Page 50 of Clear Blue Sky

“That’s exactly what we wanted. Now be quiet. We shouldn’t be talking about this here,” Marcus said.

“What the hell?” Phoenix mumbled. “Sounds like you were collateral damage in something that had to do with Seth.”

“I told you something fucked up went down on that mission.” Nelson rubbed the back of his neck. “The information coming to us about the status of the SEAL team was iffy at best. The ambush was too perfect. I don’t remember what happened after that. I only have what Marcus and his team told me.”

“And every one of those fuckers survived.” Phoenix tilted his head.

“Joe and Tony aren’t here. That’s a little suspect, don’t you think?”

Phoenix nodded. “It took a long time for the man who took my spot after I was injured to become tight with the rest of my team. He’s a brother now, but I’m included in everything they do.”

“I’m thinking we should reach out to them and see what they have to say.”

“I don’t disagree,” Phoenix said.

“I need to get down there. I don’t want Marcus or Roxy to think I’m hiding. I also want to check on Brandi. I know that wasn’t easy for her.” Nelson handed Phoenix his cell. “I won’t have any way to communicate, so come get me if you need to. And text Mom and Dad with all this. We need them to pull some strings and find out as much as they can about any investigation that has occurred or is happening about that mission.”

“On it,” Phoenix said. “Watch your back and don’t let either one of them bait you. We’ve got something to go on now.”

Nelson swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. For years after their breakup, he had a soft spot for Roxy. He only wanted what was best for her, and when she’d come to him that night, he’d been taken for a ride.

The few times he’d seen her after that, she had the ability to get under his skin like no other, mostly because she lied right to his face and then had the audacity to call him the liar.

What he didn’t understand was how what she’d done to him was connected to whatever illegal activity Marcus and his crew had been doing.

And was Seth involved?

Or had he found out something and they needed to get rid of him?

A million more questions ran through his brain.

He did his best to keep his emotions in check as he strolled through the restaurant, nodding and smiling to all the regular customers. He and his brothers had built a steady clientele and he had no intention of letting his past destroy it.

Nor was he about to let Roxy and Marcus ruin what he had going with Brandi. His feelings for Brandi were a great source of confusion. He cared deeply and he didn’t want it to end.

As a matter of fact, he saw a future for the first time in a long while. One that included a family—something he hadn’t thought about in over a decade. The idea had come from nowhere. He’d been drinking his coffee and staring at her from across the kitchen, and a vision of her sharing his home in a forever way popped into his head.

The feeling of a baby in his arms, touching his skin, had been overwhelming. Love had eased into his heart and he didn’t even know it.

Slowly, he passed by the opening of the main dining room. He turned his head, his gaze catching Marcus’.

Bile filled Nelson’s throat. He swallowed, but the nasty taste lingered.

Roxy looked in his direction. The corners of her mouth turned upward, but it wasn’t a warm and welcoming smile that an old friend would share. This had a sinister feel to the expression.

Nelson paused for a moment, contemplating whether or not he should engage right away.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Maverick approaching from the bar area. “Phoenix told me what he heard. Do you want me to go in there with you?”

“I’m not going to go say hello just yet.”

Maverick crinkled his forehead and nose. “If you don’t go over there, they will come to you once you walk away. It’s not like you can avoid this. You’ve got to play the game.”

“I’m playing all right.” Nelson nodded. “But I don’t have to play by their rules.” He sidestepped his brother. “Time to shake things up.” He locked gazes with Brandi as he rounded the corner onto the patio. His heart pounded. He hated that she had a front-row seat to the ugliness that Marcus and his sister brought to his front doorstep. He resented the hell out of the fact that they used Brandi and her family to get to him and for what?

A question that couldn’t be as simple as to shame Nelson. Or even destroy his business.

The only real explanation that made sense was finishing what they had started.

---