You want to protect Marissa. Meet us atKings tonight at 7.
The obvious text from her brothers put him on immediate alert, but how had they had gotten his personal cell phone number? As much as that concerned him, the fact that they were still in the city bothered him more. All reports from Elise showed they had left the city, and the case of her break-in had long grown cold, chalked up as a random robbery. This matter had been put to bed. He’d never been so pissed that he was wrong.
He fired off a text:I’ll be there.
Staring down at the evidence box, he wracked his mind, trying to understand what they could want from her. He believed if Leo wanted her dead, that would have happened already. He needed something from her. But what?
Using his cell phone, he dialed Elise. “Hey, it’s Hunt,” he said when she answered.
“Hi,” she replied. “What’s up?”
“Do you mind spending the day with Lottie today? I’ve got wind that her brothers are still in town. I think it’s best if she’s not alone.”
“Of course, yes,” Elise said immediately. “I think Zoey’s off today. We’re due for a much-needed girls’ day.”
“Perfect, thank you.” He ran his hand over his forehead where a headache loomed. “Oh, and Elise, mum's the word on her brothers being in the city.”
A pause. “Why?”
She can finally breathe again. She’s not looking over her shoulder anymore. She’s smiling easier.Instead of saying all the things he was thinking, he said, “Until I know they’re a problem, I don’t want to worry her.”
“All right,” Elise said. “Be careful. You’ll call if you need anything?”
“You know it. Thanks again.” Hunt ended the call, sighing at the other mystery he had to solve.
Turning his attention on his current case, he put Lottie’s brothers to the back of his mind and focused on the evidence of the murder he was investigating.
The rest of his workday had gone painstakingly slow. Before he left for the bar that was only a ten-minute drive away, he fired off a text to Lottie:I’ll be late tonight. Want me to pick up takeout for dinner?
Her reply came a few minutes later:Sounds good! I spent the day with Elise and Zoey. Bring extra in case they’re still here. See you later. xx
Once he got home, he’d explain what happened with her brothers and why he didn’t want her to worry, but until he knew what was going on, he wouldn’t put the stress back on her. She was finally sleeping soundly, all the way through the night. She ate more, talked more, laughed so much more. Her well-being was all he thought of now, and ensuring her brothers left New York City. For good.
Before he left the station and caught an Uber, he’d changed into jeans, a T-shirt and his leather jacket, leaving his dress clothes in his locker. The drive took longer than expected due to traffic, and he arrived at Kings a little after seven o’clock. From the outside, the bar didn’t look like much. Red brick led to a black storefront window. The dive bar was a hotspot for local criminal activity, and if anyone there knew Hunt was a cop, they’d likely take issue with him being in their space.
Standing across the street, the chill in the air brushing across his face, bringing scents of car exhaust and trash, he fetched his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Archer. “Hey, it’s Hunt,” he said into the phone once Archer answered.
“Hey,” Archer replied. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” Hunt replied. “Listen, I’m meeting Lottie’s brothers.”
A long, telling pause. “Where?”
“Kings.”
In the background Hunt heard a door open and then close before Archer asked, “I thought they’d left New York City.”
“You and me both,” Hunt said, equally annoyed by that fact. “Apparently, their business isn’t done here yet.”
“Have they told you why they want to meet with you?”
Hunt waited for two cars to pass, moving slowly down the road. Then he began crossing the street. “No, but I’m about to find out. I’ll call if anything develops.”
“Yeah, that won’t work for me,” Archer said with a snort. “I’m already on my way. See you shortly.”
Hunt shouldn’t have expected any different. His friends were good people—the best of the best. He stopped just outside the bar’s door, staying in the shadows. “Stay out of the bar unless you see trouble stirring.” Archer was an imposing figure. One look at him, and her brothers would get their hackles up, thinking Hunt wanted a fight. His promise to Lottie weighed heavy on his mind. He had to tread carefully. He finally had her. No way in hell he’d lose her.
“Copy that,” Archer said. Then he ended the call.
