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“I told you why. Because Ted Morse told me that the federal investigation was still open.”
“Why would they bug us?” Ryan asked. “We’re the victims. And our father is dead.”
“Actually,” Joe said, “I agree with Bryce. We can’t be too cautious. Not after everything that’s gone down. They got to Felicia, remember?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said. “And those three guys are all dead.”
“But if the investigation is still open,” I said, “there might be others. And if Dale truly thinks he saw someone he recognized, someone might still be out there. After all, you guys brought them down. Someone might have a bone to pick.”
Joe nodded slightly at me but said nothing. He and I knew well how to communicate without words. He wouldn’t back up my statement. It would look too obvious. But he agreed.
“Actually,” Marjorie piped in, “I think Bryce has a good point. If you’re hiring Mills and Johnson, what would it hurt to have them check all of our buildings and homes for hidden bugs?”
“You nervous about something, Sis?” Ryan asked.
“Well…yeah. Dale is totally spooked, and that has Jade and me spooked. We need to protect those little boys above all else.”
“Enough said,” Talon agreed. “You’re right, Bryce. We’ll have everything checked.”
I resisted the urge to sigh in relief. Joe gave me another of his unspoken “good job” looks.
I couldn’t take all the credit. Marjorie had backed me up. If their baby sister was spooked, the Steel brothers would act.
She’d never know how much she’d come to Joe’s and my aid. We needed to know if any of the Steel properties were bugged. We’d already discussed checking my house and cars. The house wasn’t a huge concern. Mom, Henry, and I would officially be moved out within a few days. But our cars? They needed to be swept.
Mills and Johnson could sweep for bugs better than anyone in the field. The fact remained, though… Once they’d eliminated any bugs, they’d start digging into our past again. I shuddered to think of what they might find. Those details that Joe and I had never known.
I’d talk to Joe and figure it out later. I listened with one ear as the
conversation turned back to Dale’s purported stalker. Most of me was focused on the woman sitting next to me, the woman I wanted to drag off to bed and ravage more than I wanted my next breath of air.
Wouldn’t happen tonight. Melanie, Ruby, and Jade were in the family room talking and drinking nonalcoholic wine. And of course her three big and burly brothers were also here.
Not a problem, as I was interrupted by my phone vibrating against my thigh. I looked quickly.
A text from my mom.
Come home now. Need to talk.
“What? Is Henry all right?” I demanded as I walked into our home.
I’d tried calling my mother as I drove home frantically, but she didn’t answer.
“Henry’s fine,” she said, clearly on edge.
“Thank God.” I sighed in relief. “Then what’s going on? Why didn’t you pick up the phone?”
“I didn’t hear it ring.” She glanced at her cell phone sitting on the table and then picked it up. “I’m sorry. I turned it off, I guess.”
“You don’t turn your phone off after sending a text, Mom.” I gestured her to be quiet when she opened her mouth to argue. “Now what’s going on?”
“Henry’s mother. She’s in Denver. And she wants to see him.”
A brick hit my gut. Francine “Frankie” Stokes was a Las Vegas showgirl with long legs, fake tits, and a killer smile. My beautiful son was the result of a drunken one-nighter. She’d relinquished her parental rights, and I’d taken sole custody of Henry.
She’d promised to stay out of his life and leave us alone.
“Did you tell her no?”
