Page 3 of Jagger

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The problem? I feel like a boulder is going to drop on our heads.” I had been feeling like that for a couple of months. There was no legitimate reason for my glass half empty thoughts, but my instincts were kicking into high gear. There were people who hated us in this town, including the Young family, who up until our father’s arrival had been the richest family in town. That meant the lot of them could lord their wealth over everyone else living within the city limits.

“Always the pessimist.” Hunter shook his head. “I hear you, bro, but you need to stop looking at everything as if it were half empty.”

“Nope,” I countered. “The glass is going to be shattered.”

Shephard was forced to stop moving as an employee approached with whatever paperwork he needed to sign. Hunter lagged with him, asking questions of one of the restaurant employees.

I kept walking and I didn’t care if they tried to keep up.

Suddenly, Shep was right there by my side once again. Sometimes, I thought the man had a death wish.

“Seriously, what’s up? You’re grouchier than usual.”

I threw a hateful glance toward Shephard and stopped in the middle of the lobby. People were everywhere, loud Christmas music playing. Hell, there was even a jazz band with a singer belting out holiday tunes in the lobby bar. Fuck this shit. “We have the storm of the century rolling in. And I have my reasons.” The story was something my brothers hadn’t heard and I wasn’t going to talk about the experience.

The holidays would always remind me of the worst time in my life.

“Uh-huh. So what about the storm? Good for business. Fresh snow on the ground,” Shephard declared. “Most of the guests are here for an extended period of time. They can enjoy the snowy world of adventure, which should provide additional business in the future.”

My brother had gone from a brutal assassin working for an undisclosed organization meant on ridding the world of savages to a small-town family man. I was happy he was enjoying his life with the woman who’d captured his heart, but I wasn’t at that point.

Nor would I ever be.

I missed the action, working alone, eliminating a threat while enjoying the sights and sounds of other countries. I was a danger junkie, fueled by the rocketed levels of adrenaline and the stench of fresh blood. Now I was subject to boring days sitting in front of a computer ensuring contracts were in place, money coming in.

All because our father had insisted his three sons take the helm of the now profitable business in the middle of fucking nowhere.Or we would have lost our share of the profit had he sold. Months after accepting his toxic demand, I was miserable.

Hunter snickered. “He needs to get laid.” He flanked my other side. What was this, some bullshit intervention?

“Shut the fuck up,” I told him. So he’d decided to be the playboy of the Shenandoah Valley. That wasn’t me. Not by a long shot.

“You’re a grumpy son of a bitch,” Shephard said with disdain in his tone. “You need to get out more, enjoy the Shenandoah Mountains. Take up a damn hobby. Chase women. Do something to alter your nasty moods.”

“Yeah, well, go home to your lovely woman and handsome dog. Just leave me alone.”

Shephard stopped short and I kept walking. “In other words, brother. Get a life.”

“By the way. I like the new aftershave,” Hunter called after me. “Heavy on the chocolate and marshmallows.”

I threw my hand out, shoving him aside as I headed into the lobby. My two brothers continuously got on my freaking nerves. Shephard was worse, with his new, sunny disposition because of having a woman in his life. Good for him. I wanted no part of it.

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do. I can suggest another hotel, but they could be booked.”

The loud voice was coming from one of the front desk employees. Mark was usually extremely polite, going the distance to provide whatever a guest needed. I glanced in his direction, noticing a woman and a little girl, who was hanging on her mother’s jacket, whimpering and whining like small kids did.

“You don’t understand,” the woman said in return. I had a feeling she was repeating herself. “I need this room. Just for one night.”

“Not only are we booked up, but you have no identification. Our rules will not allow us to rent a single room without the guest producing identification or a valid credit card.”

Sighing, I had the distinct feeling I’d need to intervene. I walked closer, noticing the woman appeared haggard, dirt covering her light jacket. Had she not prepared for the elements? Even the kid wasn’t dressed warmly enough.

“Is there something wrong, Mark?” I asked as I leaned against the counter, studying the woman in question from several inches away.

She certainly didn’t want to look me in the eye. Given my former profession, I knew that generally meant she was guilty of something.

However, she was also beautiful. Even the dark circles under her eyes couldn’t diminish her stunning good looks. But there was a level of sadness exuding from her that heightened my curiosity.

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