Page 39 of Sentinel of Talon Mountain
“I should’ve seen it coming,” Nate says, stepping into the kitchen with hair tousled and rough, like he just rolled out of a fight instead of a bed.
I pass him a mug. “They were family. Who thinks like that? I love my brother, but even I wouldn’t put a hit out on someone…” Nate's grin stops me. "Okay, so maybe I would."
He lifts the mug to his lips, eyes locked on mine over the rim as he grins. “You definitely would, and for the record, I'd be right there beside you. People need someone to blame.”
"The worst part is, I understand that. I lived in that guilt for years. It took the sound of bullets in the trees and you bleeding beside me to finally shake it loose. I didn't fail Mason. But I let that guilt define me." I take a long sip and a deeper breath. "What do you think will happen?"
“Zeke, Anchorage PD and the Feds have it under control. Nate thumbs the sat unit to speaker and sets it on the table.
“Zeke, run the serial fragment, eight-seven-one-KC.”
Zeke comes back fast. “Batch sale through a shell in Seattle six months ago. Distributor of record links to a holding company that uses the name Black Current. Anchorage liaison is already moving. Stand by for detainments.” The satphone buzzes again. “Heads up. Black Current has an Alaskan contract with a client called North Gulf Holdings. Paper is clean, people are not. We will not close this in a day.”
I meet Nate’s eyes. The air inside the cottage feels colder than the snow. I do not sit. My pulse goes loud in my ears, not from fear, from the shape of an answer finally taking form.
The investigation is all but done,” Nate says, dropping into the chair across from me.
Zeke’s voice cuts through. “Anchorage has one female detained at a Riverside address. The cousin is in cuffs. Judge on call denied bail. Transport in two.”
I close my eyes and finally breathe. Not relief, not yet, but something that moves like it.
“It would seem we're officially off everyone’s radar.”
“Except Caleb’s.”
He groans. “He texted me at two in the morning with nothing but the skull emoji.”
I stifle a grin and sip my coffee. “That's my brother. Subtle. I told you he’d be pissed. I can't decide if he'll be more pissed that you didn't tell him I was being threatened...”
"That's on you," Nate says, tipping his mug at me.
“Or that you’re in bed with his little sister,” I tease. He groans like the words landed heavier than a punch.
“God help me..."
"I think both He and Caleb would tell you, you're on your own."
"For the record, I didn’t tell him because I knew he’d storm up here with a ten-man team and scare the whole mountain. I needed space to do it my way... our way. As for the fucking you part, I didn't tell him because I wanted to keep on breathing.”
“Good luck with that. Unless I miss my guess, that snowmobile that's closing in belongs to him." I look out the window and nod. "Yep, he’s here.”
Nate jerks upright. “What?”
“And he doesn’t look happy.”
Nate moves out of the cottage to greet Caleb.
"Caleb," I start from the porch.
"You stay out of this," they say in unison.
"She's my sister. Where do you get off keeping her secrets from me and sleeping with her."
"She's my woman."
They face off in front of the cottage, jaws locked, steam rising from their breath like battle smoke in the frozen air. Caleb’s fists flex at his sides, his stance tight and braced like he's itching to throw the first punch.
Nate’s body is still, but his eyes sharpen, tracking every twitch like a predator waiting to pounce. Caleb’s jaw ticks. Nate crosses his arms and says nothing. It doesn't take long before Caleb shoves Nate.
