Page 8 of Claimed and Catalogued
My bounty is her brother?
Her brother is the guy I’m supposed to cuff and drag into custody?
I take a step back, jaw tight, heart pounding for a whole new reason. Of course, it’s her brother… because nothing in my life is ever simple.
Chapter Five
Evie
I haven’t seen Cole in nearly six months but the second I hear his voice, I’m brought back to all the moments of mischief we used to get into together. Sneaking candy, writing invisible ink notes, and staying up all night on Christmas Eve to wait for Santa. He’s the one and only member of my family that’s always seen me for exactly who I am and loved me for it, not in spite of it.
“Holy Christmas bells. What are you doing here?”
“The wedding.” He says it as though it’s perfectly normal to disappear for months on end with no calls or texts then reappear out of nowhere for a family dinner.
“Okay,” I tip up onto my toes and lean into him for a hug as Tess disappears into the back shelves to give us space, “but where have you been? I haven’t heard from you in months. I thought something awful happened. The cops came by asking questions, but they didn’t give me any information.”
“And Mom? What’s she thinking?”
I shrug. “She said you were probably off being a loner again. That whenever you get like this, we just need to let you be,” my breath catches, “but I was worried Cole! Why were the police looking for you?”
He exhales slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, and I know without any more questions what all this is about, but Iwant to hear it from him. “Yeah, I know. Sorry, Evie. Things got… complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
He hesitates, eyes flicking toward the front of the store. “I’ll explain later. I just wanted to stop by and see if you were interested in grabbing dinner. Something low-key.”
Before I can answer, I hear movement behind me. Heavy boots and a shift in the air.
Nick.
I turn, and he’s standing there like a statue, eyes locked on Cole. His jaw is tight, his shoulders squared, the costume he went to change still in place. “Everything okay, Nick?”
“Nick?” My brother smiles and holds out his hand. “We haven’t met yet. Are you two dating?”
I should tell my brother the truth. I’m reserving lying for the wedding and the rest of the family, not the one guy I trust, but Nick takes the lead before I get a chance to decide.
“We are.” He clears his throat and attempts to fold his arms across his chest but the fabric from the coat tears a little in the back as he stands straighter. “And you are?”
Oh damn. I guess possessiveness comes with the purchase.Why do I kind of like it?
“Fuck, Evie.” My brother laughs. “You don’t even talk about me?” He reaches his hand out for Nick’s. “I’m Evie’s older brother, Cole. Been out of town on business, but I’m thinking maybe I’m back for a while. Holidays make you miss home. I just invited Evie to dinner tonight. You should join.”
“Oh,” I interject before everything gets awkward, “Nick and I already had plans tonight.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other,” Nick adds, lifting the guilt I was feeling off my shoulders as he squeezes me softly against his chest, “but we’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow, right?”
“Of course. I get it. I can’t just roll back into town and expect everyone to make time for me. Evie’s got her own life now.” He says the words sarcastically as though he doesn’t mean a word of what he’s saying. “You mind if I get a quick moment alone with her, though?” He grins. “We need to iron out a few quick details before the family drama tomorrow.”
Nick doesn’t blink. He stares toward Cole as though he’s glitching. Also, I can’t figure for the life of me what Cole has to say to me that he can’t say in front of Nick.
“Sorry,” I say, turning back to the giant beside me. “This’ll just take a second.”
Nick doesn’t speak. His gaze lingers on Cole a beat too long before he turns, broad shoulders squared, spine straight. He moves with a quiet intensity, boots thudding against the floor as he heads for the broom closet.
“Shit,” my brother groans. “That dude’s intense. Doesn’t seem like your type.”
“My type?” I offer a playful smile. “We aren’t discussing my type when you haven’t told me where you’ve been for six months. Are you in some kind of trouble, Cole? Is this about the thing at the bar—”
