Page 47 of Beautiful Revenge

She stares at the house so intently, it’s like she’s never seen it before as she finally shrugs. “Yes. When I did a search on the property, I hoped to throw some money at the current owners and buy it. I had no idea it was in foreclosure let alone this state. This isn’t good.”

I turn from her to the crime scene that’s fallen into disrepair. “What are you going to do with it?”

Her voice is thick with emotion. I’m not sure if she’s trying to convince me or herself that this is a good idea. “I’m going to live in it.”

My cell vibrates, but I focus on Harlow and send it straight to voicemail. I also forget all about the structure that looks like it may be haunted. “Here? In Winslet?”

She nods at the creepy-ass house before she turns to me. “I need a place to live. I could stay at my dad’s penthouse in New York or get another place to call my own. But I don’t want to be anywhere near Janie and need a change. I decided this is it.”

I let out a low whistle. “Harlow Madison, you are layered. From the first time I saw you, I never would’ve thought you’d want to live in a sleepy little town like this let alone settle in a dump like that.”

She frowns. “Don’t give me too much credit. I knew it was going to need some work, but this is worse than the pictures. Worse than I ever imagined.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to rough it in your grandmother’s house of horror?”

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she peeks at me through her dark lashes. “It means I’m going to need a place to stay longer than I thought.”

My cell rings again, but there’s nothing else I want to think about. I cross my arms and focus on the woman who is more intriguing by the moment. “Are you trying to sweet-talk me?”

“I didn’t think it would be this bad. I thought I could tough it out during renovations. You know, live through construction. Whoever sent me the pictures was a crafty photographer and edited out the police tape.” She sighs. “I found a local general contractor who said he could start as soon as I closed. How long is the manor booked out? I’m going to need a room. I’ve caused enough trouble for you since my doomsday of a wedding.”

“At least there wasn’t a marriage,” I remind her. “Don’t worry about a room. We’ll make it work.”

I put thoughts of dealing with my family out of my head. That’s a problem for another day. But I’m not irritated by the fact Harlow has no other place to stay. We might have availability here and there, but not for months on end.

Her choices are shit-out-of-luck or me.

I’m not sure which is worse.

There’s also no way I’m giving her another option other than yours truly.

“Thank you for stopping. I probably shouldn’t go in since it’s not officially mine yet. That’s something I need to emotionally prepare for. We should get back. I’m keeping you from your work. You have more important things to do than cater to me all day.”

“If I remember right, the trip into town was my idea.” I don’t make a move for the car and am about to suggest we take a walk on the wild side and trespass through the hellhole she plans to call home, but my cell alerts me again with a text this time.

Bella – When I ring you two times in a row, answer your damn phone. It’s bloody important.

“Hold that thought. I need to make a call.” I put my fingers to the screen.

It barely rings once. I don’t get a sarcastic greeting or even a berating for ignoring her like I usually get. Instead, my little sister is all-business with an intensity I do not like. “We have a problem. More specifically,youhave a problem, Dev. Where are you?”

Harlow tries to step away, but the tone of Bella’s voice puts me on edge. When I close the distance between us, Harlow freezes. “I took a trip to town. What’s wrong?”

“A guest who just checked in triggered one of your parameters,” Bella says.

“Who?” I demand. My unofficial targets have been pure speculation for years. Not one thing from the case that ended my career has come to light, which means my intel was shit even though my intuition still nags at me.

“Not who. What,” Bella corrects me. “A credit card that hasn’t been used in years has seen the light of day in the States. And not just the U.S. of A. It was run at your manor.”

“Fuck,” I bite.

Harlow tries to take another step away, but I give her a curt shake of my head.

I don’t know if it’s the fact my past has reared its ugly head at my place of business, or if it’s the need to keep herclose because the last time my senses were this heightened, a mate ended up dead on my watch.

I reach out for Harlow’s arm to pull her close to me.

Bella keeps talking. “I don’t recognize the name, but I double checked the credit card. Hell, I triple checked it. No activity in years until today. And the fact it’s at your place...” Bella lets that thought trail off. There’s no point in finishing it.