With frustration simmering red hot, she took a long gulp of her water, her earlier conclusion was only firmed further. “The box must be meaningful. Something of my mother’s, or maybe her parents, I don’t know.”
“Possibly,” Hunt said after polishing off his drink and depositing the glass in the sink. He moved closer. “But my gut tells me there’s more to it than that.”
She felt clueless as she stepped into his open arms. His warm safeness wrapped tightly around her, and she shut her eyes, feeling weight leave her shoulders. The only other time she felt this secure was when her mother would hold her, just like this.
Knowing she needed strength to face her brother, she stepped back. “We should go.”
Hunt placed a strong hand on her lower back, drawing her close again. “I’ll be with you.”
In typical Hunt style, he stayed true to his word as they left her condo a few minutes later. She walked ahead of him out of her building, but he stayed close while she got on the subway. In awe of him, she noticed the shift in his demeanor—the cop blending into the crowd around him like he hadn’t blown apart her idea of good sex last night and this morning. No sex would ever compare to Hunt’s hands on her. Nothing would ever be the same again. She believed that down to her bones.
When she journeyed up the subway’s stairs after reaching their stop, she couldn’t help but let herself feel happy. She’d never had anyone fight for her like Hunt fought for her. She had Nessa’s friendship, but what she had with Hunt was so different. Almost like their souls had met in another time and together was the only place that made sense. When she finally entered the restaurant ten minutes later, Hunt was not far behind and headed to the bar, ordering up a drink.
The restaurant was a trendy place. White walls gave a plain backdrop, but the plants spread out among the room brought life and color. People sat around small, circular tables on light-gray fabric-covered chairs.
Nerves rattled her as she checked in with the hostess, but she forced her chin high as she was led to a table in the middle of the restaurant. To calm herself, she ordered a glass of red wine, and by the time the waitress delivered it, she spotted not only Leo but also Matteo striding toward her. Fear skirted through her. When her gaze fell on Matteo, sadness followed, as they’d always been close, growing up.
Women loved her brothers, and Lottie did understand why. Over six foot two, they were well built and handsome, in a rough kind of way. They shared their father’s brown eyes, but Matteo had the same brown shade of hair color like their mother, while Leo was blonder, the same color as their dad.
“Well, well, well,” Leo said, taking a seat directly across from her. “I have to admit I wasn’t convinced it was actually you that texted.”
“Of course, it was me,” she said, ensuring her hand did not shake as she took a sip of her dry wine.
Matteo leaned his arms against the table and looked at her through his thick lashes that most women would die to have. “You look well, sis,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said, forcing her shoulders back.Do not show them weakness,Hunt had told her this morning. “I am doing well.”
Leo whistled, eyes bristling with an emotion Lottie couldn’t quite read. “Looks like you’ve got yourself quite the life here in the Big Apple.”
Before Lottie could answer, the pretty, busty waitress sidled up to the table and took her brothers' drink orders. Then asked, “Would you like anything off the menu?”
“We’re not eating,” Lottie interjected before anyone else could respond. “Thank you.”
The waitress gathered up the menus and left to fetch their drinks. Not before her gaze lingered on Leo.
When it was just the three of them again, Lottie finally answered Leo, “I do have a great life here. A life I love. Which leads me to my next question—why are you here in the city?”
Leo and Matteo shared a long, unreadable look, before Leo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. He had some wrinkles under his eyes that had never been there before, and the darkness of them looked far more haunted. “Did you hear Dad died?” he asked.
“I only heard about his passing yesterday,” she answered honestly.
“From the newspaper?” Matteo asked.
“No, I wish that’s how I learned of it,” she snipped. “I found out because you broke into my condo.”
If Leo was surprised, he didn’t show it. A slow smile spread across his face. “Clever girl.”
The waitress appeared then, placing her brothers’ beer bottles in front of them. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
Leo winked, giving her a salacious grin. “I’ll be sure to, darlin’.”
Color rushed into the woman’s face, and she smiled sensually, offering him as much with a single look, before heading off.
“I see some things haven’t changed at all,” Lottie said, rolling her eyes. Her brother treated women horribly. He’d never had a long-term relationship. And the girlfriends he did have had to be all right with him having side pieces too.
Leo grabbed his beer and tipped it at her. “Ah, but I see some things have changed.” He chugged back half the bottle before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand that had a skull tattoo. “Our dear little, beloved sister stealing our money and vanishing into thin air. Who would have guessed?”
She forced her hands still on the table, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. “Am I supposed to apologize for that?”
