Page 78 of Tormented Hearts

One of the running jokes in the Malone family was that Willow and her brothers were always fighting over the best coffee mugs in the house. It looked like Willow won the latest round.

Hawk dropped into the chair across from Carson and Gray took the other.

“McCrae,” Hawk said without preamble. “Evan McCrae. Great-great-grandson of a prospector who worked that mine with Sinead’s family.”

Carson cocked a brow. “So this is an old beef between families.”

Hawk nodded. “Seems that way. This is blood chasing an old claim.”

Carson swung his gaze from Hawk to Gray. “We’ll run everything we can find on him. He can’t be hard to find.”

“Move fast.” Hawk was already pushing to his feet, too restless for meetings and deep dives into backgrounds. “We go as soon as we’ve got a location confirmed.”

“Copy that,” Gray said. “Go check on Sinead. We’ll handle this.”

Hawk went to their shared room first, and finding it empty, went to the dining hall. A few guys having an afternoon snack were seated there, eating and talking, but Sinead wasn’t with them.

He finally ended up knocking on the door of the main house. He waited on the big front porch, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited for someone to answer the door.

Colt’s wife Aspen opened it at last. Her pinched brows flattened when she saw him. “Oh, thank goodness. Are they back?”

His own brow creased. “Gray and I are back, if that’s what you mean.”

She shook her head, dark wavy hair swirling around her shoulders. “Sinead and Shiloh went to the municipal office,” she said. “Picking up plot surveys Sinead requested.”

He’d forgotten about the surveys she mentioned she had requested before coming to Wyoming.

Hawk checked the time, and ice slid down his spine. “How long ago?”

Aspen’s eyes widened with true distress. “They left right after lunch. They should’ve been back by now.”

He didn’t wait for her to finish the thought. He was already running to the security office, shouting for Gray and Carson, adrenaline burning through the last of his fatigue.

Four mercenaries were dead, and if McCrae had any brains at all, he had to know by now that his men had failed.

That someone was closing in on him.

A man that desperate, that cornered, didn’t sit by quietly waiting.

He struck back.

Hawk burst into the office. “We need eyes on Sinead and Shiloh right now!” he barked. “They went to the municipal office, but it was hours ago. Something’s wrong.”

Carson jerked his head for him to follow, and he rushed into the war room again.

Lex was already at her laptop, fingers flying across the keys. “If this is McCrae escalating, he’s not thinking long-term anymore—he’ll go for the highest-value target he can reach with the least trouble.” She threw a look at Hawk.

“Sinead.” Fire and pain blazed in his voice.

“Sinead,” Lex agreed grimly.

Gray grabbed his phone. “Where is Oaks right now?”

“Just left for a job in Seattle. He should be on his way to the airstrip now.” Carson traded a long look with his brother.

“Fuck! He’s not going to like this news.”

“Get him on the phone. Tell him to get to the municipal office. I’ll dispatch another bodyguard to take his place.” With that matter addressed, Carson turned his attention back to Hawk.