“Our accountants must have paid them off. With big money. That’s why they went to Hawaii. I don’t get it. Why would we buy this? The Shane property wasn’t even worth that much.”
“I have no clue. I’m beginning to think…” He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know what to think.”
That was the truth. We had a team of accountants and financial advisors who handled our fortune, which we kept in the Steel Trust. My siblings and I didn’t bother ourselves too much with the day-to-day management of our money. We each took a sizeable draw and had more than enough to spend on whatever we wanted. Twice a year, we met with the team, and we’d never asked for an audit. This team had been highly respected and trusted by our father, so none of us had thought an audit necessary. But—
“The ranch was deeded to the Steel Family Trust. Not the Steel Trust. What the hell is the Steel Family Trust?”
Talon exhaled audibly. “I don’t have a fucking clue. Apparently Dad created a separate trust for…something.”
“We need to get an independent audit, Tal,” I said. “This is ridiculous.”
“Agreed. Our father obviously created a trust and never bothered telling any of us about it.”
Our father…
Who the hell was he?
I began digging through the file.
And my heart nearly stopped when I found a handwritten note.
Brad, do whatever you have to do to keep that trailer trash away from my son.
Chapter Nine
Ruby
Well, Ryan, your time is up.
I pulled up to Ryan’s house on Steel Acres Ranch. He hadn’t called, and I was determined to make sure he was okay. I’d called his cell first, but he hadn’t answered, so here I was, going after him like a bitch in heat.
That wasn’t true, of course, but that’s what this situation would look like from his angle. In truth, I was simply concerned. The last thing on my mind was sex.
I walked to his door and knocked.
Ricky ran to the window next to the door, wagging his tail.
“Hey, Rick,” I said through the door.
When no one answered, I knocked again and rang the doorbell. After a few minutes, I tried the doorknob, and to my astonishment, it opened. It wasn’t like Ryan to be so careless. My nerves lurched, and I drew my gun, just in case.
“Hey, there. Where’s Ryan?” I petted Ricky’s soft head and then let him out the back door to do his business.
I checked the bedroom and all the other rooms. Nothing suspicious. Unfortunately, Ryan was nowhere to be found either.
I jerked when my phone rang. “Detective Lee.”
“Ruby, hi.”
Ryan! “Where are you? I didn’t recognize the number.”
“I’m calling from Talon’s landline. I left my phone at home.”
“You also left your door unlocked.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, you did. I’m here now. I let the dog out.”