Breathless

by HELEN HARDT

  His dark eyes were heavy-lidded and troubled when we finally sat down together—alone—in his office.

  Even then, I was freaked. Was this office bugged? I still wasn’t sure Ted Morse had been straight with me. He could be playing games, trying to get a payoff. I had no idea. But at this point, given the vague memory that had popped into my head, I couldn’t chance it.

  “What is it, Bryce?” Joe asked. “You’ve got me a little on edge.”

  Joe on edge was not a pretty sight. He had a hot head and a quick temper. I’d seen it in action many times, and I needed him to remain calm.

  “Can we get out of here?” I asked.

  “What? You just made me send my staff home so we could speak privately. There’s no more private place on this ranch right now.”

  I couldn’t say anything more, not here. My whole body tensed and tingled, as if myriad eyes and ears were watching and listening. Probably in my mind, but given what Joe and I needed to discuss, I wasn’t willing to take the chance.

  “I need a walk.” I coughed into my hand to relieve the lump in my throat. “Now.”

  “What the—”

  “Please,” I said softly, looking toward the door.

  Joe stood quietly, seeming to understand. I sighed in relief. We walked out of the office together.

  “Where to?” he said.

  “Outside. It’s a decent day. Sun’s out.”

  He nodded and we left the building. Once we were a couple hundred feet from the building, he turned to me, his gaze serious. “Tell me what’s going on. Now.”

  “I met with Ted Morse.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I don’t know what his angle is, Joe, but he claims the Feds are investigating the two of us.”

  “You and me?”

  “Yeah. Now I don’t know if it’s true. Whether it’s the Feds or if it’s Ted pulling something, which I wouldn’t put past him, but he mentioned the camping trips you and I took with my dad.”

  Joe’s face reddened. Yup, here went the hothead.

  “Joe…”

  “Fuck.” He grabbed a fistful of his long hair. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

  “I know. So you remember?”

  “Did Morse mention that time?”

  “I’d forgotten, honestly. What was it? Nearly thirty years ago now? We couldn’t have been more than eight or nine.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I told him we were always alone with my dad. And we always were…”

  “Except for once,” Joe said.

  “He claims my phone and my house are bugged. That’s why we needed to get out of there. He didn’t say anything about your office, so I originally thought we’d be safe there. I mean, you have the best security and all. But these are the Feds.”

  “It’s only the Feds if Morse is telling the truth.”

  “True. But how would he know about the camping?”

  “Fuck if I know.” Joe paced in circles.

  “Does anyone else know? Your brothers?”

  “I never told anyone. I trusted your dad. And like you, I’d forgotten until now. It was pushed back in my head, a nonissue, you know?”

  “Yeah. Nothing ever happened. The family moved away. I mean, I assume they did. Hell, I can’t even remember his name, can you?”

  “Justin? Or Dustin?”

  A memory sparked in my mind. “Justin. You’re right. Justin… What was his last name?”

  “I can’t remember. I feel like it’s in my brain somewhere.”

  Recall came trickling back. Justin had been a new kid in town. He was nothing special, but for some reason, he never quite fit in. He didn’t blend. He was quiet and always alone, and…

  “Whose idea was it, anyway?” Joe asked.

  “It was mine,” I said, thinking. “I asked my dad if we could bring him along.”

  “Damn. Do you think your father…?”

  “I don’t know.” This time I paced in circles. “I’m afraid to even think about it.”

  “We have to think about it, man. We have to.”

  “Whether he did or not, it shouldn’t have anything to do with us,” I said. “We were nine. We’re innocent.”

  “Morse is bluffing,” Joe said. “He has to be. How could he even know anything?”

  “I don’t know. He’s got money, though. Not Steel money, but enough to dig up any dirt there is. And he might have done just that.”

  “He seriously can’t think he can take us on,” Joe said. “Like you said, he doesn’t have Steel money.”

  “I don’t have any money.”

  “But he has to know that we’ve got your back.”

  “Why would he know that?”

  “He’ll know if he tries anything.”

  “I can’t—”

  “Don’t even,” Joe said. “You’re an honorary Steel brother. You always have been. Whatever you need, bro. Always.”

  I already felt like I was taking advantage of the Steels by accepting their generous offer. My only solace was that I knew I was qualified and would do a damned good job for them. “Thanks, man.”

  “You know it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m going to talk to Morse.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “I should go alone.”

  Hell, no. If Joe went alone, he might do something hotheaded and stupid. He’d been ready to blow Ted Morse away once before. With good reason, but still. Joe and I were good for each other. We kept each other level-headed.

  “I’ll go with you. He came to me with this. I’m already involved.”

  “Good enough.” He pointed to his ankle. “But Rosie’s coming along.”

  I nodded. “No problem there. I’ll be packing as well.” If I was there to stop him, Joe wouldn’t cross the line. But I was absolutely fine with him scaring Morse a little, and since I’d learned the truth about my father, I’d carried my own concealed weapon.

  “Funny,” I said. “My dad is the one who taught us how to be such good shots.”

  Joe started to reply but stopped when his phone dinged. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Text from Talon. He needs to talk. I guess I’m going over to his house. Come with me. We have to tell them—”

  I widened my eyes. “No, Joe. Not yet.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “This has stayed between the two of us for thirty years. A few more days won’t hurt. We see Morse first.”

  I nodded. “You were going to have those PIs sweep my house for bugs. We need to get all your properties swept too before we even mention this anywhere inside.”

  “Good call,” Joe said. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Thirty–Nine

  Marjorie

  Dinner for ten at the last minute. No problem when you lived on a beef ranch. Burgers for all. Jade’s nausea had lessened some, and she helped me get everything together.

  Melanie arrived before Joe, and I couldn’t help smiling as I hugged her. She looked so beautifully radiant, her skin glowing, her belly in the third trimester. She was clearly enjoying her pregnancy and had little difficulty.

  Which made me feel even worse for Jade.

  I could tell Melanie felt a little guilty when she was around Jade, but she hid it well. The two of them weren’t overly close. Melanie was much closer to my other sister-in-law, Ruby Lee Steel, who arrived moments later. The two of them had been each other’s maids of honor at their respective weddings. They set to chatting, so Jade and I went back to work in the kitchen.

  Jade sighed. “I’m trying to be happy for Melanie. I really am.”

  “I know it’s hard,” I replied.

  “I’m trying to concentrate on the fact that my baby is okay. That’s what’s important.”

  “It is. And it’ll be over in less than six months.”

  “She’ll have a baby before I do.”

  “True, but she may only have this one chance because of her age. Remember that. You’re young. You can have lots more.”

  “After this?�
� Jade shook her head. “I’m not sure I can go through it again. Plus we have the boys to think about as well. I can’t be spread too thin. And right now? This stuff with Dale? I’m scared, Marj.”

  “It’ll all work itself out,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing. I was every bit as frightened as she was.

  I carried a tray of raw burgers out onto the deck for Talon to grill. I looked around. Everyone was here.

  Everyone, that was, except for Joe and Bryce.

  Joe had texted Talon back that he was with Bryce and that Bryce was coming along. Even now, my body still tingled from our time together.

  I wanted to see him.

  And I wanted not to see him.

  I turned, and—

  “Oh!” I gasped, my knees trembling.

  Bryce grabbed my arm and steadied me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  I wasn’t startled so much as…hyperaware. His body so close to mine sent me into shivers—shivers that raced along my spine and landed between my legs.

  “Where’s Joe?” I asked.

  “Should be right behind me,” Bryce said. “Jade sent us straight out here.”

  “I need to get back to the kitchen,” I said weakly.

  Still, he held on to my arm.

  “Okay?” I pulled out of his grasp.

  “Oh, sure. Sorry.” His cheeks reddened.

  I turned quickly and raced to the kitchen, where Jade was mixing up the salad. I set to work slicing tomatoes and onions, the latter making my eyes water.

  Just what I didn’t need.

  Joe walked up the stairs from the family room, carrying two martinis. “Hey, Sis,” he said halfheartedly, and then he walked outside.

  Huh. Joe seemed a little off, as if his thoughts were somewhere else.

  I had too much else to think about, though, so I slotted it into the back of my mind and continued preparing the condiments for the burgers. When I was done, I grabbed the tray, took it outside, and set it on the table.

  Talon was finishing up the first batch of burgers, and Ryan popped open a few bottles of his house red.

  “Come and get it,” Talon said.

  First in line was Donny, of course. The little boy loved to eat. I looked around for Dale. He’d been out here earlier. I went back in and walked back to the boys’ room. The door was open, so I knocked gently and walked in. “Dale?”

  “Yeah?” He lay on his bed, his nose in a book.

  “Dinner’s ready.”

  “I’m not too hungry.”

  “It’s your dad’s burgers,” I said. “The best around.”

  He didn’t reply.

  “All your aunts and uncles are out there. They want to see you.”

  “They’re not really my aunts and uncles,” he said sullenly.

  I lifted my brows. This was new. Though Dale hadn’t taken to his new family quite as quickly as Donny had, he’d come around. Where was this coming from?

  “Of course they are. And next week, we’re going to court—”

  “None of it matters. My real mom is dead. And my real dad is… I never had one.”

  “Dale—”

  “Just go away. I don’t want any supper, okay?”

  I sighed. “I know you had a rough day, Dale. I’m sorry.” I left the room quietly, leaving the door as it was. I’d send Talon in. Talon had been the best at getting through to Dale.

  Or maybe Mel. She’d been working with him.

  I sighed again. I didn’t know what the heck to do. Best get Talon. He was back at the grill, and who was standing next to him? Bryce.

  Of course.

  I touched Talon’s arm to get his attention. “Dale’s in his room. He’s upset.”

  Talon nodded. “I’m there. Can you man the grill?” he said to Bryce.

  “Sure, though I’m hardly a chef.”

  “Marj can help you. She can cook anything.”

  Great. As much as I loved cooking, I never thought it could be used against me. Then again, Talon didn’t know what had gone on between Bryce and me. I’d sworn Jade to secrecy. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll help.”

  “What do I do?” Bryce asked after Talon had gone inside.

  “You know? You don’t have to stay here. I’ll take care of the grill. I can do it in my sleep.”

  “He asked me to do it, so I’ll do it,” Bryce replied almost tersely.

  Okay, then. “It’s easy. Just keep your eye on them. When you see the edges start to brown, flip them over.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then you wait until they feel done.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  I touched my middle finger to my thumb. “For medium rare, it feels like this. Press the spatula to the burger.”

  “Huh?”

  “I don’t know how else to explain it. You’ll get the hang of it. The second side only takes about three minutes. Just let me do it.”

  “Nope.”

  Such stubbornness! Until it dawned on me. Maybe he wanted to talk to me. Be with me.

  Problem was, I had no idea what to say. Until I spied Joe by himself, looking…strange, sipping his martini. An empty glass sat next to him on the table. Had he brought out both drinks for himself? I’d assumed one was for Bryce.

  “What’s up with Joe?” I asked Bryce.

  “Joe’s fine,” Bryce said, again tersely.

  “Since when does he start with two drinks?”

  Bryce cleared his throat. Tersely. “You’d have to ask him.”

  “I’m asking you. You were with him today. He doesn’t seem like himself.” As a matter of fact, Bryce didn’t seem like himself either. Not that I could tell, really. He’d been an enigma since his father died.

  “He’s fine. And I’m fine.”

  “I didn’t ask about you.”

  He huffed and looked down at the grill, poking the edge of the spatula into the burgers. Red juice flowed out.

  “Don’t do that,” I admonished. “They’ll dry up. You want the juices trapped inside.”

  “But you said—”

  “I said press the flat part of the spatula against it to gauge the feel of the meat. Don’t cut into it.”

  “Fine. You just take over.” He huffed again and handed me the spatula.

  Then he walked toward Joe.

  Chapter Forty

  Bryce

  “Your sister’s asking questions.”

  Joe finished his second drink. “Like what?”

  “She says you’re not yourself,” I said quietly. “Which means we both need to put on an act.”

  “How am I not myself?”

  “I don’t know. She’s your sister. She specifically mentioned the two drinks, though.”

  “Oh.”

  “That’s it?”

  “What do you want me to say? I’ve got a lot on my mind. We both do.”

  “True enough, but if we’re going to keep this to ourselves until we have more information, we’re going to have to act our parts.”

  “Meaning I need to untense myself? How the fuck am I supposed to do that when I’d like to go off on that bastard Ted Morse?”

  “Joe, come on,” I said. “I’m freaked too, but for all we know, this deck is bugged somehow. So ease up.”

  “Fucker.”

  “I know. Go talk to Ryan or something. I’m going to go inside and get a drink.”

  I walked back past Marjorie, who was removing the cooked burgers from the grill. They’d no doubt be perfect. Just as well that she’d taken over. I’d have probably turned them into shoe leather. I made my way down to the bar and poured myself some of Talon’s Peach Street bourbon. Good stuff. I took a sip and let the smokiness linger on my tongue before I swallowed its warmth.

  I walked back upstairs and ran into Talon, who was returning from Dale’s room.

  “He’s not coming out?” I said.

  “Not right now, but he’s okay. Just a little scared.”

  “Why?”

  “Oh, you don
’t know yet, do you? He saw a man on the playground he thought he recognized from when he was in captivity.”

  My heart dropped into my gut, but I took a sip of bourbon to hide my surprise. “Oh?”

  “It’s probably nothing. I used to see all sorts of shit after my…experience. But he’s scared, and it’s bringing up a bunch of other stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “He’s feeling like he’s not really a Steel. That he’s a bother to us.”

  “Oh. Jeez.”

  “I know. I reassured him that he’s a valuable part of the family and we all love him. He’s okay, but he needs his alone time, and I totally get that. I was his age when…”

  He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to. We both knew what he didn’t say.

  “That Peach Street?” Talon gestured to my drink.

  “The one and only. You want one?”

  “Yeah.”

  We walked back down to the bar, and I poured Talon two fingers. “More?”

  “Nope. That’ll do for starters. What are you doing in here, anyway? Didn’t I leave you in charge of the grill?”

  “I turned it over to Marj. I think we’d all rather not sample my cooking.”

  Talon chuckled, and we walked back upstairs and out onto the deck. Everyone had found a seat around the large table, so we joined them. I loaded up a burger with all the fixings and then wondered how I was going to choke it down.

  Joe was still being quiet. Not overly odd for Joe, but he was normally a little more talkative when he was with his family. I met his gaze, mentally telling him to get a grip, when something sparked in me.

  I’d seen Joe look that way before, one morning as we stood along a riverbank.

  Thirty years ago.

  “Daddy, can Joe and I invite a friend to go camping?”

  My father raised one eyebrow. “A friend? Haven’t we always said these trips are for us?”

  “You let Joe come along.”

  “Joe’s your best friend. He’s like your brother. That’s what you’ve always said.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And now you have a new friend?”

  “I have lots of friends, Daddy. Joe’s just my best friend.”