Taste 2021 edition, p.29
Taste: 2021 Edition, page 29
“You just said you weren’t threatened,” I said. “But I’m sorry I said I didn’t give a shit.”
Reid put away his phone. “Sorry.”
I wanted to take Roy seriously, but I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off Lacey. Damn, first that male model in the bar last night and now this? Men flocked to her like flies to honey. Of course they did. She was fucking luscious.
“The call came this afternoon,” he said. “To my personal cell, not my work one, which freaks me out more than a little.”
“Who has that number?”
“Just family and friends,” he said.
“No acquaintances?” I asked.
“I dated a woman a while back,” he said.
I guffawed. “You dated? You? Mr. Loner?”
“This is why I don’t tell you two when I date at all,” Roy said. “Yeah. A year ago I dated a woman for a few months. It was low-key and it didn’t last, but I gave her the number. Other than her, I don’t recall giving it to anyone outside family and close friends.”
“Do you trust all your friends?” Reid asked.
“Since I have all of two, yeah, I trust them.”
“Any reason the woman you dated would have for giving it out?” I asked.
“Not that I know of. She’s an artist too. Quiet like me.”
“And maybe ripe for the picking,” I said.
“Tell us again exactly what the guy said,” Reid said.
“He just said he had information about Dad’s murder, and then he hung up. I tried calling back but it rang and rang and rang and never went to voicemail.”
“Sounds like a hoax,” I said.
“Let’s get the number traced, first of all,” Reid said.
“Already on it,” Roy replied. “It’s an area code in—get this—Montana.”
Chills skittered across my skin. “Montana?”
“Yeah. Weird, huh? But that’s where you were when Dad was killed, and somehow, someone got your prints on the gun that did it.”
“We should tell that detective who’s working on the case,” Reid said.
My stomach dropped. I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t want Roy running to that cop with this information. “Why should we do that? Let him do his own damned job.”
“He can find out if this is a hoax,” Reid said.
“Look,” I said. “I hope it is a hoax. But what if it’s not? What if someone is trying to frame me for murdering Dad?”
“They can’t frame you, Rock,” Reid said. “You weren’t in New York when it happened.”
“I know that, and you know that. But what if they decide to say I ordered it or something?”
“Then why would your prints be on the gun?”
“Maybe it was my gun.”
Reid shook his head. “Fuck. You own a gun?”
“I own several, actually.” Including one identical to what had offed my father. I wasn’t quite ready to voice that little tidbit yet. “I was joking, for God’s sake. If my gun had offed him, the cops would know it. All of my weapons are registered to me in the state of Montana.”
“Was one of them recently stolen?” Roy asked.
“I have no idea. I keep most of them in a gun safe, and I don’t look at them every day. The last time I went shooting was over a month ago.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Reid said. “If the murder weapon was registered to you, the cops would know it.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I just said that. Except that gun at the scene wasn’t registered to anyone, and there’s a problem with the serial number. Whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.”
“So your prints are on it,” Reid said, “but the gun isn’t registered to anyone.”
“Good job, Holmes.” I rolled my eyes again.
“Chill, Rock,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure this out.”
“I don’t want the cops involved any more than they already are,” I said.
“You got something to hide?” Reid asked.
“Of course not.”
I was innocent. That I knew for a fact. But there was a lot my brothers didn’t know, not the least of which was that I’d tried to off my father when I was fourteen.
My mother did, though.
Fucking Mommie Dearest.
Of course. I should have known. That was why she was in my office earlier demanding several million dollars per year in an agreement just between us.
She was going to go to the cops with her story about my past.
Would she, though? Would she frame her own son just to get money?
I wasn’t about to find out.
If she relayed that story to the cops, it wouldn’t be hard for them to put together a case against me. Despite the prints, they wouldn’t be able to prove I’d pulled the trigger. They could easily prove a motive, though, and make a case that I’d hired the killer to use a gun I’d handled.
First thing tomorrow, I’d make arrangements for her to be paid. Anything to keep her off my back. Besides, I knew this woman. If I didn’t act soon, the price would go up. Then up some more.
Connie herself was innocent as a lamb when it came to Derek’s murder. She wouldn’t off her meal ticket.
But she was damned angry at whomever had, and determined enough to restore her financial status that she’d blackmail her firstborn to keep the green flowing.
Anger boiled in me. Maternal instincts were definitely missing in Connie Larson Wolfe.
Reid was nursing his whiskey, but Roy looked visibly rattled. From one phone call?
What was my reclusive brother not telling me?
I’d been gone for a while, but I could read my brother as if it were yesterday. He was hiding something.
Who was I to talk? I was hiding a ton, not the least of which was what my mother had to hold over my head.
I’d cut Roy some slack. This phone call had him seriously spooked. More spooked than it should, but I’d give him time.
“…might get cold,” Reid was saying.
“Sorry…what?” I said.
“If we don’t jump on this, the trail might get cold.”
“Oh.” I nodded. Whoever had offed Derek Wolfe had done the world a favor. I honestly hadn’t cared about the trail.
Until now.
We needed to figure out who had killed my father before someone found my secrets and the cops came after me.
And I had the distinct feeling that Roy had secrets of his own.
30
Lacey
My God, this man was boring. Brent Hedstrom was delicious to look at, and his hands were works of art that could soothe the tension out of anything, but could he talk about anything other than holistic stuff? I was all about massage and yoga and even color therapy. But cupping? Crystals? Psychic healing?
Yeah, drawing the line there. No way would I pay someone to heal me with his thoughts. I didn’t have that kind of spare change lying around.
I glanced over at Rock still sitting at the bar with his brothers. Rock Wolfe would be laughing his ass off at the idea of psychic healing.
And I’d be right there with him.
I held back my belly laugh, though. I was not a rude person. Besides, Brent was buying me dinner.
At least I thought he was, until he ordered a bottle of wine and then instructed the server to issue separate checks.
Seriously? I was a partner in a Manhattan law firm and could certainly afford my own dinner. And yes, I probably made ten times what he did as a massage therapist. But he had invited me.
I’d decided not to drink tonight, but when the server brought the wine and poured me a glass, I took a drink. Hell, I was paying for half of it, might as well get my money’s worth. After one sip, though, I knew I wouldn’t be finishing it. It was a German Riesling and was just too sweet for me. I’d be buying half of his bottle of wine. He’d probably cork it and take it home.
This would so be our only date. To think I’d actually had the idea that I’d sleep with him to get Rock off my mind.
Brent kept talking about Zen and aromatherapy and how he’d backpacked and hitchhiked through the back ass of nowhere for a year. He was a chatterbox, especially for a man. Not that men couldn’t enjoy conversation, but this guy was the conversation.
“When I met my spirit animal, that’s when I really found myself. He’s with me all the time now.”
For real? I nodded.
Again.
“What about you?”
I lifted my brow. Was he actually asking me to speak? I hoped he didn’t think my spirit animal was with me at the moment.
“Never backpacked,” I said. And never would, thanks very much.
“You should try it. It’s such an amazing experience. Pure Zen.”
Good thing I didn’t like the wine he’d chosen, or I’d be getting drunk again tonight. Anything to make his stories more interesting. I’d just had a great massage and a shower and steam. I should be more relaxed than I was.
Probably because my body was hyperaware of the handsome man still sitting at the bar with his equally handsome brothers.
I itched to dump Brent and walk over to Rock. If he sat me down on a bar stool and took me right here in public, I doubted I’d object. I was squirming already just thinking about it.
Which meant I had to get out of here.
“I’m sorry, Brent. I’ve got an early day tomorrow, and I need to go over a lot of depositions tonight.”
“Oh. I’m not quite finished.”
Of course he wasn’t. He’d been talking the entire time I was eating. “I’m sorry. I really do have to go.” I flagged down our server. “Could I get my check, please?”
“No need,” she said. “Both of your tabs have been paid.”
I widened my eyes. “What?”
“Mr. Wolfe over at the bar took care of it.”
“Mine too?” Brent lifted his brow.
“For the table,” she said. “Gave me a very generous tip too. I hope I earned it.”
“Of course. You’ve been great.” I stood. “Goodbye, Brent.”
“Wait,” he said. “Do you know that guy?”
“He’s a friend,” I said.
“We should go thank him.”
“Uh…I’ll thank him. You go ahead and finish your dinner. I’ll be sure to tell him how grateful you are.” And how cheap.
“I thought you had to leave?”
“I do. I’ll just pop over and say thanks first. Thank you for a lovely time, Brent.” I tried not to sound too sarcastic.
I didn’t want to interrupt Rock and his brothers, but I did need to say thank you. And to tell him never to undermine my date again. Not that I’d ever go out with Brent and his spirit animal again. Threesomes weren’t my jam.
The three Wolfes were deep in conversation when I approached.
I touched Rock’s hard shoulder. Tingles shot through me at the contact.
He turned to face me, his emerald eyes burning. “Lacey.”
I cleared my throat. “Thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”
“I heard your date ask for separate checks.”
“I’m perfectly able to pay for my own dinner, as you well know.”
He smiled. Damn, he was gorgeous. Those green eyes twinkled like no others. He stood, took my arm, and walked me out of earshot of his brothers.
“I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow,” he whispered in my ear. “And we won’t be getting separate checks.”
A warm shudder ran through me. His breath on my ear, his husky voice, his nearness. Everything about him put me on high alert. Everything about him made me want to forget all logic and hop into bed.
Still, I resisted. “I might be busy tomorrow night.”
“Get unbusy.”
My knees weakened. “I might be able to do that.”
“Make it happen.”
A jolt landed between my legs. “Rock, I—”
“Just do it, Lacey.”
I gulped. I was never one to take orders, but everything in me screamed to take this one. To obey him without question. To cancel anything and everything to accommodate his needs, wants, and desires.
“All right, Rock.” I smiled. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wrong,” he said huskily. “You’ll see me tonight. As soon as I get done with those two bozos.”
“But you—”
He cut me off with a quick kiss to my lips. “I won’t be long.”
31
Rock
“So Dad’s attorney is still your flavor of the week?” Reid said when I returned.
Lacey Ward had me hot and bothered. Damn, I could still smell her. Her fresh fragrance was all over me. For some reason, Reid’s comment irked me. “I’m not you, Reid. I don’t have flavors of the week.”
“Sorry. Flavor of the month, then?” He gestured for the bartender to bring another round.
“No more for me, thanks,” I said.
“We’re not done talking about this,” Roy said. “This has me freaked.”
“I get that,” I said, “but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”
My brother didn’t look convinced.
And then something dawned on me. Did Roy have anything to do with our father’s murder? No. Not even in the realm of possibility. Roy was an old soul. A gentle soul.
Still, he’d taken the same beatings the rest of us had, and God only knew what had occurred after I’d left at fourteen.
Had Derek Wolfe broken Roy? Had our middle brother gone rogue?
Roy Wolfe was anything but rogue. I’d never believe he had anything to do with Dad’s death. But I had to ask.
“Is there something you’re not telling us, Roy?”
He shook his head as he sipped the last of his drink, not meeting my gaze. “Just the call.”
“If that’s it,” Reid said, “I agree with Rock. We find out what we can, but there’s no reason to go running to the cops or to even be worried.”
“Why me?” Roy asked. “Why didn’t they call one of you?”
“My guess is someone got hold of your private cell number and is playing some dumbass game,” I said.
“Agreed.” Reid nodded.
“I don’t know. I have a weird feeling about it,” Roy said. “I feel like something shady is going on.”
“Something shady probably is going on,” Reid said. “Our dad had a lot of enemies out there. But none of that has anything to do with us.”
“How do you know that for sure?”
“Because the three of us aren’t Dad,” Reid said. “Hell, Rock hasn’t even been here in over a decade. I haven’t made any enemies in business. Well…not any that would resort to murder.”
“But it’s Dad’s business. By extension, you are Dad.” Roy set his glass down and picked up the filled one the barkeep had set in front of him.
“Don’t,” Reid said. “Just don’t. I’m not anything like Dad.”
“I don’t mean it that way,” Roy said. “But you were his righthand man in the company.”
“You’re making me feel pretty shitty right about now, bro,” Reid said. “Besides, if someone’s after me, why did you get the call?”
Roy went pale.
Yeah, he knew something.
Was he involved?
I doubted it. Roy was a good man. But was he hiding something?
Absolutely.
“Look, Roy,” I said. “You need to be straight with us. If there’s something you’re not telling us, we can’t help you.”
“Nothing,” he said again—again not meeting my gaze. “Just the phone call.”
I nodded, though I didn’t believe him. But now was not the time to push. He wasn’t in any immediate danger that I could see, and I had a hot woman waiting for me at her place. “All right. You call me if you need anything. Got it?”
“Me too, bro,” Reid said. “I’m with you, Rock. I have an international conference call in about”—he checked his phone—“an hour, and I need to prepare some stuff. Let’s go. You okay here, Roy?”
He took another sip of his drink. “I’m good.”
“You call,” I said again. “Anytime.”
Roy nodded. Reid and I walked through the tavern and outside.
“What do you think?” Reid asked.
“He’s hiding something,” I said. “I haven’t been around for a while, but he’s still the brother I remember. Quiet and studious, and something’s got him freaked.”
“I agree. Too bad we’re both busy tonight. I wouldn’t mind getting him completely blasted to get him talking.”
“Another time,” I said, hailing a cab. “Where’s Riley tonight?”
“I don’t know. I just assumed he didn’t call her.”
“You’re probably right.” I got into the cab. “See you later.”
My cock was already hard as I rode the elevator up to Lacey’s floor. What that woman did to me. She made me think things I had no right thinking.
We’d keep it casual, Lacey and I. No need to complicate things with feelings and such. I’d been there, done that, and I wasn’t up for it again.
Nieves and I had shared some great times, but when it got serious between us, things fell apart, and I learned she wasn’t the woman I thought she was. I had no desire to repeat it.
I knocked on the door harder than I intended.
Lacey opened the door wearing a silk robe and holding a glass of red wine.
Nothing underneath that I could see. Her nipples protruded against the red silk like two round berries.
Fuck.
“What took you so long?” she asked.
“Sorry, baby, but I’m here now.” I entered, closing the door behind me.
“Wine?” she asked.
“I’m surprised you’re drinking, after last night.”
“Just one glass. I didn’t drink any of the Riesling at dinner. Too sweet.”
“Riesling’s a pretty boy wine. Perfect for your date.”
“Hey, don’t disparage my—” She laughed and shook her head. “Who am I kidding? He was a complete flake. I accepted his invitation on a whim. He actually gave me a massage this afternoon. When my appointment was over, he asked me out, and I figured, what the hell?”
Reid put away his phone. “Sorry.”
I wanted to take Roy seriously, but I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off Lacey. Damn, first that male model in the bar last night and now this? Men flocked to her like flies to honey. Of course they did. She was fucking luscious.
“The call came this afternoon,” he said. “To my personal cell, not my work one, which freaks me out more than a little.”
“Who has that number?”
“Just family and friends,” he said.
“No acquaintances?” I asked.
“I dated a woman a while back,” he said.
I guffawed. “You dated? You? Mr. Loner?”
“This is why I don’t tell you two when I date at all,” Roy said. “Yeah. A year ago I dated a woman for a few months. It was low-key and it didn’t last, but I gave her the number. Other than her, I don’t recall giving it to anyone outside family and close friends.”
“Do you trust all your friends?” Reid asked.
“Since I have all of two, yeah, I trust them.”
“Any reason the woman you dated would have for giving it out?” I asked.
“Not that I know of. She’s an artist too. Quiet like me.”
“And maybe ripe for the picking,” I said.
“Tell us again exactly what the guy said,” Reid said.
“He just said he had information about Dad’s murder, and then he hung up. I tried calling back but it rang and rang and rang and never went to voicemail.”
“Sounds like a hoax,” I said.
“Let’s get the number traced, first of all,” Reid said.
“Already on it,” Roy replied. “It’s an area code in—get this—Montana.”
Chills skittered across my skin. “Montana?”
“Yeah. Weird, huh? But that’s where you were when Dad was killed, and somehow, someone got your prints on the gun that did it.”
“We should tell that detective who’s working on the case,” Reid said.
My stomach dropped. I wasn’t sure why, but I didn’t want Roy running to that cop with this information. “Why should we do that? Let him do his own damned job.”
“He can find out if this is a hoax,” Reid said.
“Look,” I said. “I hope it is a hoax. But what if it’s not? What if someone is trying to frame me for murdering Dad?”
“They can’t frame you, Rock,” Reid said. “You weren’t in New York when it happened.”
“I know that, and you know that. But what if they decide to say I ordered it or something?”
“Then why would your prints be on the gun?”
“Maybe it was my gun.”
Reid shook his head. “Fuck. You own a gun?”
“I own several, actually.” Including one identical to what had offed my father. I wasn’t quite ready to voice that little tidbit yet. “I was joking, for God’s sake. If my gun had offed him, the cops would know it. All of my weapons are registered to me in the state of Montana.”
“Was one of them recently stolen?” Roy asked.
“I have no idea. I keep most of them in a gun safe, and I don’t look at them every day. The last time I went shooting was over a month ago.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Reid said. “If the murder weapon was registered to you, the cops would know it.”
I rolled my eyes. “I think I just said that. Except that gun at the scene wasn’t registered to anyone, and there’s a problem with the serial number. Whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.”
“So your prints are on it,” Reid said, “but the gun isn’t registered to anyone.”
“Good job, Holmes.” I rolled my eyes again.
“Chill, Rock,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure this out.”
“I don’t want the cops involved any more than they already are,” I said.
“You got something to hide?” Reid asked.
“Of course not.”
I was innocent. That I knew for a fact. But there was a lot my brothers didn’t know, not the least of which was that I’d tried to off my father when I was fourteen.
My mother did, though.
Fucking Mommie Dearest.
Of course. I should have known. That was why she was in my office earlier demanding several million dollars per year in an agreement just between us.
She was going to go to the cops with her story about my past.
Would she, though? Would she frame her own son just to get money?
I wasn’t about to find out.
If she relayed that story to the cops, it wouldn’t be hard for them to put together a case against me. Despite the prints, they wouldn’t be able to prove I’d pulled the trigger. They could easily prove a motive, though, and make a case that I’d hired the killer to use a gun I’d handled.
First thing tomorrow, I’d make arrangements for her to be paid. Anything to keep her off my back. Besides, I knew this woman. If I didn’t act soon, the price would go up. Then up some more.
Connie herself was innocent as a lamb when it came to Derek’s murder. She wouldn’t off her meal ticket.
But she was damned angry at whomever had, and determined enough to restore her financial status that she’d blackmail her firstborn to keep the green flowing.
Anger boiled in me. Maternal instincts were definitely missing in Connie Larson Wolfe.
Reid was nursing his whiskey, but Roy looked visibly rattled. From one phone call?
What was my reclusive brother not telling me?
I’d been gone for a while, but I could read my brother as if it were yesterday. He was hiding something.
Who was I to talk? I was hiding a ton, not the least of which was what my mother had to hold over my head.
I’d cut Roy some slack. This phone call had him seriously spooked. More spooked than it should, but I’d give him time.
“…might get cold,” Reid was saying.
“Sorry…what?” I said.
“If we don’t jump on this, the trail might get cold.”
“Oh.” I nodded. Whoever had offed Derek Wolfe had done the world a favor. I honestly hadn’t cared about the trail.
Until now.
We needed to figure out who had killed my father before someone found my secrets and the cops came after me.
And I had the distinct feeling that Roy had secrets of his own.
30
Lacey
My God, this man was boring. Brent Hedstrom was delicious to look at, and his hands were works of art that could soothe the tension out of anything, but could he talk about anything other than holistic stuff? I was all about massage and yoga and even color therapy. But cupping? Crystals? Psychic healing?
Yeah, drawing the line there. No way would I pay someone to heal me with his thoughts. I didn’t have that kind of spare change lying around.
I glanced over at Rock still sitting at the bar with his brothers. Rock Wolfe would be laughing his ass off at the idea of psychic healing.
And I’d be right there with him.
I held back my belly laugh, though. I was not a rude person. Besides, Brent was buying me dinner.
At least I thought he was, until he ordered a bottle of wine and then instructed the server to issue separate checks.
Seriously? I was a partner in a Manhattan law firm and could certainly afford my own dinner. And yes, I probably made ten times what he did as a massage therapist. But he had invited me.
I’d decided not to drink tonight, but when the server brought the wine and poured me a glass, I took a drink. Hell, I was paying for half of it, might as well get my money’s worth. After one sip, though, I knew I wouldn’t be finishing it. It was a German Riesling and was just too sweet for me. I’d be buying half of his bottle of wine. He’d probably cork it and take it home.
This would so be our only date. To think I’d actually had the idea that I’d sleep with him to get Rock off my mind.
Brent kept talking about Zen and aromatherapy and how he’d backpacked and hitchhiked through the back ass of nowhere for a year. He was a chatterbox, especially for a man. Not that men couldn’t enjoy conversation, but this guy was the conversation.
“When I met my spirit animal, that’s when I really found myself. He’s with me all the time now.”
For real? I nodded.
Again.
“What about you?”
I lifted my brow. Was he actually asking me to speak? I hoped he didn’t think my spirit animal was with me at the moment.
“Never backpacked,” I said. And never would, thanks very much.
“You should try it. It’s such an amazing experience. Pure Zen.”
Good thing I didn’t like the wine he’d chosen, or I’d be getting drunk again tonight. Anything to make his stories more interesting. I’d just had a great massage and a shower and steam. I should be more relaxed than I was.
Probably because my body was hyperaware of the handsome man still sitting at the bar with his equally handsome brothers.
I itched to dump Brent and walk over to Rock. If he sat me down on a bar stool and took me right here in public, I doubted I’d object. I was squirming already just thinking about it.
Which meant I had to get out of here.
“I’m sorry, Brent. I’ve got an early day tomorrow, and I need to go over a lot of depositions tonight.”
“Oh. I’m not quite finished.”
Of course he wasn’t. He’d been talking the entire time I was eating. “I’m sorry. I really do have to go.” I flagged down our server. “Could I get my check, please?”
“No need,” she said. “Both of your tabs have been paid.”
I widened my eyes. “What?”
“Mr. Wolfe over at the bar took care of it.”
“Mine too?” Brent lifted his brow.
“For the table,” she said. “Gave me a very generous tip too. I hope I earned it.”
“Of course. You’ve been great.” I stood. “Goodbye, Brent.”
“Wait,” he said. “Do you know that guy?”
“He’s a friend,” I said.
“We should go thank him.”
“Uh…I’ll thank him. You go ahead and finish your dinner. I’ll be sure to tell him how grateful you are.” And how cheap.
“I thought you had to leave?”
“I do. I’ll just pop over and say thanks first. Thank you for a lovely time, Brent.” I tried not to sound too sarcastic.
I didn’t want to interrupt Rock and his brothers, but I did need to say thank you. And to tell him never to undermine my date again. Not that I’d ever go out with Brent and his spirit animal again. Threesomes weren’t my jam.
The three Wolfes were deep in conversation when I approached.
I touched Rock’s hard shoulder. Tingles shot through me at the contact.
He turned to face me, his emerald eyes burning. “Lacey.”
I cleared my throat. “Thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”
“I heard your date ask for separate checks.”
“I’m perfectly able to pay for my own dinner, as you well know.”
He smiled. Damn, he was gorgeous. Those green eyes twinkled like no others. He stood, took my arm, and walked me out of earshot of his brothers.
“I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow,” he whispered in my ear. “And we won’t be getting separate checks.”
A warm shudder ran through me. His breath on my ear, his husky voice, his nearness. Everything about him put me on high alert. Everything about him made me want to forget all logic and hop into bed.
Still, I resisted. “I might be busy tomorrow night.”
“Get unbusy.”
My knees weakened. “I might be able to do that.”
“Make it happen.”
A jolt landed between my legs. “Rock, I—”
“Just do it, Lacey.”
I gulped. I was never one to take orders, but everything in me screamed to take this one. To obey him without question. To cancel anything and everything to accommodate his needs, wants, and desires.
“All right, Rock.” I smiled. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wrong,” he said huskily. “You’ll see me tonight. As soon as I get done with those two bozos.”
“But you—”
He cut me off with a quick kiss to my lips. “I won’t be long.”
31
Rock
“So Dad’s attorney is still your flavor of the week?” Reid said when I returned.
Lacey Ward had me hot and bothered. Damn, I could still smell her. Her fresh fragrance was all over me. For some reason, Reid’s comment irked me. “I’m not you, Reid. I don’t have flavors of the week.”
“Sorry. Flavor of the month, then?” He gestured for the bartender to bring another round.
“No more for me, thanks,” I said.
“We’re not done talking about this,” Roy said. “This has me freaked.”
“I get that,” I said, “but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”
My brother didn’t look convinced.
And then something dawned on me. Did Roy have anything to do with our father’s murder? No. Not even in the realm of possibility. Roy was an old soul. A gentle soul.
Still, he’d taken the same beatings the rest of us had, and God only knew what had occurred after I’d left at fourteen.
Had Derek Wolfe broken Roy? Had our middle brother gone rogue?
Roy Wolfe was anything but rogue. I’d never believe he had anything to do with Dad’s death. But I had to ask.
“Is there something you’re not telling us, Roy?”
He shook his head as he sipped the last of his drink, not meeting my gaze. “Just the call.”
“If that’s it,” Reid said, “I agree with Rock. We find out what we can, but there’s no reason to go running to the cops or to even be worried.”
“Why me?” Roy asked. “Why didn’t they call one of you?”
“My guess is someone got hold of your private cell number and is playing some dumbass game,” I said.
“Agreed.” Reid nodded.
“I don’t know. I have a weird feeling about it,” Roy said. “I feel like something shady is going on.”
“Something shady probably is going on,” Reid said. “Our dad had a lot of enemies out there. But none of that has anything to do with us.”
“How do you know that for sure?”
“Because the three of us aren’t Dad,” Reid said. “Hell, Rock hasn’t even been here in over a decade. I haven’t made any enemies in business. Well…not any that would resort to murder.”
“But it’s Dad’s business. By extension, you are Dad.” Roy set his glass down and picked up the filled one the barkeep had set in front of him.
“Don’t,” Reid said. “Just don’t. I’m not anything like Dad.”
“I don’t mean it that way,” Roy said. “But you were his righthand man in the company.”
“You’re making me feel pretty shitty right about now, bro,” Reid said. “Besides, if someone’s after me, why did you get the call?”
Roy went pale.
Yeah, he knew something.
Was he involved?
I doubted it. Roy was a good man. But was he hiding something?
Absolutely.
“Look, Roy,” I said. “You need to be straight with us. If there’s something you’re not telling us, we can’t help you.”
“Nothing,” he said again—again not meeting my gaze. “Just the phone call.”
I nodded, though I didn’t believe him. But now was not the time to push. He wasn’t in any immediate danger that I could see, and I had a hot woman waiting for me at her place. “All right. You call me if you need anything. Got it?”
“Me too, bro,” Reid said. “I’m with you, Rock. I have an international conference call in about”—he checked his phone—“an hour, and I need to prepare some stuff. Let’s go. You okay here, Roy?”
He took another sip of his drink. “I’m good.”
“You call,” I said again. “Anytime.”
Roy nodded. Reid and I walked through the tavern and outside.
“What do you think?” Reid asked.
“He’s hiding something,” I said. “I haven’t been around for a while, but he’s still the brother I remember. Quiet and studious, and something’s got him freaked.”
“I agree. Too bad we’re both busy tonight. I wouldn’t mind getting him completely blasted to get him talking.”
“Another time,” I said, hailing a cab. “Where’s Riley tonight?”
“I don’t know. I just assumed he didn’t call her.”
“You’re probably right.” I got into the cab. “See you later.”
My cock was already hard as I rode the elevator up to Lacey’s floor. What that woman did to me. She made me think things I had no right thinking.
We’d keep it casual, Lacey and I. No need to complicate things with feelings and such. I’d been there, done that, and I wasn’t up for it again.
Nieves and I had shared some great times, but when it got serious between us, things fell apart, and I learned she wasn’t the woman I thought she was. I had no desire to repeat it.
I knocked on the door harder than I intended.
Lacey opened the door wearing a silk robe and holding a glass of red wine.
Nothing underneath that I could see. Her nipples protruded against the red silk like two round berries.
Fuck.
“What took you so long?” she asked.
“Sorry, baby, but I’m here now.” I entered, closing the door behind me.
“Wine?” she asked.
“I’m surprised you’re drinking, after last night.”
“Just one glass. I didn’t drink any of the Riesling at dinner. Too sweet.”
“Riesling’s a pretty boy wine. Perfect for your date.”
“Hey, don’t disparage my—” She laughed and shook her head. “Who am I kidding? He was a complete flake. I accepted his invitation on a whim. He actually gave me a massage this afternoon. When my appointment was over, he asked me out, and I figured, what the hell?”
