Page 112 of Coff

“Bag over the head? What the hell are you talking about?” Axel asks.

I arch a brow at my brother. Apparently, he’d been watching me from the moment I arrived at the cemetery that day. And that little dig was for me.

“It doesn’t matter,” Brian says. “Just try to blend in.”

I cross my arms. My gut tells me there’s even more. “Brian, what’s the real reason you’re trying to micromanage us?”

The guys all stare at Brian. He closes his eyes. “Fine. Mr. Ruiz’s daughter will be there tonight. I’m concerned she might get caught in the crossfire.”

“Jesus,” Durango says. “We’re not going to go in, shooting the place up. You know we don’t do that.”

“You’re sure Mr. Ruiz doesn’t know you’re the father?” Axel asks.

“No. He doesn’t know she’s pregnant. She’s not showing yet.”

“Okay, give us everything you know, and we’ll figure out how to do this,” Axel says.

Brian frowns, and I can tell he wants to object, but he glances at me, and I shake my head.

“Fine. Let’s go to the cars where I have the photos, and we’ll talk.”

As we follow him to the rentals, I have a bad feeling about this assignment. My brother is letting his personal feelings get in the way. But then he could say the same thing about me when it comes to Delaney.

CHAPTER25

Delaney

Sittingacross the dinner table from my brother and best friend shouldn’t be weird. But the way they keep making eyes at each other is driving me nuts.

I roll my eyes. “Okay, we get it. You two are in love!” I grab my wine glass and take a large gulp.

Sam’s eyes widen, and Duke glares at me. Oops. Maybe they haven’t said the L-word yet? I just assumed they had based on the way Sam described their relationship.

“We’ve only recently gotten back together,” Sam says.

I stare at them. “What about when we were younger?”

Sam laughs. “Well, Mr. Mature over here responded to my admission of love by grunting, then kissing me.”

Duke takes a bite of his potato as he shakes his head. After he swallows, he points at Sam. “I said ditto first. It was a touching moment.”

She grins. “Yeah, there was a lot of touching.”

“Eww! No,” I say as I stand up. “I’m going to go read.”

I take my plate to the kitchen. Since I cooked dinner, they agreed to clean up, so I have the rest of the evening free. Once in Sam’s guest room that I have now claimed, I check my phone, which I’d left on the bed so I wouldn’t look at it every five minutes while preparing dinner. I’m hoping Logan is willing to do a video chat tonight. I want to see his face. I need to.

He sent a text, and I’m grinning until I read it.

Logan:Sorry, can’t talk tonight. I’m on an assignment. I’ll text you as soon as I can.

I moan and flop onto my bed. He told me enough that I know when he’s on an assignment, I might not hear from him for days or possibly weeks.

Sam giggles as two sets of footsteps make their way down the hallway. So much for them cleaning up. The door at the end of the hall closes. I’m thankful the guest room is the farthest from them. But then a moan comes through my door, and I realize they aren’t far enough away. I turn on music on my phone and turn it up, then stare at the ceiling.

Focusing on Logan made me forget that I’m still stuck living with Duke—even if it is a new place—and working at a job where I apparently have been doing the books for an illegal operation for years.

I sigh. If I’m honest with myself, I figured out years ago that my dad wasn’t exactly on the right side of the law. But somehow, I let myself believe the construction business was one of his legal entities. I guess I wanted to believe he wouldn’t involve me in his dealings. And for the most part, he didn’t. Or so I thought.

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