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We selected the women for various reasons and ways. Some found us and others we found.
Hazel was like them but different. She didn’t need to start a fresh life. She planned to fix the one she had. But something in her eyes resembled so many of the women we helped over the years. Raw determination and one hell of a pissed off attitude.
“She’s strong,” I said, more to myself than my brother, but he heard.
Cyrus, with his lively personality, was the salesperson for my expertise. He was the face of our operation. He netted us bulky government contracts and helped keep up our ruse. The one where we were two trust-fund rich playboys who wanted to spend our days partying.
If most people found out we were behind government defense contracts, they wouldn’t believe it. Cyrus and Corbin Kensington were playboys who spent money faster than we earned it. Even our closest family—who knew we made more than we wasted—didn’t know what we did in our free time. The women we’d helped.
However, while Cyrus was the face of the company, I was the worker. I handled the code and managed the programs, creating the new IDs for the women.
Cyrus leaned back on the couch laughing, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Damn, you’re screwed. Aren’t you?” he asked. Without having to demand clarification, I knew exactly what he meant.
I flopped on the space beside him and sighed. “Yeah, I am.”
Hazel, without even trying, had ended up in my bloodstream. As I sat with my brother, the other part of me listened for when the water turned off in the shower. I noticed her location at all times. The thought of not having her in my eyesight scared the shit out of me.
Even leaving her for a few minutes this morning to get muffins and donuts caused my steps to hasten to get back to her soon as possible. I’d never felt this way about anyone. I loved my mother more than anyone in the world, but we went a few weeks without hearing an update on her life.
Everything about Hazel was important to me—her past, present, and future.
Cyrus slapped me on the back, pushing me forward. “Congratulations. I’ve always wanted a sister-in-law.”
“What?” I sputtered. “Let’s not get too far ahead here,” I argued, trying to deny the attraction. Except in reality, the idea didn’t freak me out that bad.
Shit.
I really was in trouble.
In fact, the only thing freaking me out was the fact that I wasn’t freaking out about Cyrus suggesting Hazel would be his new sister-in-law.
I was not in a place in life nor did I have plans to settle down and get married.
Still, even knowing I wasn’t ready to settle, a whole new set of plans formed in my mind as we sat together on the couch. It was no longer about how quickly could I break the encryption on Hazel’s thumb drive and get her back to regular life. Now I needed to save her from this situation and then figure out how to keep her.
Many pieces were still in the air, but parts were coming together.
“You need to leave,” I said, turning my head to glare at Cyrus.
He shook his head, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. “No, I want to help. I won’t let my brother get shot at and not come to his rescue. We’re a team.”
I shoved him a little on the couch and then stood, walking to the kitchen door and holding it open before sweeping my arm in a get the hell out gesture. I had a shit ton of things to do that afternoon and I didn’t want Cyrus anywhere near Hazel.
I’d break the code to the thumb drive and her on my own.
CHAPTER9
HAZEL
The shower helped wash away the dirt and fear from the last two days, but I still had the same pair of pants I drove to Pelican Bay in with only a fresh shirt from Corbin. He’d left it on the counter in the bathroom, so I took it as a sign to wear it.
I’d been full of courage when I’d flipped the shirt on and taken a whiff of his detergent, which clung strongly onto the fibers. But now that I had to walk into the living room and see him while wearing the shirt, nerves prickled my skin. Maybe he didn’t set it there for me.
Stop it, Hazel.
I had bigger things to worry about—like someone trying to kill me—but the shirt was the most pressing issue, so my brain found it the most time sensitive.
Corbin sat on the couch, the ugly floral pattern jarring against his natural good looks. He stood as soon as I exited the bathroom.
