Page 56 of Cruel Ice

The man he’d just identified as Royal bobbed his head in a nod but shot an angry glance toward Cade. “Want to get the hell out of my way or should I move you myself?”

“I’d like to see you try.” A low taunt from Cade. But he backed away. Well, backed away just so he could sidle close to Declan and demand, “Boss, are you sure it’s safe to be in the limo with him? You’ll have Marley in there, and I know she’s priority one.”

Her brows shot up. She was priority one? “Uh, no. Declan being safe is priority one.” They should all make a note of that important fact.

“I can ride along,” Cade assured him.

But Declan shook his head. “Royal is no threat to me.” He seemed certain of that.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Cade muttered. Clearly, Cade was not as certain of that fact. And Hunter just silently watched. He did that a lot, took in things. Watched. Weighed. There was always so much seeming to go on behind the intense darkness of his eyes.

Physically, Cade and Hunter were opposites. Both men were tall and strong. Muscled. But Cade had a beach boy, perfect looks thing going on. Wide smile. Commercial model material. Looked friendly as heck, but Marley knew that friendly demeanor was mostly BS. The man was icy on the inside.

As for Hunter…while Cade might be the chattier of the duo, Hunter tended to exude an aura of menace. Golden, tawny skin, dark eyes and hair, and features that never seemed to soften, the Ranger didn’t ever smile. And sometimes, she thought he might just look haunted.That man has painful secrets.

But both Cade and Hunter were very serious about their jobs. And, at the moment, they were staring with serious suspicion at the man who wore Declan’s face.Brothers.

“Cade and Hunter, follow us to the house.” Declan’s hands pushed gently on Marley. He was still trying to get her in the limo.

Fine, if getting her in also got him inside…

Marley ducked into the limo.

Declan immediately joined her. He sat down right beside her, his leg and hip against her. The heat of his body reached out to wrap around her. “You okay?” she whispered.

He didn’t get a chance to answer. Royal climbed into the limo. The door slammed shut behind him. Royal took up a seat opposite Declan. Faint light shone near the floor of the limo and around the well-stocked bar in the back. The light let her see Royal’s tense expression as he studied Declan.

Immediately, she stiffened.He looks pissed. No wonder Cade didn’t want him getting in the car.“You’d better not even think of hurting him,” she snapped.

Declan put his hand on her thigh.

Royal’s eyes widened and those wide eyes turned to fully assess her. Then he nodded. “Right. The PI. The one who saved him from the torture dungeon.” Then his stare dipped to her thigh. Or, rather, to Declan’s hand as it touched her thigh. “And I think I get why you’re still around my brother.” He cleared his throat. “So…someone want to tell me what the fuck is happening?” His jaw—so very like Declan’s—hardened. “And just who the hell is it that is trying to kill you?”

“I—” Marley began, her voice strained because she did not like the man’s tone with Declan. Not one bit.

Declan squeezed her thigh. “This doesn’t concern you, Royal. You need to go back to Savannah and your family.”

Uh, oh, there had been just the faintest hit of emphasis onyour family.As if…as if…as if they weren’t real family, even though this guy is Declan’s brother.

The limo pulled away from the curb.

Royal crossed his arms over his chest. “I saw your story on the news. Big, bad Declan Flynn. Imagine my surprise when I learned that my long-lost brother had nearly been killed not once, but twice…and no one bothered to inform me of the incidents.”

Declan shrugged. “They’re being handled. The perpetrator will be found.”

“Three people are dead.”

Declan shrugged. Again. “Two of those men helped abduct me. As for the third? He most likely helped drug me. They were loose ends that I believe someone was eliminating.”

No change of expression from Royal. “Were you the one cutting those loose ends?”

Her mouth dropped open. Had he seriously just accused Declan of murder? “How dare you!” A fiery eruption. “You don’t climb intohiscar and start accusing him of killing people!”

Declan’s head turned toward her.

“I don’t?” Royal asked. “Even when I think he might be guilty as sin?”

Guilty as sin.

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