Chapter 4
“We should go in now then,” Falcon said softly, anticipation rumbling just below the soft tone of his voice as he started the Suburban and put it in gear. “She runs again, and we may not find her until she is but a corpse. If then.”
That was a probability, Raeg thought, pushing back the arousal and the anticipation he couldn’t help but feel.
It had been five months since he’d seen her. In the past eight years, five months had never passed that he hadn’t seen her, argued with her, touched her, even if it was in the most impersonal way. She always seemed to bring the sunshine with her, he thought wearily. What was it Falcon called her sometimes? Summer-shine. That was what it was like, feeling the warmth of that season when she was around, whether she was charming them to distraction or driving Raeg insane with the sugary little jabs.
And Summer was like a drug. Didn’t matter if it was the argument or merely seeing her now, her physical presence lit up a room with her smile and her bright violet eyes. It was still a fix, and he hadn’t had his in far too long.
“Fuck this up, Raeg, and you and I will have words.” Falcon surprised him, not just with the warning, but also with the fact that he was dead serious. “Do not antagonize her to the point that she refuses to allow us to watch her back.”
Raeg stared at his brother thoughtfully. In all the years they’d argued over Summer, Falcon had never given him an ultimatum before.
“We’re always having words where Summer’s concerned,” he finally pointed out, knowing even as he said it, it was a mistake. “What would make this time any different?”
“This time, I doubt I would forgive you. Especially if she’s hurt because of it.” Falcon flicked him a determined look as they turned into the drive leading to the beach house. “And I will definitely not forgive you should anything happen to her because of your animosity toward her.”
And that, Raeg knew, Falcon wouldn’t threaten lightly.
The fact that Raeg was going to eventually lose the woman was a definite, but he never considered losing his brother as well.
Dammit.
Now things were just going to get complicated.
“And if something happens to her because we are trying to protect her?” he asked his brother. “What will we do then?”
Falcon shook his head. “As far as we know, the past is dead.”
“The past never really dies, Falcon,” he sighed heavily. “Only its victims. Let’s try to keep that in mind until we at least have Dragovich taken care of.”
Then, maybe, he could ensure Falcon at least stayed with her, if that was what he decided to do. Raeg couldn’t discount the possibility. If he simply played the third, hid his own ever deepening hunger, his own need for more, maybe, he could protect his brother and the woman both of them ached so desperately for.
Dammit.
Now how had Falcon managed to find her?
Summer stepped into the private beach house before throwing a glare back at the white curtains billowing in the breeze and blowing through the open French doors.
He should have never found her so quickly. Hell, he shouldn’t have even been looking for her after the last run-in she’d had with him.
Evidently Esteban de la Cortez Falcone, or “Falcon” as most who knew him, called him, was far more stubborn than she’d believed him to be.
But five months?
Really?
After four months he should have given up. Especially after believing she’d committed the unpardonable sin of chopping off all her hair to only a few inches in length. He’d always sworn he’d never forgive her for that.
Not that she would ever dare cut more than just the ends of her hair. Her family would just disown her, she was sure, if she did such a thing. Besides, she loved her hair. There wasn’t a chance she’d willingly mutilate it in such a way.
Making Falcon believe she had, then running, would be enough to convince him to just go home and give up. She was certain of it.
She’d obviously forgotten how stubborn he could be. That was her bad. Now, she’d simply have to deal with it. And if she knew Falcon, she might just have enough time to get dressed.
Maybe.
She’d make certain to throw his little system into overdrive and just wear the nightie if she hadn’t glimpsed someone in the vehicle with him. God only knew who he was working with now, and flashing an unknown male wasn’t her favored sport.
At least, not this week.
Thankfully she knew how to be quick as well.
The short, casual white chiffon skirt and matching white cami tank were already laid out, along with strappy, flat thong sandals. She’d intended to pack and leave after she’d had her coffee and a piece of the crumb cake she’d made the night before for the drive home. It was a good thing she’d made a full pan rather than just a few muffin-sized ones.
Brushing her hair, she pulled it over her shoulder and quickly braided it. Maybe while he was arguing with her, Falcon would braid it for her. Her hair hadn’t been properly braided since she left Arlington, come to think of it. She hadn’t had a chance to get to her favorite hairdresser either. But Falcon had always found such pleasure in playing with her hair that she actually found it quite relaxing.
Damn, this was messing with her intended schedule. Her family was expecting her home soon. She was supposed to leave in a matter of hours if she wanted to get there tonight in time to get some sleep before Sunday breakfast.
She’d promised her sister Aunjenue she’d been there tonight as well. Evidently Auna was having problems with some guy and wanted to talk to Summer about it. Auna, love her heart, had far too many admirers.
Finishing the braid and tying it off, Summer checked the mirror quickly. No makeup was required, she didn’t believe. She was going for casual yet relaxed. She looked fine.
Good enough for a former partner and his current partner at least.
The thought of that current partner had her inhaling without regret, but still, a bit of bitter sweetness. She and Falcon had worked very well together. The few times he’d convinced his brother Raeg to join them, Raeg had actually put aside his animosity for her, and they’d functioned so well that when he’d left, she’d found herself missing him.
When Raeg wasn’t being a prick, when he wasn’t trying to make her feel like she wasn’t only helpless, but just shy of an actual IQ quotient, then she’d been fascinated by him. He was quick, as intelligent as Falcon and just as instinctive on a mission. He could look at the operational plan, pick its flaws apart, and by time he and Falcon finished yelling out the strengths and weaknesses of each move, it was flawless.
Senator’s chief of staff indeed. She suspected he did far more for Davis Allen than any chief of staff had ever been wrangled into. She remembered her godfather nearly having a melt-down when Raeg had mentioned resigning the year before and perhaps doing something else. He hadn’t just gotten a handsome pay raise as incentive to stay, but several exceptional perks as well.
And when he and his half brother, Falcon, were together, it was like finally getting a glimpse of the heart and soul of both men. Apart, they simply lacked something that came together whenever they worked side by side.
They were an interesting combination. Unfortunately, she’d only had a chance to work with them together a few times. Once Raeg returned to his duties with the senator, the prick came back in full strength and it was like trying to get along with a rabid wolf.
A roughly handsome, sexy-as-hell, but still entirely rabid wolf.
Smiling at the analogy she left the bedroom and swept through the beach house. The wide hallway, open living room, dining and kitchen areas had seaside views, full-length windows, and a multitude of French doors left open, long white sheers fluttering in the sweet breeze drifting through the house.
