Page 31 of Austen

Declan looked at him and raised an eyebrow.This would be an interesting morning.

A night’s sleep still hadn’t wiped the scowl from Stein’s face, but maybe he hadn’t slept well.

“She needs to get back to Key West and maybe get checked out by a real doctor, and we need to start looking for her boat,” Steinbeck said as he sat down.

Declan nodded.“I’m happy to look for her boat after we drop the Jamesons off in Mariposa,” he said.

Steinbeck said nothing as Belle set a cup of black coffee in front of him.She turned quickly and walked away.

“Anything for breakfast, Steinbeck?”Declan added, glancing at her already heading down the galley steps.

Odd.

Steinbeck shook his head.“Thank you.”

Declan couldn’t help it: “Last night, Austen said she was staying.”

Steinbeck’s mouth made a grim line.And again Declan wanted to ask “What is your problem, dude?How did I wrong you?”But maybe not here at the table under the bright blue sky with the Jamesons within earshot.Because he had a strange feeling that this wasn’t just something superficial—a misspoken word or a neglectful action.

And then it hit him.HowdidStein get shot?He knew Stein had gone missing during the landslide after going back to Declan’s house.Stein had met with security and had even gone down to the vault to check on it.And then he’d disappeared.So yeah, they needed a conversation, and soon.

“What a gorgeous day.”

He looked over and saw Austen climbing up the steps.She still wore last night’s yoga pants and T-shirt, the bathrobe around her as if she might still be cold.But her auburn hair had been let down and hung wavy down her back, turning a shiny copper in the sunlight, sort of like a mermaid with luminous green eyes.

Once again he was back to last night, sitting on the sofa, the desire to kiss her, to be in her life, filling his chest.

“Good morning,” he said, which felt lame compared to what he really wanted to say, which was “Please stay with me on this boat.”Or even “Please stay with me.”Period, full stop.

And that sounded sappy even in his head, so instead, he spotted Jermaine entering the deck and said, “Jermaine, would you mind getting Austen a cup of coffee?How do you take it, Austen?”

“Like candy,” Steinbeck said, “with sugar and cream.”

Austen looked at him.“Actually, black will be just fine.”

Oh, the sparks had already begun by the shake of Steinbeck’s head.Austen went around and sat in the chair at the other end of the table, looking at her brother, and Declan felt like he was in the middle of a family stare-off.

“Shouldn’t you and I be heading back to Key West about now?”Stein said.

Declan arched an eyebrow, looked at her, then at Stein.Okay.Maybe he’d have a quick talk with Stein before breakfast blew up.

“Stein, a word?Please.”Declan got up.Stein glanced at Austen, then gave him an odd look but nodded.

Declan took the stairs down two flights to the main deck and walked out to the lounge in the bow of the boat.Steinbeck followed him.

Declan turned, all lightness gone.“What’s your deal?”

Steinbeck took the words like a punch, reeled back just slightly, and then rounded on him.“What do you mean,what’s my deal?She’s my sister, and I want to take her back to the Keys with me.”

“I think that’s probably up to her, don’t you?”

Stein stared at him, ground his jaw.

It was like negotiating with a grizzly.“What is your beef with me, Stein?I thought we were friends.”

A beat.Another.Just the sound of the boats lapping in the water as the waves moved under them.And then, “What do you know about the Petrov Bratva?”

Declan frowned.“What do you think I know?”

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