Page 8 of Forged in Secrets

“Say no more,” Gabe Sr. said, getting out of his chair and raising his worn hands in surrender. Even though he owned a multi-billion dollar agricultural company, he was never afraid to do the dirty work, even now that his sons were urging him to retire. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

Grace let out a sigh of relief as Gabe Sr. said goodbye to the men in turn before finally enveloping her in a warm, leather-scented embrace. She made a mental note to invite herself over for Sunday dinner soon. If she could drag any of the other Forge men along, all the better.

“So what’s going on?” Gabe said once his father had left the cafeteria.

Grace told him about the call from her own father, making sure to tell him how useless the local police had been thus far. Gabe was a hound for justice, and she knew he hated to see any victim being denied the help they needed, whatever the reason.

“Katie is a junior at the University of Texas in Austin, studying business,” Grace added. “But she’s a bit more of a target than a random college student might be. Her father, Donald Fairman, owns a company called AveroTech. They’re very wealthy.”

Gabe glanced down at his phone, his fingers tapping at the screen. Knowing him, he was taking notes.

“I know AveroTech,” Ben chimed in, tapping at a table leg with the side of his foot. “They were huge in the early millennium, but I haven’t seen them in the media much lately. I wonder how they’re doing.”

“If they’re tanking, it could be related,” Asher added.

Gabe said nothing.

“She wouldn’t run away,” Grace said. “I know she wouldn’t. I haven’t spoken with her a lot in the last several years, but she’s always been responsible. Especially since her mother died. She and her dad are really close. She wouldn’t scare him like this.”

Gabe shifted in his chair, but before he could speak, Ben cut in.

“We need to accept this job,” he said. “I know it’s gonna be tight with our current caseload, especially with Reilly on paternity leave, but we’ll just have to make it work.”

Grace sent up a silent prayer of gratitude that Ben had spoken up for her, just as he’d said he would.

“I’m thinking, all right?” Gabe said after a minute had passed, rubbing at his temples with his fingers.

Grace bit her lip. There was a lot going on for the company right now, she knew. They’d just tied up a case involving Cameron Forge’s now-girlfriend–and in-house paralegal–Bristol, and there would be a lot of court dates ahead for half of the staff.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Just because you’re the founder of FBS doesn’t mean that you’re the only one who gets a say,” Ben argued, his gravelly voice taking on an edge. “It’s not like we all voted to make you the boss, Gabe.”

“Cool it, bro,” Gabe warned. “Look. It’s a bad time for us, but you’re right. If it’s a friend of the Hintons, we’re gonna just have to make the time.”

“Thank you,” Grace said before Ben could add anything else. “Katie is the only family that Donald has left. I know he’ll appreciate any help we can give.”

“We’ll get it done,” Gabe said, his eyes lingering on Ben a few seconds too long as he smiled at Grace.

Gabe’s de facto leadership of FBS caused conflict now and then, but she knew that deep down the rest of the boys would agree that everyone trying to be in charge would be a disaster. Gabriel Jr. could be tough, but he always tried his best to be fair. She just hoped that he’d continue to let Ben’s cranky comments slide.

She couldn’t figure him out.

First he’d hugged her. Now he was risking a fight with his older brother to make sure that her friend was taken care of? It wasn’t like him.

If she didn’t know any better…

No. She wouldn’t entertain the idea that he might be feeling something. She didn’t need a distraction right now.

Especially not one that would lead to nothing but heartbreak.

“Sorry, Gabe,” Ben said, not meeting his eyes. “I was out of line.”

“You’re forgiven,” Gabe said. “But since you’re so invested in this case, you’re going to be the one heading down to South Padre to investigate.”

BEN

“You want me to go to a spring break hotspot with a bunch of college kids?”

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