Flame (Steel Brothers Saga 20)

“You up for going over tonight?” Rory asks.

“I don’t see how we can’t. We’ll make sure everything’s still there. If it is, we’re good—at least until I know for sure the statute of limitations has run out.”

“I’m not sure the statute of limitations matters, Cal,” Rory says. “We still have the evidence. We can still pin it on Pat. He may not stand trial, but he can still be chased out of town.”

“True,” I tell her, “but don’t forget. He has shit on us too.”

Chapter Eleven

Donny

Callie sticks her head into my office. “I’m back. Do you need anything?”

“Yeah, actually. Check with Troy and Alyssa first. If they don’t have anything for you, come back and see me.”

She seems a little off.

Or maybe I’m a little off.

This is a such a mess.

A minute later, she peeks in again. “They say I’m all yours.”

I’m all yours.

Her words give rise to ideas in more ways than one.

But with Alyssa and Troy right outside the door, I can’t pin her against the wall and fuck her again. So it’s work. God knows there’s enough of it.

“Come on in. Have a seat.”

My gaze never strays from her as she closes the door, strides forward, and sits her perfect ass down in one of the chairs facing my desk.

I clear my throat. “I want an in-depth title scan on every business property in Snow Creek.”

Her eyes pop into circles. “O…kay.”

“We’re looking for liens—any liens—but most specifically any liens held by the Steels.”

“By the Steel Corporation? Or by individual Steels?”

“Anything. I’ll give you a list of all my family’s holdings. Look for all of them.”

“Just businesses? Not residential?”

“For now,” I say. “Once you’re done with the business properties, we’ll start on residential.”

Again with the wide eyes. “You think your family really does own this town.”

I gaze at the ceiling. A watermark. It’s big and reminds me of the shape of the state of Florida. Crap. One of the pipes must be leaking. I should call—who? Who’s in charge of maintenance around here? I don’t have a clue. It would serve me right if the whole ceiling fell right onto my head.

I drop my gaze and stare into Callie’s amber eyes. “I never believed it, but rumors start somewhere. Take any rumor, and there’s usually a tiny grain of truth behind it. That’s how they start.”

“You mean you actually believe—”

“I don’t believe anything. Not until I see evidence. And as an attorney, I’m able to interpret the evidence to fit my narrative.”

“Donny…”

“Sorry. I know you understand how evidence works. I guess I’m already getting ahead of myself.”

“You’re assuming that the Steels do own this town.”

“I guess I am. Callie, I’ve found things out in the last week that I never could have imagined. I’ve found out my family has been hiding information. Important information. Information that could affect the property rights of my siblings, cousins, and myself.”

She gulps. “What if…”

“What if what?”

“What if it does affect those rights? Will you…?”

I shake my head. “I won’t lose everything. We all have massive trust funds that are untouchable. But there’s much more that the family holds beyond trust funds.”

“Can I ask why, then?”

“Why what?”

“Why go digging into the past? You have a great life. Why mess with it?”

“Because what if my great life is built on lies? I need the truth, Callie. What is my life without the truth?”

“You’re right,” she says noncommittally.

“Why would this bother you?” I ask. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Of course not,” she says quickly. Almost too quickly. Then she smiles. “I’ll get right on this. Anything else?”

“No. Let me know when you find something. This will take you a while. Days, weeks.”

“I understand.”

“And Callie?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Her cheeks pink. “I love you too, Donny.” She leaves and closes the door behind her.

Why go digging into the past?

Her words.

It didn’t escape my notice that her last smile was forced, and that her words may have a meaning other than her concern for me.

Why go digging up the past indeed?

Except I get the feeling she wasn’t talking about my family’s past.

She was talking about something else.

Callie and I didn’t make plans tonight. I gave her a chaste kiss at six when I left the office and told her to leave for the day as well. She stayed in town to see Rory for dinner, and I drove home. The house is empty while Mom’s in Grand Junction with Dad, and I could easily bring Callie over and fuck her until morning.

Instead, I call my brother.

“Yeah, Don,” he says into the phone.

“Hey. You get the guys ready?”

“Yeah. I’ve got five men, suits rented. With the two of us, that’ll make seven. A good show for anyone who’s watching.”

“What are they going to do while we’re pulling up floorboards?”

“They’ll help. They’re being paid very well for their silence.”

“And you trust them?”