Page 34 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

My spine stiffens.

I can’t believe what I’m seeing.I’m not even sure I’m seeing what I’m seeing.I haven’t exactly been on my game lately, so maybe I really am ripe for hallucinating.

But from the collective reaction of my brothers, I know I’m not.I’m seeing what I’m seeing.

The woman who walked away from me when I needed her most is now walking up the deck stairs and heading toward me.

It’s Captain Harper Dunn-Spence, U.S.Naval Intelligence.

My ex.

In the flesh.

CHAPTER 17

Special K

Harper always has impeccable timing, arranging every situation so that it allows her to make the biggest impact, and capture the most attention.I didn’t recognize that when we were together, but in hindsight, and know Harper wasnevermy best friend.

Harper’s best friend was, and will always be, Harper herself.

She’s always liked shiny assignments, things that will be high profile and put her in the line of sight of three-stars and joint staff.As if she wasn’t shiny enough, no matter the mission.

Even dressed in civvies today—jeans, a white button-down shirt, and deck shoes—she’s all kinds of shiny.I look away.I don’t need to remind myself how beautiful I once thought she was.Her pale blond hair, her deep brown eyes, her body.All perfect in every way.

On the outside, anyway.

On the inside, she’s empty.She’s missing the most important trait a person can have.She’s fresh out of integrity.

Taking a quick glance at Cal, I notice his eyes boring into mine.He doesn’t need words to ask the same question I’m asking myself.“What’s Harper up to?”

Why here?Why now?What does she want from me?Hasn’t she caused enough damage to my life?Cal knows the truth about Harper, but the rest of my brothers are in the dark.They still see her as the one who got away.

They have no idea what she really is.

My father mumbles something under his breath.I can tell he’s not thrilled with her unplanned visit.He knows Harper hurt me in some way, though he doesn’t know the details.He never tries to pry information out of his sons that they’re not ready to divulge, so he’s never asked me outright.

All Dad knows is that she dumped me, and that I received an honorable discharge from the Navy and returned home, empty and broken.

It took a while for me to bounce back, but Cal and I assured Dad that leaving the Navy was my choice and that I came home to join my brothers in developing StellaR Tech.

I wasn’t sure my father was convinced by the story, and now looking at his reaction to Harper’s surprise visit, I know he wasn’t.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think Harper has come here to shame me in front of my family.She doesn’t care about me enough to put me in the crosshairs.Plus, it’s ancient history.If she wanted to shame me, she’s had plenty of time to do it, since she unceremoniously dumped my ass years ago.

I watch her walk up the deck steps and head for our table.

“Hello, Harper.”Dad’s greeting is pretty lackluster.

“This is a surprise,” Evander adds.

“Forgive me for interrupting,” Harper says.Her voice is sweet and conciliatory.“I was nearby and thought I should at least stop in to say hello.”

If she’s telling the truth, “nearby” means she’s been doing her super-secret shit at either Groom Lake, Nellis, or the Tonopah Test Range.In any case, she wouldn’t exactly be in the neighborhood.There’s no stopping by Yosemite Ranch—she had to go far out of her way to say hello.

I already know whatever her motives are, they aren’t good.

“I saw Evander in London a few months back and realized that it’s been too long,” she says, smiling at everyone.“Friends should stay in touch.So, when I said goodbye to Evander, I made a point to include Yosemite Ranch in my future plans.”