Page 56 of Tangled
Brad chuckled but didn’t say anything. He didn’t even know how Scarlett felt about marriage other than she didn’t want to doit because of the baby—a logic he agreed with. He hoped they’d marry—the Warwicks were traditional like that—but he wasn’t set on it. Josh and Sofia were as committed as the rest of his cousins, and they hadn’t gone through any of the legalities.
“Nothing? You’re going to give me nothing?” Sabina said, exasperated.
“How about this, when Scarlett and I get around to making those kinds of decisions, you’ll be the second to know.”
“Not the first?” she asked, hopefully.
“You know Kara will be the first,” he replied. “I’m still putting you ahead of my dad. And since he’ll never let me forget it, I’m giving you an awful lot.”
She hemmed and hawed, then sighed. “You’re right. I may not win, but if I know before Anthony, it might make up for the fact that he met Scarlett and learned about the baby before me.”
“It might,” Brad said. Then, deciding to stir her up a little bit, because what else was family good for, he added, “I have some other news you might find interesting.”
“Oh?”
“Your sister joined us for breakfast this morning. She ate one pancake then all but turned green. Claimed it was food poisoning from some fish she and Ethan had last night, but…” Kara had been perfectly fine, but it would be fun to watch whatever Sabina chose to do with the information. He might regret it—Sabina had a vindictive streak—but he’d manage.
“No!” Sabina exclaimed. “That little sneak. She was just giving me the third degree about having a second. How could I not have seen the signs?”
“Because you’re embroiled in uncovering a twisted web of murder?” he suggested.
“Still… Well, if you could keep that to yourself. I’d like to spring it on her when the time is right.”
Brad chuckled. “My lips are sealed. Now, should we stock the studio with anything before Jessica arrives?”
They chatted for a few more minutes about meals and essentials that he’d have the kitchen deliver to the cabin. After ending the call, he set his device on the desk, spun his chair, and looked out at the ski lift as he contemplated Sabina’s question. Would Scarlett want to get married? It was too early for that kind of decision, he acknowledged. Still, even after so short a time, he couldn’t imaginenothaving her in his life. And not because of the baby. Scarlett was smart, loyal, driven, while also being kind and thoughtful. What wasn’t to love? Top that off with chemistry as combustible as gasoline and fire, well, it seemed a no-brainer.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he called for whoever it was to enter. Andrea walked in, uncharacteristically dressed in jeans and a loose-fitting sweater that hung off one shoulder. Then again, his head of security liked what she liked and never let herself be boxed into atype.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Kimmie Garza’s back,” she said.
He drew back at the unexpected news. “I guess we should be glad she isn’t dead?”
Andrea bobbed her head, leaving her opinion on the matter up for interpretation. “I’m more worried about Katz tracking her here. I heard about Petrov, and I’d prefer it if we keep all murderers off the property. Even if they are offing the bad guys.”
Her observation wasn’t one he’d considered, but he did now. “She’s not booked into the lodge, is she?”
Andrea shook her head. “But she seems to be making friends with someone who is. A single dad who’s up here with his two teenagers for ski week. Apparently, he’s not a skier, although they both are.”
“Leaving him plenty of time during the day to…”
“Yeah, to hire a prostitute who is probably using him to gain access to the lodge,” Andrea said. “Aside from not wanting to attract Katz, I don’t much like the idea of having a working girl here. Nothing against the women who go into it willingly, but aside from being illegal, the industry is too filled with trafficking andunwillingwomen to be something I can overlook.”
“You and me both,” he said, tapping his fingers on the desk, contemplating his next move. “We need to let Ryan and HICC know,” he said.
“Done. I called Ryan and texted Teague already.” Brad raised his brows. She grinned. “I occasionally like to remind him that I can be good at both my job and the warrior pose.”
“Is Ryan sending someone?”
“He’s consulting with HICC. They may choose to keep her under surveillance and watch what she does and who she talks to before they execute the warrant.”
“Why would she come back here? Any ideas?” he asked.
“The only one I can think of is that she’s more afraid to go back to LA without whatever she was sent for than she is of getting caught here.”
Brad stilled, letting that possibility—that very real possibility—settle in his mind. “Who the hell is behind Sussurri?” he asked.
