Page 82 of Bennett

Bennett didn’t deny it.

He wasn’t entirely sure when it had happened, but yeah, he was.

And the part that surprised him the most?

He didn’t want out.

As the conversation eased into quieter bites of breakfast and low murmurs of plans for the day, Gabe’s phone buzzed againstthe table. He glanced at the screen and frowned slightly, swiping to open the message.

Bennett noticed the shift in his expression immediately.

Gabe let out a quiet breath. “Well, hell.”

Mac looked up. “Something we should know?”

“Yeah.” Gabe slid his phone across the table to him, Mac and Carter.

Report of minor vandalism at a commercial lot off Gulf Street. Property’s been sitting vacant, but it was on Duke Carver’s radar last year. Nothing major—broken locks, some cut wires—but still worth noting.

Bennett’s gut clenched as he slid the phone across the table to Matthew and Tyler to read. “That’s two properties now, both linked to Carver.”

“Damn,” Tyler muttered. “Duke’s name keeps floating closer to the flame.”

“Could be someone trying to push him out, or someone working for him trying to scare off competition,” Mac said.

“We need to dig deeper,” Bennett said, pushing his plate slightly away. “Check for shell companies, fake buyer fronts, anything that ties back to him. If he’s making these plays, he’s not doing it in his name.”

“I’ll call Brandi later,” Gabe said. “She’s got ears in that world. If anyone’s heard whispers about shady real estate deals, it’ll be her.”

Bennett nodded, already thinking ahead. “Carter, can you do a deeper dive into the guy’s financials? I know if there’s a trail, you’ll find it.”

“Damn straight.” Carter grinned. “I’ll dig so deep, I’ll find out things about the guy even he doesn’t know yet.”

Perfect.

Mac leaned in. “Matthew, head back to the site and keep an eye on things there. Tyler, help Carter with the deep dive.Bennett, you’re with me,” his boss said. “It’s time to go talk to my cousin about his rival.”

He nodded. Visiting Connor McCall had been on his to-do list today, anyway.

“Everybody good?” Mac asked, giving each of them a pointed look. Once he received four nods, their boss added one of his own. “Good. We’ll regroup at HQ this afternoon.”

Perfect.

Bennett’s gaze drifted briefly toward the counter, where Laurel was topping off someone’s coffee with that easy smile of hers. As if feeling his scrutiny, Laurel glanced over at him, her gaze warm and sure. She offered a small smile—one just for him.

He let it settle something in his chest before turning back to the others. “Let’s get ahead of this before it escalates again.”

Nobody argued.

Because for the first time, it felt like they weren’t chasing shadows anymore.

Now, they had direction.

And Duke Carver was right in the middle of it.

Chapter Seventeen

The afternoon lull had finally settled over the diner, wrapping the place in a kind of cozy stillness that Laurel had grown to love. She also appreciated the appearance of the regulars and the not-so-regular regulars, like the good tipper with the scar on his hand who’d been in twice this week, always quiet, always polite. There was a mother with two young kids here on vacation for a few days, and a pair of retired ranchers who stopped in for coffee and pie every Thursday like it was a sacred ritual.

---