Descent (Steel Brothers Saga 15)

“Understood,” I said.

“I’m leaving town,” he continued. “Lora and the kid are safe with her parents. I’m going to be with them. Colorado has left a bad taste in my mouth.”

I couldn’t fault his observation.

“Do you have any idea who these guys were?” I asked.

“Not a one.”

“Would you tell me if you did?”

Silence.

I had my answer.

The guys had scared him shitless. My best PI—my father’s best PI—had been bested by three masked psychos.

“I’ll pay you back,” he said. “If it takes the rest of my life.”

It would, but I didn’t say so. “Don’t concern yourself about it. Go live your life.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“What time?”

“Noon. Flight out of Grand Junction to Syracuse.”

“All right. Good luck, man.”

“Thanks. Again, I’m sorry.”

“Not a problem.”

But it was a problem. I’d be paying a visit to Morey.

Tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Daphne

Brad was away again for dinner.

I should be used to it, but I wasn’t.

Good news, though. Ennis was staying in Colorado! Not only that, he’d be working here on the ranch as assistant to our new winemaker. I could see him whenever I wanted to, especially since Brad had invited him to stay at the house until he found a place of his own.

Finally, I had a friend just down the hall who I could always see.

A friend.

I’d had so few in my life, and two of them had moved on without even writing to me. But not Ennis. Ennis was here. He was staying.

He smiled across the kitchen table at me. Mazie wasn’t hungry, so she’d skipped dinner, and of course Brad wasn’t here. Just Ennis and me, and it felt good. Not as good as if Brad had been here, but good nonetheless.

“Has Brad checked with the Peace Corps yet?” I asked Ennis. “About Patty?”

“Not that he’s told me. I’m beginning to see what you mean. He’s always doing something. I had to force him to sit down at that interview today, and then he went and hired the very first guy.”

“He also hired you,” I said. “And I think that’s terrific.”

“Gives me an excuse to stay here, yes,” he said. “Still doesn’t feel right to be here without Patty.”

“Maybe it’s time to let her go,” I said. “Maybe we both need to let her go, Ennis.”

He nodded. “You’re right, love. I just didn’t want to think our relationship meant nothing to her, and when I had that dream, I had a sliver of hope and a sliver of dread at the same time. I don’t want her dead, of course, but part of me wants to believe I meant something to her.”

“Of course you did.”

“Perhaps. But the Peace Corps apparently meant more. Something she never even discussed with me. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“It doesn’t. But like I said, Patty isn’t the first friend who’s left me in the dust never to be heard from again, which makes me think maybe it’s not that abnormal of a thing.”

I jumped when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Belinda hustled out of the kitchen.

She returned a few minutes later with Brad’s friend Theo Mathias in tow.

“Hello, Daphne,” he said.

Theo was a good-looking man, but he had an edge. A sharp edge that I couldn’t quite define. Ever since I’d first met him, when he’d been wearing those weird Halloween blue contact lenses, I’d gotten a weird feeling from him.

Tonight was no different.

“Hi there. Brad’s not home.”

“I know. Belinda told me. I wanted to come in and say hi.”

“Sure. You want to join us? Belinda always makes plenty. This is Ennis Ainsley, by the way. You might have met him at the wedding.”

“Sure, good to see you.” Theo thrust out his hand.

Ennis stood and shook it. “You too. Have a seat.”

They both sat down, and Belinda brought Theo a plate of dinner.

“When do you expect Brad to be home?” Theo asked me.

I suppressed an eye roll. “Late, probably.” If I didn’t get a call that he was staying in the city. Those calls came a lot.

At least he called.

“Do you mind if I stick around? I’ve got some business to talk to him about.”

“Did you try his car phone?” I asked.

“Yeah. He didn’t answer.”

“He’s probably in a dinner meeting,” Ennis offered.

I loved this man. If Brad hadn’t swept me off my feet, I couldn’t think of a better man than Ennis Ainsley. But I was Brad’s, through and through. Even though I no longer thought of him as perfect, he was still mine, and I still loved him just as much as ever.

“What kind of business are you in?” Ennis asked Theo.

Good question. I had no idea. Honestly, I’d never thought about it before.

“This and that,” Theo replied.

“Ennis is working with us now here on the ranch,” I piped in. “Brad’s starting a new wine business, and Ennis is helping.”

“Oh?” Theo raised his eyebrows.

“Guilty,” Ennis said.

“Good for you. Great business, wine.”