Page 45 of Hunted Hearts
Theo’s strong arms made her believe, if only for a short spell, that she was untouchable.
Chapter Nine
The scent of fresh paint hung in the air as Theo followed Denver to the west-facing side of the ranch house. Over the years the small structure that was the Malones’ summer home had been added on to, but a lot of changes had been made to accommodate Black Heart Security.
The spaces that Willow made warm and cozy fell away, turning into something starker, more modern. It felt like a completely different world. One side of the house buzzed with the activity of a dozen people who lived here and the other side possessed the quiet purpose of a command center.
“When did all this start?”
Denver tossed a look at Theo over his shoulder. “When we left for Tahoe, Carson gave me the nod to make changes around here.”
His voice carried the air of command that made leaders. Theo had heard that tone from his older brother his entire life, but now he heard it as a team member taking point on an op.
“Looks like you didn’t waste any time.” He swung his head toward the door to Carson’s private office—small, all with dark wood, just the way he preferred it—to a set of new glass double doors opposite.
Denver pushed the door inward, and Theo trailed behind him into the new space.
He issued a low whistle. “Looks like Carson also gave you a hefty budget. You practically recreated a war room, brother.”
He could see by the tilt of Denver’s jaw that he’d been going for exactly that.
“Figured it’s time you got a closer look, considering you’re practically on the payroll these days.”
Theo arched a brow but said nothing, his gaze drifting over the clean lines and subtle upgrades. The room hummed with tech.
The space had been transformed from the bare-bones setup Theo remembered when he first returned to the ranch into something that looked ready for any briefing with a high-ranking general. A long walnut table was wired with discreet data ports. Dual screens were mounted on one wall for live intel feeds, and along the far wall, there was a display case of the latest security gadgets.
His boots thudded lightly on the floor as he drifted over to pick up a drone no bigger than his fist. He set it down with care before inspecting some tracking devices thin as credit cards.
When he spotted a familiar piece of equipment, he twisted to look at Denver. “How’d you get your hands on these?”
Encrypted comms systems, military-issue.
Denver only offered a crooked grin in response. “I have sources. Legal ones, of course.”
He huffed a laugh. “Of course.”
Denver stood back, letting him take it all in. “You need to know what we’re working with now. Not just boots on the ground, but eyes in the sky, ears everywhere. Clients want more than muscle—they want someone who can stop a threat before it gets to their doorstep.”
Theo’s gaze lingered on a sleek tablet resting on the table, its screen glowing with a live satellite overlay of the surrounding area. His brothers had made the Black Heart into a tight machine, but this…this was next level.
A quiet hum stirred in his chest—not excitement, not yet, but something close.
Without glancing at his brother, he said, “Almost seems like you’re trying to recruit me.”
When he didn’t respond, Theo turned to look at him. “Or you’re worried if you don’t anchor me here, I’m going to run off and join Blackout Charlie.”
Denver’s lips pulled tighter. “I got word from my team.”
Theo arched a brow. “You’re still in touch with them?”
He rolled his shoulders in an awkward shrug. “I have ways.”
“Is that way your hacking genius?”
His corner of his mouth quirked into a smirk. “Maybe.”
Theo leaned against the corner of the table and folded his arms. “What did you do?”
