Page 91 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

“That asshole,” he muttered.

Jaxon pushed off the counter, pacing. “If it’s him, we’re gonna make him regret it.”

I shot him a look. “We handle this the right way.”

Jaxon stopped pacing, his jaw tight. But he nodded.

“Lila,” I said, stepping closer. She looked up at me, her hazel eyes full of worry. “We’ll figure this out. Davis and Hall are good. They’ll find whoever did this.”

“And then what?” she whispered.

“And then they’ll deal with it,” I said firmly.

Her lower lip trembled, but she nodded. “Okay.”

“Stay here,” I said. “Colt, Jaxon, keep an eye on her.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Colt said, his voice low.

I grabbed my jacket and the envelope, then headed out the door.

Davis and Hall were waiting for me at the station. Davis was tall and wiry, with sharp features and a sharp tongue to match. Hall was his opposite. He was broad and steady, the kind of guy who didn’t say much but always got the job done.

I spread the photos and notes out on the desk in the back room.

“What the hell is this?” Davis asked, leaning over the table.

“Blackmail,” I said. “Targeting Lila Harper.”

Hall frowned. “Nate’s sister? Why?”

“Good question,” I said. “She’s been through a lot lately. Ex conned her out of everything. She moved back to town to start over. My guess? He’s trying to drag her down again.”

Davis let out a low whistle. “You think it’s the ex?”

“Could be,” I said. “Or someone working for him.”

Hall picked up one of the photos, studying it. “Whoever took these wasn’t subtle.”

“No,” I agreed. “And they weren’t careful, either. They sent them in an envelope with no postmark. Means they had to deliver it by hand.”

Davis nodded, already pulling out his phone. “I’ll check the footage from around the Harpers’ place. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

“On it,” Hall said, heading for the door.

Davis stayed behind, his gaze on me. “You care about this girl, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer right away.

“Yeah,” I said finally. “I do.”

Davis nodded, a knowing look in his eye. “Then we’ll get this sorted.”

I left the station with a little more clarity but no less anger. Whoever was behind this had made a mistake. They thought they could scare her. They thought they could break her.

They didn’t realize they’d have to go through me first.

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