Page 22 of Easton’s Claim

Didn’t feel right to Brandon. Greg’s ex suddenly hanging with the same DEA agent who had brought Brandon down? Way too much of a coincidence. “Any chance he’s dirty? Can we get him for the right price?”

“Doubtful. From what I heard, the Colebrooks are pillars of the community-type people.”

Brandon shot him a sideways glance. “Sheriff Greg Rutland used to be too.”

“True, but if she’s a friend of the family, Colebrook’s not gonna turn on her or risk her safety.”

“Where is she staying?”

“We don’t know yet. We’re checking local hotels, but she may be staying with relatives or friends. Possibly the Colebrooks.”

He spun around and aimed a lethal glare at the guy. “Find her.”

“Yessir,” he murmured, lowering his eyes before he turned and rushed from the room.

Brandon tamped down his anger and absorbed the stillness surrounding him. A goddamn undercover DEA agent. It was almost funny. Except it wasn’t.

But maybe…maybe there was a silver lining here.

He strode through the mansion’s game room and out through the leaded glass French doors that led onto the back patio. The large, rectangular-shaped pool glowed a bright turquoise in the darkness. Tall, wrought-iron lamp posts ringed the flagstone patio, casting pools of yellow light over the neatly trimmed boxwood hedges surrounding the private backyard, and the lush green grass of the lawn.

An old trafficker friend had loaned him the place for the next week, if he stayed that long. This place suited Brandon. When he made it into the upper echelons of the cartel, he was going to have a place even better than this. Somewhere out of the States, maybe in the Caribbean or Mexico. He would live like a fucking king, and no one would dare cross him. He’d be rich enough to buy his freedom, even from the goddamn DEA.

He needed to beef up the plan he’d devised while behind bars, and capitalize on this opportunity. If he killed Colebrook in addition to Greg and the ex-wife, it would be one hell of a statement. Everyone would see he wasn’t intimidated by the feds or any other government agency.

That kind of coup would satisfy his need for revenge in addition to salvaging his reputation. It might even propel him into a nice position of power within the cartel once word of what he’d done spread to the right people.

He sipped at the vodka, enjoying the mellow burn as it slid down his throat. “Go wake up our prisoner,” he said to the other man standing watch out on the deck. This time he wasn’t taking chances with his personal security. “Find out what he knows about Colebrook.” There had to be an opportunity here. He’d kill three birds with one stone, rather than two.

Easton Colebrook was now in his crosshairs. Brandon was going to make sure the DEA agent died with the other two.

****

Easton let out a deep exhale and walked through the cabin’s living room out to the screen porch with a mug of coffee. It was still dark out, the first streaks of light barely visible over the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He loved this quiet time before the sun came up. Overseas, darkness meant danger. Here at home, it meant peace and a chance to gather his thoughts.

The familiar sound of Wyatt’s truck pulling up out front minutes later signaled that his reprieve was over. He wandered back into the kitchen as both Wyatt and Charlie stepped onto the front porch. He’d asked both of them here so he’d only have to say this once.

“Hey,” he said, pushing the screen door open for them both. “Thanks for coming.”

“You got coffee on?” Charlie asked, rubbing at her eyes. She was definitely not a morning person.

“Just made a fresh pot.” He went to the coffee maker and poured them each a mug while his siblings sat at the small kitchen table.

“So,” Wyatt asked, cradling the mug between his big hands. “What was so important that you had to talk to both of us in person before the sun came up?”

“I have to fill you guys in on something.” And given last night, it couldn’t wait.

“Okay…” Charlie said, eyeing him with curiosity as she blew on her coffee. “So spill.”

They were both sitting down, so he might as well just go for it. “It’s Piper.”

“Something else happen?” Wyatt asked in concern.

“Not with the investigation, no. This is about me and her.”

Two pairs of eyes, one hazel and one deep brown, focused on him intently. “What about you guys?” Charlie asked, her expression suspicious.

“I’m gonna do whatever it takes to make her mine.”

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