Deadly Coincidence (Brantley Walker Off the Books #4) - Nicole Edwards Page 0,88

find any communication between him and a dealer.”

“We didn’t recover the phone,” Reese said. “I left it on the table. Alongside the finger.”

Luca considered that. “Email, then. We can also see if he kept anything from his phone in the cloud. It’s possible he utilized the automated backup.”

“What the fuck is a cloud?” Brantley asked, glancing from one face to another.

Like the last time, Reese shook his head. Brantley was really getting tired of that response.

JJ ignored his question, too. “I agree. We’ll have to do a scan, though. I doubt he’ll openly use phrases that would call attention to it.” She snorted, then muttered, “Then again, he’s provin’ to be a world-class idiot.”

“Which do you want me to take, boss?” Luca asked her.

There was no response on the phone.

Brantley grinned, knowing JJ thought Luca was asking him. “JJ, he was talkin’ to you.”

“Me?” she squeaked. “Oh. I … uh … I’ll take the email since I’ve already got a path in. The phone’ll be a bit trickier. I know how you like a challenge, Luca.”

Luca grinned. “Your wish is my command.”

Brantley wouldn’t lie, he felt a little bit useless, but at least they had a string to pull on.

While they started on that, he stepped outside to make a call to the governor. Not exactly news he wanted to relay, but he’d promised to keep the family in the loop.

*

After Brantley and Reese left, Trey had politely excused himself to the kitchen, giving the Greenwoods a bit of privacy. He had taken a seat at the small dinette table, doing his best not to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place in the next room. Not an easy feat when the family was on edge and louder than they likely intended.

He wasn’t sure why Brantley thought it a good idea to leave him behind. He had absolutely no experience in this sort of situation. He didn’t know what to say to possibly ease their fears and worries. He had no idea what he would do if they asked for a status update, either.

But the one thing he’d learned about his brother: Brantley didn’t much care about his comfort level. At every turn, Trey found himself in an awkward situation, usually of Brantley’s design.

At least this was keeping his mind from wandering to last night.

It was still hard to believe it had only been hours and not days since he’d boldly gone back to his place with Magnus and spent hours indulging in the sinfully delicious man. Like this one, that wasn’t a situation Trey generally found himself in, either. He wasn’t a man-whore like so many would like to believe. He didn’t go around hopping from one man’s bed to the next. Nor did he invite them into his bed frequently.

If anything, Trey figured he was a serial monogamist. He preferred to be in a relationship, to have someone to talk to, laugh with. It was rare for him to go without an exclusive commitment. And he knew that wasn’t a good thing. It didn’t make for an appealing quality. Not as far as most men he’d been with recently were concerned, anyway.

Last night, he’d told Magnus that was all he wanted from him. One night of mind-blowing orgasms. With the light of day, they would move on, pretend it never happened. And while Magnus had slipped out like a thief in the night, here Trey was, violating his own rule. He shouldn’t be thinking about the sexy man or how good Magnus had felt moving beneath him while they both chased that elusive release.

Realizing sweat was forming on his brow, Trey forced the thoughts away, cleared his throat, and sat up straight.

He had damn good timing, because Corinne stepped into the room. She looked a bit worse for wear, tears streaking down her face.

“I’m so sorry we left you in here,” she said softly. “Can I get you somethin’ to drink? We’ve got water, tea, sodas. I was gonna make some coffee.”

“I’ll take coffee if you’re makin’ it,” he replied, keeping his voice low and even. “Thank you.”

Trey’s phone buzzed on the table.

He peered down, saw it was a text from Brantley: Tugging on a few strings to see where they lead. Will keep you updated.

That told him nothing really. Certainly not enough to relay to the Greenwoods, which he hoped was not something he was supposed to do.

Chapter Twenty

Baz loved watching JJ work.

It had been a fascination of his since the very beginning. With each case they handled