The Specialist (Norcross #3) - Anna Hackett Page 0,24
gaze met Harlow’s. “Did you hear from your father?”
She shook her head, worry churning in her stomach.
He strode out and touched the back of her neck. Then he spun and hugged his sister.
“Hello, big brother,” Gia drawled, watching them with interest.
“Saxon, you have anything?” Easton asked.
“Not as much as I’d like.” The men walked into Easton’s office.
“I don’t know all the details,” Gia said, “but I know you’ve got troubles. As someone who recently had some of her own unfun troubles, how are you holding up?”
There was sympathy in Gia’s brown eyes.
Harlow liked dealing with things herself. She’d always been too busy to have loads of girlfriends to unload with. She caught up with friends occasionally, especially Christie, but she didn’t have lots of people that she bared her soul to. She liked keeping her soul to herself.
But the understanding in Gia’s face broke Harlow down. “I’m hanging on by a thread here. My father’s in debt to a really bad guy. Said bad guy blackmailed me into having dinner with him.” Harlow swallowed. “And don’t tell Easton, but Antoine—”
“The bad guy?” Gia hitched a hip up on Harlow’s desk.
Harlow nodded. “He offered to wipe out my father’s debt…”
“In return for?”
“Me.”
“Ew.” Gia nibbled her bottom lip. “Yes, best not to tell my overprotective big brother that bit.”
“Then, to make matters worse, some unknown men tried to grab me off the street last night.”
“Oh no.” Gia’s eyes widened. “Are you okay?” She pressed a hand to Harlow’s shoulder.
“Easton beat them up.”
“He looks elegant, but make no mistake, there is an Army Ranger under the Armani.” Gia squeezed her shoulder. “He’ll keep you safe, Harlow.”
“I feel terrible that I’ve dragged him into this mess.”
Gia snorted. “Easton doesn’t let himself get dragged anywhere.” She smiled and leaned closer. “You strike me as super smart and competent, so I’m guessing you haven’t missed how he looks at you.”
Harlow’s heart did a little flip-flop. “Like he wants to choke me?”
“That, but mostly like he wants to get you out of that super-sleek dress I’m coveting, and do very naughty things to you. And I’m being nice here, because I dislike thinking about my brothers doing naughty things. Believe me, having three hot brothers is a cross to bear.”
Harlow laughed, but her smile dissolved. “He’s my boss, and I just can’t go there. Especially not with all my unfun troubles.” Harlow clenched her hands together. “I was supposed to meet my father this morning and he never showed. He isn’t answering his phone.”
Gia squeezed her shoulder again. “I’m sorry, Harlow. Lean on Easton. He has very broad shoulders. And Vander, Saxon, and Rhys will help.”
Harlow let out a shaky breath.
“Harlow?”
Her head jerked up. Easton looked grim.
She shoved to her feet. “What? Is it bad?”
“Come into my office.”
Her chest locked.
His face softened. “There’s no word on your dad.”
The air rushed back into her lungs. “Okay.”
She headed around her desk, and Gia stepped in behind her.
Easton eyed his sister with an arched brow.
“I’m coming for moral support,” Gia said.
Easton closed the door. Saxon was in the guest chair in front of Easton’s desk, and Gia perched on the arm. He slid one muscled arm around her.
The couple touched each other a lot. They were clearly in love. Harlow felt a funny burn under her ribcage.
Easton pressed a hand to Harlow’s back and led her to the other chair. Then he leaned back against his desk.
“Saxon tracked the Suburban’s partial plate.”
Her pulse leaped. “Okay.”
“It’s registered to Incise Incorporated. Which is a shell company.”
Harlow frowned. “So, there’s no way to trace it?”
“We traced it,” Saxon said. “The Norcross Security tech guru, Ace, followed the trail. It led them through a bunch of companies, and ended with Pierced Enterprises.” Saxon leaned back. “It’s owned by Rhoda Pierce.”
Harlow glanced at Easton. The name meant nothing to her, but he didn’t look happy.
“She’s in her late forties, smart, sharp, and savvy,” Easton said. “She owns some private clubs, and an online casino, and runs an illegal gambling operation. High-stakes games for anyone with the money to buy in.”
Harlow frowned. “I don’t understand why she’s after me. I don’t gamble. I don’t even play poker or roulette, or whatever the hell people play at illegal gambling spots. I don’t know a Rhoda Pierce.”
“Does your father play?” Easton asked.
“What?” She shook her head. “He saves his gambling for business. I’ve only ever seen him play cards at a charity casino night my mother ran once.”
“Okay, well, Vander and I will make contact with Pierce,” Saxon