Page 2 of Tempted

Both Moira and I nod.

“And he’d kill his own granny over this?” Caleb checks.

“He was drunk off his rocker. Probably on drugs, too, when he showed up here last night, looking for me.” Declan adds.

I’d shown Gretchen, my granny’s roommate, a picture of Callum, from my phone, and she confirmed that it was him that placed the pillow over granny’s face, while she slept, and killed her. I pass my phone over to Maverick, to show him the same photograph, and he nods. “That’s him.”

“Looks like he’ll be joining his da in prison.” Declan states.

“That’s if the authorities do anything about it.” Caleb reasons. “An eighty-seven-year-old woman living in a nursing home...hell, they’ll chock that up to her dying in her sleep.”

“Shewassleeping, according to her roommate.” Moira adds.

Caleb leans forward in his chair. “Something tells me this isn’t just about granny’s untimely death. This is more about Callum’s unfinished business.”

“We should let Cullen know...and da.” Maverick states.

“He’s already come after us and gotten nowhere.” Caleb whines, irritated. “Sure, the man pushed a pillow over the face of a sleeping senior citizen, but the man is otherwise harmless.”

“You really think so, man?” Declan scoffs. “You sure didn’t think so when goons were coming after you and your kin not so long ago.”

“That was different.” Caleb counters. “This is Moira’s brother for chrissake. A drunken loser from the sounds of it. He probably used his life savings to fly out here to North Carolina. I bet you he doesn’t even have the dough to get back home.”

“What’s money got to do with it, asshole?” Maverick scolds. “As long as the lad can hold a gun and he’s got the drive to use it, it doesn’t matter.”

“Did hehavea gun, loser?” Caleb argues. “He tried to punch you, dude. He didn’t even have a gun. He probably doesn’t even own one or know how to use one.”

“I haven’t seen him in years.” Moira states, trying to be helpful, as Malcolm’s gaze slides back to me. “I have no idea what he’s been up to. He liked beebee guns as a child, but I don’t think he ever took an interest in any sort of weaponry.”

“From the sounds of it he’s been working out.” I add. “Last time I saw Callum, he couldn’t have been more than a hundred and fifty pounds soaking wet. He was a man, sure, but he wasn’t a large man, fool enough to come after the likes of you boys.” I explain, glancing at the Harris family, those that are present, that is. All the boys are larger than life. Billionaires, built like they more so belong in a fighting ring. Champions of their land management business, these boys have been expertly trained since birth to turn profit. Malcolm, although a cousin to these Harris boys, still bears the Harris name and uses it with pride.

And I chide myself for looking at him the way that I am right now.

At a time like this.

My granny’s deathbed isn’t even cold yet, and all I can think about is bedding Malcolm.

His warm, caring, concerned eyes gaze at me...and I’ve never been more turned on by a man before.

“We need to keep these girls safe until we can find Callum.” Declan states, breaking me from my reverie. “I’ll keep Moira at my place, since her building’s security is about as reliable as that of the nursing home.”

“Steph can stay with me.” Malcolm offers, letting the thought roll of his tongue as naturally as saying my name.

Declan, Maverick and Caleb exchange a look, which I catch, but Malcolm does not. “It’s strictly for protection.” I add, using my warning tone. “Malcolm and I are just friends.”

“That’s not what he told me, lass.” Declan states fairly. “He said that you two were seeing each other.”

I raise a brow at Malcolm and his face turns pink, making my heart flutter. He turns to his cousin. “I told you that in confidence, asshole. Nobody else was supposed to know that.”

“Including Steph, evidently.” Caleb snorts.

“Grow up.” I tell him.

“Look, these lasses have just lost their granny. This is no time for high school bullshit.” Caleb argues.

Declan sobers. “Fine, brother. What’s the plan, hm?”

Malcolm shrugs. “We tell da and he gets Cullen and his crew on it. I’m sure one small granny dead will be a walk in the park for them. They’ll find Collum and get him to confess, ship him back to Scotland, if he hasn’t already scurried back there, and threaten to chop his balls off unless he stays the hell away from these girls once and for all.”

---