Beloved by Brothers (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 6)

Once the agents arrived, he would give his statement and exit.

Sipping on the coffee, he glanced around the room one more time. Something on the floor caught his attention. He’d not seen it before because the comforter hid most of it. Carefully, he lifted the blanket and saw it was a billfold.

Is it McCrae’s wallet or his killer’s?

Phoebe’s stalker was out of the picture. Who had killed McCrae and why? Would the murderer seek out Phoebe for some unknown reason?

Jason’s gut tightened. He had to protect her. She was his responsibility. Always. “This is my jurisdiction,” he told himself. Inside the leather of the wallet might be the answers he needed. Gently he grabbed the billfold by the corner, placing it on the bed.

He opened it, and what he saw shocked and crushed him. Going against all his training, against everything he believed—Jason placed the wallet in his pocket.

He knew who had killed McCrae.

His world and Phoebe’s was about to be ripped apart again.

* * * *

Phoebe looked out the window and saw Jason drive up in his patrol car. “Thank God, he’s here.”

Corey jumped up and opened the door. Everyone was anxiously awaiting his arrival.

When Jason entered, they all started bombarding him with questions at once.

Jason held up his hands. “Just give me a second, I need a drink.”

Phoebe could tell by his demeanor something was extremely wrong.

“What would you like, Jason?” her mom asked, always ready to help.

Her heart was thudding in her chest. “He drinks Jack Daniels straight up.”

“Just sit down, Jason,” Dad Eddie told him.

“Good idea,” Dad Curtis said. “From what your brothers told us, I’m sure this was hard to digest.”

“You don’t know the half of it, Mr. Blue.” Jason turned to Mitchell and Lucas. “Did you tell them the condition we found McCrae’s body in?”

“Yes,” Lucas said. “We told them everything.”

Jason’s eyes landed on her. “All your family is here, Phoebe, but Shane. Where is he?”

Here we go again. “We don’t know,” she answered truthfully.

He took the glass from her mom and drained it dry in one gulp.

“Jason, you know Shane.” Corey’s tone was filled with concern. “He’s likely holed up at some woman’s house.”

Her mom poured Jason another shot.

He drank it. “Shane better still be in town.”

Phoebe tensed, not liking where this conversation was going. “Leaving would be against the terms of his parole. I’m certain he’s still here.”

“I’m not,” Jason stated flatly.

“What in the hell does this have to do with what happened in Clover?” Lucas stood and folded his arms over his chest. The old animosity between him and Jason seemed to have returned in a flash.

Mitchell stepped next to Lucas, staring down at Jason. “Can’t you drop your übercop attitude when it comes to Shane for tonight and tell us about McCrae’s murder instead?”