Breathless_ Steel Brothers Saga - HELEN HARDT Page 0,64
the truth.”
“True. But how would he know about the camping?”
“Fuck if I know.” Joe paced in circles.
“Does anyone else know? Your brothers?”
“I never told anyone. I trusted your dad. And like you, I’d forgotten until now. It was pushed back in my head, a nonissue, you know?”
“Yeah. Nothing ever happened. The family moved away. I mean, I assume they did. Hell, I can’t even remember his name, can you?”
“Justin? Or Dustin?”
A memory sparked in my mind. “Justin. You’re right. Justin… What was his last name?”
“I can’t remember. I feel like it’s in my brain somewhere.”
Recall came trickling back. Justin had been a new kid in town. He was nothing special, but for some reason, he never quite fit in. He didn’t blend. He was quiet and always alone, and…
“Whose idea was it, anyway?” Joe asked.
“It was mine,” I said, thinking. “I asked my dad if we could bring him along.”
“Damn. Do you think your father…?”
“I don’t know.” This time I paced in circles. “I’m afraid to even think about it.”
“We have to think about it, man. We have to.”
“Whether he did or not, it shouldn’t have anything to do with us,” I said. “We were nine. We’re innocent.”
“Morse is bluffing,” Joe said. “He has to be. How could he even know anything?”
“I don’t know. He’s got money, though. Not Steel money, but enough to dig up any dirt there is. And he might have done just that.”
“He seriously can’t think he can take us on,” Joe said. “Like you said, he doesn’t have Steel money.”
“I don’t have any money.”
“But he has to know that we’ve got your back.”
“Why would he know that?”
“He’ll know if he tries anything.”
“I can’t—”
“Don’t even,” Joe said. “You’re an honorary Steel brother. You always have been. Whatever you need, bro. Always.”
I already felt like I was taking advantage of the Steels by accepting their generous offer. My only solace was that I knew I was qualified and would do a damned good job for them. “Thanks, man.”
“You know it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m going to talk to Morse.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“I should go alone.”
Hell, no. If Joe went alone, he might do something hotheaded and stupid. He’d been ready to blow Ted Morse away once before. With good reason, but still. Joe and I were good for each other. We kept each other level-headed.
“I’ll go with you. He came to me with this. I’m already involved.”
“Good enough.” He pointed to his ankle. “But Rosie’s coming along.”
I nodded. “No problem there. I’ll be packing as well.” If I was there to stop him, Joe wouldn’t cross the line. But I was absolutely fine with him scaring Morse a little, and since I’d learned the truth about my father, I’d carried my own concealed weapon.
“Funny,” I said. “My dad is the one who taught us how to be such good shots.”
Joe started to reply but stopped when his phone dinged. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Text from Talon. He needs to talk. I guess I’m going over to his house. Come with me. We have to tell them—”
I widened my eyes. “No, Joe. Not yet.”
“You’re right,” he said. “This has stayed between the two of us for thirty years. A few more days won’t hurt. We see Morse first.”
I nodded. “You were going to have those PIs sweep my house for bugs. We need to get all your properties swept too before we even mention this anywhere inside.”
“Good call,” Joe said. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty–Nine
Marjorie
Dinner for ten at the last minute. No problem when you lived on a beef ranch. Burgers for all. Jade’s nausea had lessened some, and she helped me get everything together.
Melanie arrived before Joe, and I couldn’t help smiling as I hugged her. She looked so beautifully radiant, her skin glowing, her belly in the third trimester. She was clearly enjoying her pregnancy and had little difficulty.
Which made me feel even worse for Jade.
I could tell Melanie felt a little guilty when she was around Jade, but she hid it well. The two of them weren’t overly close. Melanie was much closer to my other sister-in-law, Ruby Lee Steel, who arrived moments later. The two of them had been each other’s maids of honor at their respective weddings. They set to chatting, so Jade and I went back to work in the kitchen.
Jade sighed. “I’m trying to be happy for Melanie. I really am.”
“I know it’s hard,” I replied.
“I’m trying to concentrate on the fact that my baby is