Page 12 of Rising Storm

And the glare was back. Gareth couldn’t help being curious.

“Fifteen,” Helix finally answered.

“What was it?”

Helix scowled and he knew it was because of the questions. Yeah, he was nosy when it came to Helix. Couldn’t help it.

“It was a set of baseball cards. One I’d like to find again and get back to the people.”

“There are baseball cards in the basement.”

“I checked those and they aren’t the same ones. I don’t think Hayrick was stealing for himself that early in the game.”

“Ever think about how much money is sitting in those basement rooms?”

Helix narrowed his eyes. “Why? You think the thieves want to sell the stuff?”

That hadn’t even occurred to him, though it probably should have. “No, Helix. I don’t think that. I genuinely believe you, Lane, Shelli, and Reid are behind what we’re doing. But that doesn’t mean all the thieves will be. We’re bound to get a bad egg in the bunch. It’s amazing that you guys were able to hang onto your humanity with what he put you through.”

Helix tilted his head, still staring at Gareth. But he said nothing. Gareth got the feeling he’d gotten all he was going to get right then. He stood and tossed his wrapper into the sack, then picked up Helix’s trash. He threw it all into the small wastebasket beside the bed. “What are your plans tonight? Want to see if my friends want to get together again?”

“No. I’m going to hang out here. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go and meet this thief.”

“Suit yourself.”

Helix merely tightened his lips as Gareth turned to leave.

Chapter 5

“You did this a lot when you were on the job?" Helix asked the next day as they sat parked in a grocery store parking lot. The sun bore down on the car, making the air conditioner run hard. It still felt ridiculously uncomfortable with the air only hitting certain spots. Their rental left a lot to be desired.

Gareth turned from where he sat in the passenger seat to look at Helix. "What? Sit in a car waiting for someone when I have no idea what they look like? Yes, actually." He chuckled as he shifted like he was trying to find a more comfortable position. "It was never one of my favorite parts of the job."

God, the big guy took up serious space in the front of the car. He also smelled really good. He must have showered right before they'd left. Nothing smelled as good as a man right out of the shower. Well, except for maybe one who'd worked up a sweat. They had a small home gym at the Maine house and he'd walked in on Gareth working out several times and had to leave to keep the man from seeing what his sweaty muscles did to Helix's dick. And one time, Gareth had leaned over him to help with some weights and holy hell, it should be illegal to smell that good covered in a layer of sweat. He hadn’t been wearing a shirt at the time and he had an intriguing pattern of black hair on his chest and stomach.

But damn if his freshly showered scent wasn't just as enticing. He looked out the driver's window and slowly counted to try and get his mind and his body back under control.

He fucking hated his reaction to this man. Couldn't trust someone who had just given up everything to move across the country to help a bunch of strangers. Out of the goodness of his heart.

Yeah, right.

The last time he'd been around anyone that good, his parents had been alive. That memory was like an icy-cold bath to the system and it did what he needed, bringing his body under control. Hayrick had taken them from him, just like he had everything else. He could still remember his mother’s sweet smile and her hugs, his father’s love for playing with him and his brother in the backyard. He’d never get over losing them.

He forced himself to focus on the scenery. It was a nice little area with a restaurant within walking distance of the gourmet grocery store where they’d parked. A few other shops and businesses filled out the strip mall to the back.

They were a good half hour earlier than they were supposed to meet this guy. Helix was so nervous, his hands were sweating and his heart thumped a painful rhythm in his chest. He just knew this was going to be his brother and excitement warred with the nerves tearing him up.

A red sedan pulled into the parking lot and parked. Whoever was driving didn't get out of the vehicle. He and Gareth waited long moments and when nothing happened, Helix's gut clenched with the excitement and dread.

"That's probably him there," Gareth said. He opened the car door and looked over his shoulder. "Why don't you stay in the car so you can follow if he bolts?"

Helix nodded, though he was suddenly desperate to see in that car.

But Gareth only got a few feet across the parking lot before whoever was in the sedan hit the gas. The car swept close enough for Helix to get a good look at the panicked guy in the driver's seat before his entire world narrowed down to a tunnel of fear.

He'd know that face anywhere.

Because it looked so much like his own.

---