earlier this afternoon. Now I understand why he’s been so secretive about it,” Eve said. It was no surprise to Kai that she’d been brought in. Eve McKay had been an FBI profiler for years before joining the private sector. Kai was interested in her take on the case and the potential killer. She had more experience in criminal psychology and profiling than he did.
“Why did he wait so long to bring you in? He’s known about this case for a few weeks.”
Eve sat back. “I think Alex is trying to do it all himself right now. He’s been trying to take things off Ian’s plate so Ian can focus on his family. I also think he was doing it out of respect for you. It’s why we’re bringing so few people into this. Alex wants to give you the chance to decide if you want to make the relationship public or not. I have to think there’s a reason you never talk about your brother.”
He could come up with a million. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one who could out them as related. “My relationship with Jared is complicated, but I doubt I’ll get out of this operation without it coming out in the open. I might keep my mouth shut, but Jared won’t. He’s got some kind of agenda.”
There was always drama with Jared. Whether it was his career or the collection of women who were always willing to fight over him, or himbos at the gym arguing over who had the best biceps, drama followed his brother wherever he went.
“What if his agenda is to have a closer relationship with you?” Eve asked, her voice soft.
He didn’t even want to head into that territory. “How many other people know about Jared at this point?”
“Nice deflection,” Eve murmured before continuing on. “Pretty much everyone at the club should know about our guest by now. Big Tag sent out an e-mail earlier today asking that everyone treat Jared like a regular club member and that the first person to drool, scream, or ask for an autograph will be shot. I’m hoping that was sarcasm. I can’t tell these days. The film crew is going to shoot in Sanctum during times that the club is closed, but they’re looking for extras. That particular e-mail went out about an hour ago. It didn’t talk about Jared’s relationship with you. I don’t even think Charlotte knows about it yet.”
So that explained how Kori hadn’t known about the film crew. He was still mulling it over. She’d been shocked to see Jared standing there. Horrified actually was a better word.
Jared knew why and he wasn’t talking unless he got what he wanted.
The door opened and the team selected for this op started to filter in. Big Tag held the door open as his wife, Charlotte, walked through, followed by FBI Special Agent Rush, Alex McKay, and Big Tag’s brother Case Taggart. With the exception of the FBI agent who had contacted McKay a few weeks back, this particular op was a family affair.
Case was the only one of Big Tag’s biological brothers still working with him. Ian had started McKay-Taggart with his brother Sean at his side. A few years later, younger half brothers Case and Theo had joined him after Sean had left to pursue the only slightly safer job of chef. With Theo gone, Case was Tag’s last brother in the business. It wasn’t so surprising he kept his baby brother close.
Case dropped into the chair across from Kai. “What can I do for Kori? Anything. I swear that girl needs a handy man, I’m her guy. She likes flowers, I’ll fill her house up.”
Ian chuckled as he took the seat at the head of the table. “He’s happy Erin’s going to the doctor. And he doesn’t even have to go with her. He was willing to do that. You should have seen Erin’s face when he offered to be her coach. You made her throw up again, dude.”
“I think that was the baby. Any baby of Theo’s is going to be trouble.” Case’s lips curled up and then he sobered as if remembering his brother was gone all over again. “Anyway, I’m grateful Kori’s helping out. With Faith and Ten back in Africa for a couple of months, Erin needs a friend.”
“Kori seems to know how to handle her.” She’d definitely known how to handle him. By the time they’d gotten into the elevator, he’d been calmer. Her thumb had