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“You’re right—I do know that.” Brody heaved a long sigh then offered his hand.
Tension and weight seemed to drain off Brody before Chase’s eyes. Maybe Brody realized he would not have to worry about Harper anymore. Chase stared at Brody’s outstretched hand for a long moment, realizing exactly what Brody was offering.
A life with Harper.
Before Chase sealed his promise, he leaned in, nose to nose with his oldest friend. “The next time you punch me, just know I’ll knock you flat on your ass.”
“You could try.” Brody laughed.
Chase returned the handshake, pulling Brody into him in a rough hug.
Chapter 15
Bright and early on Monday morning, Chase sat on the cold, hard plastic chair in the reception area, his cell phone tucked into his front pocket. Behind the blond receptionist who sat at the large cherrywood desk was a water wall with BRECKENRIDGE CONSTRUCTION written on it in carved-out stone. Whenever Chase drove by the building, he didn’t think it looked like much from the outside. Now he knew differently. Apparently, Joel had done well for himself over the last few years. Which only firmed up the assumption that maybe he was behind this inspector.
Chase sighed, tapping his boot against the hardwood floors. He kept his focus on the receptionist ahead of him, waiting for that moment when he could question Joel. Shep sat in the chair next to him, one ankle crossed over his knee, while Nash stood at the window, staring out with his arms folded, posture stiff.
“Boys.”
Chase slowly looked up, all his anxiousness turning into simmering hot rage, clenching his fists.
Standing in the hallway to the left of the reception desk, Joel waved them back. “Come on in.”
Shep gave Chase a quick look and a firm nod and rose, approaching Joel.
Chase hung back, snagging Nash’s arm when he went to stride by him. “Let me talk to him.” The last thing Chase needed was Nash’s hot temper bringing in the police, and word of that spreading. “Got it?”
“Yeah, all right, got it.” Nash nodded.
“Do not make me regret bringing you,” Chase said again, determined to get his point across.
“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.” Nash strode toward the hallway, obviously giving the receptionist one of his charming smiles since she blushed.
Chase snorted and shook his head, following in behind, taking in his brother’s easy gait and relaxed shoulders. That was a good sign. He passed by the lavish offices filled with fancy computers and modern furniture, and Chase began to wonder if this could be a motive for Joel to backstab him. Joel’s overhead was clearly high.
He soon followed Nash into Joel’s office. The space was better suited to a CEO with its huge fancy rustic desk and leather chair in front of a stone wall. Chase settled into the client chair next to Shep, preparing himself to ask questions he was not entirely sure he wanted the answers to. Being backstabbed by Clint would have made sense. Joel doing this made Chase’s head spin.
Before he could even part his lips, Nash approached the desk and pointed his finger at Joel. “You motherfucker.”
Chase sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his ankle. “That lasted long.” He glanced at Shep.
Shep fought his smile.
Joel began to rise from his desk, eyes focused on Nash. “Excuse me?”
“Sit back down,” Nash spat, his neck corded.
Joel sat real quick.
Nash pressed his hands against the desk and leaned in. “How could you do this to us, Joel? You’ve been at our house. You’ve eaten at our dining table. You were a friend of Dad’s. You better start explaining yourself.”
Chase watched Joel closely, waiting for him to react and defend himself.
That never came. Instead, Joel’s eyebrows gathered in and he gave a heavy sigh. “You know.”
Nash backed away from the desk, leaning against the window, crossing his arms. Calm and collected, he added, “We didn’t know for certain, but we do now.”
Chase gave Nash a nod and a smile. All right, his younger brother had proved that his way was sometimes better. Chase could live with that. He turned to Joel. “You have to explain all this to me, Joel. Because from where I’m sitting, none of this makes any sense.”
