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“I need to make a quick call.” Two, actually, but it wasn’t necessary I be that specific. “I’ll only be a moment or two,” I murmured, leaning over for a kiss.
Rather than return to the kitchen, I went exploring. Neither Sam nor I had taken the time to look at the house, which was quite large, even by my family’s standards. On the other hand, compared to the Coverts’ former home in the city, this residence would be considered small at only fourteen thousand square feet.
After stumbling on a second-story sitting room similar to the one downstairs, I closed the door and retrieved my mobile.
“Hey, Beau,” my best mate, Cru Avila, said when he answered my call. One of the reasons I considered him such was evident in his greeting. If I felt compelled to share information, that was one thing, but Cru would never ask questions. “I’m in need of help, my friend.”
“What can I do?” he responded.
“Call a meeting of Los Caballeros at your earliest convenience. I’m looking for background information on several people.” It occurred to me I should’ve attempted to take a snapshot of the man at the pub. However, it was doubtful I would’ve been successful without him seeing me do it. Instead, I asked Cru to see if one of thecaballeroscould get their hands on the bar’s security footage. The place was big enough I didn’t doubt they’d have it.
Requesting assistance meant I had to share my whereabouts, not that I’d wanted to keep it a secret. It was more that I wanted time on my own. If there was anyone in particular I wasn’t anxious to learn where I was, it was my older brother. I’d not ask Cru to keep it from him, though. It wouldn’t be fair.
How Sam was involved was different. Before divulging any of it, I asked Cru to keep the specifics of it to himself as much as possible. When he agreed, I told him what was in the package she’d received via courier last week.
“Holy shit,” he said when I explained about the inheritance. “She has no idea who this woman is?”
“None whatsoever. The mystery deepened tonight, in fact, and relates to a man named Cord Wheaton. He’s on the list of those I’ll forward for thecaballerosto look into.”
“You got it, Beau. Anything else?”
“My next call is to Burns Butler. I was stunned to see the lack of security at an estate so large.”
“Think you’ll need a crew?”
He and I both chuckled at his use of the homophone.
“I’m sure I will now that you’ve made the suggestion.”
“Whodon’tyou want to come with me?”
“I think you know the answer, my friend, not that Press would be available to do so.”
“Let me know what Burns has to say and if you want me to go over and talk to him.”
Given the Butlers’ and Avilas’ properties were adjacent, it wouldn’t be a hardship for him. “It’s likely I will. Much appreciated, Cru.”
Thankfully, my call with Burns was brief, given I was anxious to return downstairs. He immediately agreed it would make the most sense for Cru and him to meet in person this evening. It was more than I’d expected and said so.
“Samantha is one of our own, Beau,” he said as if that was the only explanation necessary.
“Again, many thanks.”
We rang off, and I made my way downstairs, greatly relieved at how much I’d been able to put in motion. When I reached the bottom step, I could hear Sam and Cord laughing. My shoulders immediately tensed. It was preposterous for me to be jealous of a man we’d both just met; however, the shift in my relationship with her was new. And as she and I had already established, I could be an insecure bastard. Most times, I hid it fairly well. I couldn’t hide anything from Samantha, though, and for that, I was glad.
No one knew me the same way she did. I’d never once felt uncomfortable about being vulnerable when I was with her. I believed the same was true in reverse. Case in point,Iwas the person she’d called when she received the package from the attorney.
I was also the person who’d spent hours making love with her. Once we were alone tonight, I had no doubt we’d spend hours more. While all the arguments I made with myself were sound, my jaw still clenched when I walked in and saw her smiling at Cord.
She looked up at me and patted the cushion where I’d sat previously. I took a seat and put my arm around her shoulders.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yes. We’ll chat later.”
Sam nodded.
“We’ll be meeting with the estate’s attorney sometime tomorrow. We’ll also make it a point to introduce ourselves to Mr. Schultz.”
