Page 122 of Salvaged Hearts

“Mike, or Luke, or Mr. Reynolds?—”

“Captain,” Greyson deadpanned, earning a blink of confusion from his rapidly disgruntled uncle.

“Pardon?”

“CaptainReynolds.”

“Yes, well, captain or not. Someone is leaking information outside these walls. How did they know your vulnerability was the beach?”

“It’s.The beach,” he said dryly. “The vulnerability is implicit.”

“Stalking through the water like Seals? You don’t find that a rather pointed message?”

“Of course, it was a pointed message.” His tone painted Reggie the town idiot, and I quite enjoyed it. “But my and Captain Reynolds’ roles in the navy are public knowledge. If you have evidence we have a mole, present it quickly.”

Reggie’s gaze flicked to me and Max before back to Greyson, his knee beginning to bounce beneath the desk.Interesting. I dug through my memory but wasn’t sure I’d ever seen the man fidget.

“I trust them both implicitly,” Greyson stated authoritatively before leaving the silence to linger as he turned to sit on the edge of his desk, still staring down at his uncle. The sound of boots filled the hallway, and Greyson looked to his watch with an irritated flick of his head. Countdown was ticking.

“You know,” Reggie breathed. When Greyson arched a brow, Reggie furrowed his. “Someone is gunning for you, Greyson. First the embezzlement allegations, and now this. Are you in trouble?”

“It would appear so.”

“Don’t play with me. We have the resources to help you. What did you get yourself tangled up in?”

“I’ll let you know when my investigators find out.”

“Watch your back, my boy. You never know who you can trust in this life. Your circle should be tight, and should you find your enemy, keep them close until we can decide what to do with them.”

Two armed security guards materialized in the doorway in their slick black-on-black shirts and slacks, and Greyson nodded his acknowledgment. “If that’s all, these gentlemen will escort you to your car, as Alice and I have prior obligations.”

“You can’t be serious,” he said, evidently appalled.

As Greyson gracefully slunk onto his feet, he smiled for the first time in the entire encounter. “Never know who you can trust, and all that.”

With a huff reminiscent of a pissed-off bull, Reggie stood abruptly. More footsteps were audible in the hall beyond as he stared for a long moment, studying his nephew. My palms stung where my nails were biting into the skin to keep myself steady. We didn’t know if he was dirty. Couldn’t prove it. Saying something now would only tip him off. I was determined to have Greyson’s back in this strategy, and speaking up would only undermine him.

“Watch your back. I would hate for a repeat incident to end with a less favorable outcome.” As Reggie turned and walked through the gap between guards, the three of us stood as immobile sentinels, watching him step through the doorway just as Royce and Miranda cautiously edged around the corner, looking a bit ashen. Reggie paused, the security guards mimicking his halted movement. He stared Royce down for a beat before looking back to Greyson and muttering, “So much for a tight circle,” before leading the guards down the hallway.

“Should we come back later?” Miranda hedged, anxiously looking after what I assumed was a spectacularly pissed-off Reggie, then back to the three of us in the study.

“Everything okay?” Royce pressed, a protective hand coming to hover over her belly.

“All is well,” Greyson reassured regally. “You’re the first to arrive, but we’re thrilled to have you.”

“Brought you some brandy,” Royce offered with a sympathetic shrug. “I intended it for coping with the in-laws, but it seems like you need it now.”

With a chuckle, Greyson nodded, his shoulders relaxing as we funneled into the hallway to prepare for the onslaught.

Greyson

Who needsa party when your family isgigantic?

The Rhodes arrived a chunk at a time, while Ollie, Mattie, and I hovered on the perimeter of my patio, observing the chaos.

Rhyett, Brex, and Quinn—all blond, tall, and blue-eyed like some Scandinavian advertisement—were the first in the door, bearing flowers for the house and a disarmingly thoughtful care package for Captain, for whenever we got to bring him home. Homemade peanut butter dog treats, chew toys and CBDgummies were all pointed out by a very concerned Brexley as she rubbed her hand over her growing belly.

Paxton arrived with both Finnegan—orFinn, as he preferred to be called—and Hadlee, who was a pint-sized duplicate of my wife, save for the golden hair in some fancy, skinny braid hanging around her shoulder. “Looks like a mermaid tail,” Mattie had said before asking Hadlee to teach her how to do it. Much like Elora, Hadlee greeted me with an unnerving spider’s smile and a handshake more intimidating than most men.

---