Page 34 of Broken Love

Laughing and little screams of delight could be heard from the bedroom shortly after the women came out to get their pizza and the wine Lux had brought. I’m curious as hell what they’re talking about, given how flushed they appeared when they were grabbing their things.

“They’re talking about us,” Tucker grins confidently. “The only reason our woman would be blushing like that is if she were talking about sex.” I snort at his observation, but I doubt he’s wrong.

“So, they’re sisters, huh?” Gabe asks, chugging the rest of his beer. “Didn’t know Lux had any siblings.”

“Neither did she until last weekend,” I fill him in.

“Shit, seriously?” His gaze wanders down the hall before turning a glare on Beau, who is also looking for Lux to appear.

“Yup. Windsor’s mom confessed the dirt on her death bed. She’s been struggling with it for months. There’s another little sister also. I don’t think they’ve decided how to approach her yet.” At least not that Tucker and I know of.

“The pictures,” Beau interrupts. “There’s nothing of significance on them to indicate who they’re from. However, I’ve got men combing the footage in front of the hospital to see if we can’t get an idea of who we’re looking for, at least. Probably take a few days.”

“Figured as much.” Tucker grabs another slice of pizza. “Any way to look into the residents at her apartment building? They’re the only people she’s in contact with on a daily basis. Well, was.” Tucker and I share a look. She hasn’t been back there since we brought her home. If we have our way, she won’t be in the future, either.

“I’ve been running background checks on everyone in her building. So far, no one stands out, but I’m going deeper,” Gabe explains.

“What about the hotel? Any leads on who poisoned her?” Tucker directs his question to Beau.

“Yes and no. It’s been confirmed that the hotel doesn’t even serve the cake she was given. The man who brought the food out to you was spotted on a few cameras, but he knew they were there. There aren’t any direct shots of his face, and nobody remembers him. It’s dead for the moment, but we’re checking nearby hotels and gas stations to see if there’s other footage of him.” This is a fucking mess.

“How the fuck are we supposed to keep her safe if we don’t know who the perp is?” I growl the question, not expecting an answer.

“Don’t let her out of your sight.” Beau’s response only infuriates me more because we know that and don’t plan to. Windsor shouldn’t have to be shadowed, though. She’s an independent woman, and I know it’ll kill her not to have any kind of freedom.

“Should we be concerned about whoever this is attempting to take her?” Tucker’s staid question ignites a fire in my blood that wasn’t there before.

Beau and Gabe share an interesting look that isn’t hard to interpret. “You think that’s what all of this is leading up to, don’t you?” Snaring Beau’s gaze with my own, I challenge him to lie to me.

“I do. I think you and she need to be prepared for the possibility.”

“What aren’t you saying?” Beau’s eyes reveal that he is leaving something out.

Shaking his head, he sighs. “I see this often enough to know that if this guy gets his hands on her, there won’t be a ransom but a body.” Stunned, I sit back as ice-cold fear grips my heart. “I’d suggest getting some kind of tracker on her. Maybe more than one. Something not obvious.”

“What else?” I hiss.

“Don’t trust anyone else with her safety. You can’t control anyone but yourselves. You’d never sell her out, but a hired hand could if there’s enough incentive.”

Gabe chimes in, “Think about leaving the country with her. Give us time to find this guy while knowing she’s safe.” That suggestion has a lot of merit.

“I’m not leaving the country.” Fuck. “That’s not even an option.” Windsor's voice is calmer than I would have imagined. “I’ll go for the tracking things because that’s a good idea, but I won’t run away.”

“Sweetheart,” Tucker moves towards her as she stands in the middle of the room, looking like a little warrior with her hands on her hips and anger in her eyes. “We only want to keep you safe.”

“Then use me as bait.”

“Fuck no!” we all shout.

“That’s a bad idea; too many things can go wrong,” Beau explains.

“Baby, we won’t risk you like that. You have to know that,” I tell her as Tucker holds her against his chest.

“Weren’t you guys like super soldiers or something? Can’t you just go back to stealth mode and find this asshole?” Lux’s anger is warranted. “I just gained a sister; I can’t lose her.” Her tears match Windsor’s.

“It doesn’t work like that, darling,” Gabe answers softly. “Can’t just disappear a man these days.”

“Well, why the hell not? People up and leave their lives all the freaking time. Besides, he’s probably some loser with no friends. Nobody will care.” I snort a laugh at her point and earn a glare.

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