Page 9 of Taking What's Mine

She snorts. “Sounds healthy.” Then she points with her spatula at the bacon. “I hope you like it crispy. That’s the only way I make it.”

“Crispy’s fine,” I say, sliding into one of the wooden chairs.

She piles bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels, then starts in on some scrambled eggs. The crackling sound and the mouthwatering smell is enough to make my stomach rumble. It’s all so… domestic. Strange, considering we’re here because she’s in real danger. But at least we can pretend for a moment that things are normal.

As she works, I glance out the big window above the sink, which frames a sweeping view of pine trees and the faint silhouette of mountains in the distance. If not for the tension humming beneath the surface, this place could pass for a cozy weekend getaway.

“So,” Isabel says, shutting off the burner, “did your calls turn up anything useful? Or are we still stuck at square one?”

I lift the slip of paper. “Morris Rolfe’s last known location might be Chicago. My contact couldn’t confirm it, but I’d wager if he’s got ties there, he might have gone back to old stomping grounds.”

“Chicago,” she repeats, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “Then again, Chicago is a big place. He could vanish in a crowd pretty easily.”

“True.” I watch as she takes two plates out of the cupboard, spooning eggs onto them. “But if he is there, we’ll have ways of finding him—friends of mine, or maybe even your brother’s old network. You’re both Chicago natives, right?”

Isabel nods, busying herself with the food. “Yes. Dean and I didn’t exactly grow up in the best neighborhood, but it taught us a lot about how to get by on almost nothing. And since Dean always had a knack for hacking, we never went completelywithout. He and his best friend—Xavier Stone—used to mess around with security systems. Next thing I knew, they were outsmarting half the city’s alarm companies.”

I let out a low whistle. “That’s quite a skill set.”

She shrugs, setting a plate in front of me and sliding into the chair across the table. “It paid off, I guess. Once Xavier had some money to invest, he gave Dean a chunk to start Maddox Security.” Her expression turns distant, like she’s remembering the early days. “We went from living in a tiny two-bedroom apartment to buying nicer gear, renting an office. Next thing we knew, we were landing big-name clients.”

I pick up a fork and scoop some eggs onto a piece of bacon. “I knew part of the story, but not all the details.”

She grimaces playfully. “Well, let’s just say there were some interesting lessons learned along the way. I can remember Dean staying up all night, tinkering with old computer parts, building prototypes. And I’d be there with a flashlight, trying to help any way I could. Usually by handing him screwdrivers.”

I chuckle softly, picturing a young Isabel—scrappy and determined—hovering beside her genius brother. “Sounds like you two made a good team.”

She raises a brow. “We made an unstoppable team. But he’s still my big brother, so yeah, we argue and butt heads. Kind of like we do now.”

A warm jolt of recognition goes through me. “You have the same dynamic at Maddox Security. It’s almost funny how you two still go at it sometimes.”

She rolls her eyes good-naturedly. “He can be impossible, but I guess that’s part of his charm.” Her gaze flicks to me. “Not unlike you.”

I decide to sidestep that little comment. “So, you’re the youngest?”

“By a couple of years. What about you? You have siblings?”

I shake my head, setting my fork down. “Only child. My mom passed away when I was twelve—cancer. My dad did the best he could, but we weren’t exactly close. I spent more time out of the house than in it.”

Her face softens with genuine sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

I shrug, though the old ache remains. “It was a long time ago. I enlisted in the military as soon as I graduated high school. Learned discipline, direction… gave me a purpose.”

Her gray eyes linger on me for a moment before she looks down at her plate. “And that’s why you’re so bossy now.”

“Guilty as charged,” I say with a half-smile. “But it’s also why you can trust me to have your back.”

She nods slowly, as though she can’t quite deny that. We eat in companionable silence for a bit, the tension between us easing, if only for a few minutes. The bacon is indeed perfectly crispy, and the eggs are fluffy. A quick glance at her plate confirms she’s already half-finished, too.

After we polish off breakfast, I clear my throat. “All right, so about Morris Rolfe. If he’s actually in Chicago, we have options. You mentioned going undercover yesterday—were you serious?”

She lifts her napkin, dabbing at her lips before answering. “Depends on how deep we’d have to go. But I know a couple of people from my old neighborhood who might be able to help me find him, if he’s operating on the fringes.”

My chest tightens at the idea of letting her wander around some shady parts of the city alone. “If we do this, it’d have to be both of us, together. We’ll keep a low profile and gather intel. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

Her eyes flash. “I’m capable, Lincoln?—”

“I’m not arguing that,” I cut in gently. “But I made a promise to Dean, and… you know, I’d rather not spend my days worrying that you’re going to slip away again.”

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