about Victor and the embezzled funds.

  Is it possible Hugh went to New York to confront them himself? Dirk’s question pulls me up short.

  No. He was in too poor health for that. Still, we haven’t found his cell phone, either online or in the house, which leads me to believe he didn’t want to be tracked. It would be my last guess. But keep your eyes open.

  I put my phone down feeling good, like we’re making progress, when I hear a light tap on the door.

  “Hutch?” Blake’s soft voice stirs in my stomach, creating a warm brew.

  I cross the room and open it to see her standing in those gray short shorts again. She’s in that black tank with her hair up on her head, and her eyes blink quickly from my bare chest to the bulge in my sweats and quickly up to my eyes.

  She’s flustered and fucking gorgeous.

  “What’s up?” I give her a half grin, and she blinks to the side.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt… whatever you’re doing in here.”

  I imagine she’s thinking about what I was doing last night–and now I am too.

  “I was just texting with Dirk. It’s possible we’ve had a breakthrough. He’s headed to New York to chase it down.”

  Hopeful eyes return to mine. “That’s good news, yes?”

  “It’s a solid lead.” Stepping back, I cross my arms over my bare chest. “What can I do for you?”

  Her full lips press together, and her eyes trace my arms before blinking away. “I wanted to thank you for today, at the house. I didn’t mean to break down on you like that.”

  Sliding my arms down, I gentle my tone. “A lot’s happened. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed.”

  “Still, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

  This girl, always acting so strong, always pushing me away. I want to pull her close again, inhale her sweet scent. “You never make me uncomfortable.”

  She clears her throat, shaking her head. “Well, that’s all. Thank you, and it won’t happen again.”

  She steps back, starting to go, but I reach out to catch her hand. “Hang on.”

  She pauses, looking at the place we’re joined, and I release her.

  “I know you’re angry about what happened in the past, but you can’t hate me forever.”

  “I can try.” Our eyes meet, and she’s so damn sexy doing her best to stay mad with her nipples peaked and her cheeks flushed in her bare feet with those cute red toenails. “You’re still the townie jarhead who traveled a thousand miles to ruin my life.”

  “Easy now.” My chest tightens. “It wasn’t like that. I couldn’t finish my tour without knowing you were safe and out of that fucking place.”

  “Then you can’t judge my sister for how she is now. I wasn’t there to protect her.”

  I don’t know if she’s right. That damn silver scar on her head is proof positive she isn’t strong enough for the rat’s nest we’ve uncovered. I only know one thing right now.

  “I’m not going to retread old ground, Blake. I did what I did for you. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, and I’ll own that. I want to make this right.”

  Her lips tighten and she steps closer. “You still think you can charge in and fix everyone’s problems like some knight in shining armor no one called?”

  “I stopped thinking that a long time ago.”

  “So, the stubborn bully has changed his ways?”

  “I’m not a bully. I’m also not some Upper East Side asshole you can toy with.”

  “You don’t know me at all if that’s what you think.”

  My brow furrows. We’re not shouting. Our voices aren’t even raised, but she’s standing in front of me, breathing fast. My will to fight begins to fade.