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“He’s already dead,” Kade replied flatly. “That’s why we’ve been trying to talk to Mia. When she lost her memory, obviously Travis couldn’t say anything. But he needed her to know that Danny’s dead. She’s on the run because she doesn’t know. She’s still trying to protect us. I know she left that note and ran again to try to protect you. She loves you, Max. If you don’t understand anything else, you have to know that.”
“The guy is dead. Was it Travis?” Max questioned, really pissed now that he’d never have the chance to make the bastard breathe his last.
Kade shrugged nonchalantly, like his brother killed people every day. “He won’t admit it. He says he finally tracked Danny down in Colorado and went to have a talk with him.” He quirked an eyebrow at Max as he continued, “We know exactly what kind of ‘talks’ Travis would have when someone threatens his family. He says Danny fled before he could even get his hands on him. Travis got in his car and chased him down some winding mountain road and Danny made a fatal driving error. Danny’s car went over the side of the mountain. Travis confirmed he was dead before he sent his guys to escort Mia back home.”
Fatal driving error?Hell, Travis had been a professional racecar driver before he’d focused his attention on his father’s business. The asshole had never had a chance. Travis could make maneuvers that would make other guys piss themselves in fear. “Travis outmaneuvered him,” Max stated aloud.
Kade smirked. “You think?”
“I’m glad the bastard is dead. I just regret not having a chance at him myself. I’d tear his fucking head off for hurting Mia.”
Kade’s smile grew broader. “You know, you get less and less like Mr. Perfect every day. You’re starting to sound pretty brutal. What happened to the calm, smooth, and completely controlled Max Hamilton?”
“Never had any control when it comes to Mia. She makes me crazy,” Max rumbled, slamming his empty coffee mug on the table in front of him a lot harder than necessary. “Why didn’t Travis contact her once Danny was dead and tell her?”
“He had agents keeping an eye on her. He tried to call a few times after Danny died, but she didn’t answer. They hadn’t had any contact since she left. He sent her money in a convoluted way so nobody could track it, money that she barely touched the whole time she was here. Travis didn’t want anyone to link the two of them together in any way. This house was left to Mia by Gran, along with her funds in trust, but I know I didn’t even think about it. Did you?” When Max shook his head reluctantly, Kade continued, “Travis sent his guys in to pick Mia up when he couldn’t reach her by phone and bring her home. He wanted to meet her at the jet to tell her, but he had some critical meeting that he couldn’t get out of. When he got home, she wasn’t there. She must have got to his place and left for the park almost immediately.”
“Why was she there? Did she know we’d be there?” Max asked quietly, wondering why Mia had come directly to the park that day.
“I’m not sure. My guess is she saw the invitation from Sam on Travis’ cupboard. He said it was in the kitchen on the table when he got home.” Kade frowned as he finished, “It’s the only thing that makes sense. Her shorter hair and the hair color were probably things she did before she left Montana. She didn’t know Danny was dead and probably wanted to keep a low profile.”
“She came for me,” Max said huskily, the thought slamming him in the gut, hope starting to bloom. “She knew I would probably be there since Sam was hosting the picnic.”
“Nah…I think she was looking for me,” Kade replied with a laugh, chuckling even louder as Max shot him a hostile look. “Or maybe not, since she was staring at you with a nauseatingly lovesick look.”
“She seemed…different after the accident. Still Mia, but more…” Max wasn’t quite sure how to explain it so he finished, “whole.” He was still kicking himself in the ass for never noticing that she had needed him earlier. He’d been too busy running away to realize that she was twisting herself in knots and needed reassurance as much as he did.
“I don’t think it was the accident that changed her. She went through counseling while she was here in Montana. It was her deal with Travis. He made her promise she’d find someone to talk to, try to heal,” Kade told Max quietly. “I think maybe it helped. I didn’t get to see her often because I was on the road so much after I started college, but she seemed different to how she had been when she was younger. Like she was more comfortable in her own skin.”
Travis strode out of the kitchen, pocketing his cell phone as he said, “She’s at the airport. She bought herself a one-way ticket to Los Angeles.”
“What the hell for?” Max asked belligerently.
“She’s on the run. It’s a big city,” Travis surmised. “She’s going to try to get lost in a crowd.”
“When? Do you have the info?” There was no way Mia was flying away from him. “What time is it?”
Kade wasn’t wearing a watch and he looked at Travis. “I didn’t bring my cell.”
Travis pulled up the long sleeve of his casual shirt and glanced at his Rolex. “It’s nine. Her flight leaves at eleven thirty.”
Max was already on his feet. “I’ve got this. You two can go home. It’s time for my wife and me to come to an understanding,” he said menacingly. “No more interference,” he warned Travis, spearing him with a warning glance.
Travis walked to Max, holding out his hand. “Agreed. Don’t ever hurt her, and I won’t have to kill you. She’s been through enough, Max. Make her happy.”
Max looked from Travis to Kade, suddenly realizing that all three siblings had been through hell. Maybe Mia would tell him more than the bare minimum about her life growing up if he gave her the chance. Her past had influenced her when she was younger, but it hadn’t broken her. Max gripped Travis’ hand and shook it. “Thanks for messing up my face.”
Travis smirked. “Likewise.”
At that moment, he and Travis had reached an understanding, a man-to-man agreement that neither one would ever break.
“I’ll change clothes in the car.” Max snatched his keys from his front pocket and raced toward the door. He needed to at least throw on a clean shirt. He’d showered, but he must have spilled some drops of whiskey on the front of the shirt he had on. He could still smell it.
“Need a clean shirt?” Kade asked cheerfully. “I have extras.”
Max rolled his eyes as he opened the door, looking at Kade’s blinding orange florescent shirt. He wasn’t quite sure what the blobs of gray and black were dotting the surface, but he thought they were fish…or sharks.
“Hell no. I do want her to actually come back to me,” he told his brother-in-law bluntly, closing the door behind him.