the back of my hand, and this isn’t it. “That’s not Vanessa.”
“The hell it’s not.” Cooper joins us at the door, looking at me like I’m nuts. “That’s definitely her.”
“It’s her sister,” I insist. Not that I’ve met her sister, but I’m sure that’s not Vanessa. “She has a twin, Valerie. That’s gotta be her.”
Both brothers are staring at me now, and I can’t tell if it’s respect or confusion. “I forgot she had a twin,” Gabe says.
I study the photo again. A faint wind rustles the trees behind us, making the knife sway in the door. A shiver runs down my spine.
“Dude.” Cooper shakes his head. “We figured you had something going with her, but that’s next-level stuff.”
I glare at him. “Identifying whether it’s her in a photo is next-level?”
Gabe shrugs. “Seems pretty serious to me.”
“It’s cool,” Cooper says. “Happy for you, man.”
I don’t have time to follow that train of thought. I turn back to the picture, struggling to piece it together. Whoever did this drove the knife straight through the middle of her face. The tip spears her forehead, and even knowing it’s not Vanessa, I’m flooded with rage.
And fear, though I don’t want to admit it.
“Should we get Vanessa over here?” Cooper asks. “Maybe she’d know who’d do this. She could at least tell us where that photo came from.”
“No.”
It’s not ‘til my brothers flinch that I realize how harshly I’ve said it. But I can’t let them terrorize Vanessa with this. It’s one thing to get a postcard in the mail or a creepy reptilian gift on the back porch. It’s another to see a knife between your sister’s eyes.
Eyes that look just like Vanessa’s. God. If I hadn’t spent so much time with her, I’d never have known the difference.
“I’ll handle it.” I tear my gaze off the photo and look from Gabe to Cooper. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Gabe’s brow furrows. “You sure? We should at least let the PI know—”
“I’ve got this.” I slip my phone out of my pocket and hit the home button. “I’ll reach out to Lieutenant Lovelin right now.”
My brothers exchange a look, then shrug. “All right.” Gabe glances at Cooper. “We were going to invite you back to the lodge. That brewery guy left a couple extra cases of beer.”
“And ginger ale,” Cooper says before I can get on his case. “He brews it himself.”
Gabe shoves his hands in his pockets. “Figured you’d be up for a guys’ night in.”
“Can I take a raincheck?” I glance back at the knife in my door, and my gut churns again. “Tomorrow, maybe.”
I don’t mention I’ve got plans tonight. Vanessa had a phone date with her sister, but that should wrap up soon. I’m just waiting for her call to come over.
The thought of seeing her again eases the discomfort in the pit of my stomach.
Gabe’s studying me, frowning. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Positive.” I hold up the phone, which is cued up to call Amy Lovelin. “I’ve got this covered.”
Cooper shrugs. “All right, but don’t blame us if you miss out on the ginger ale.”
Gabe laughs and turns to go. “Don’t worry, we’ll save you one. Maybe two, if you’re not an asshole.”
Cooper cracks up and falls into step with Gabe. “If that’s the criteria, he’s not getting any.”
I watch them walk away, the fading sun spotlighting them from behind. I don’t say it often enough, but my brothers are good guys. Annoying sometimes, but smart and kind and funny as hell. There’s no one else I’d trust to join me in a business venture like this, except obviously my sisters.
Maybe I should think about letting go a little more. Trusting them to handle things on their own.
No way. It’s your job to protect them. To keep them all safe.
I push the thought from my head and hit speed dial for Lieutenant Lovelin. She picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Dean,” she says. “Everything okay out there?”
I stare at my front door, at the knife embedded in a face that looks so much like Vanessa’s. A shudder ripples through me, and I have to pause and catch my breath.
“There’s something I’d like you to see.”
She’s quiet for a few beats. “You’re not in danger, are you?”
I don’t think so, but the knife gives me the creeps. “Probably not.”
“Dean?” Her voice tips up in concern. “Do I need to get a team out there?”
“Nothing that urgent.” The last thing I need is to have the place swarming with cops. “Just—could