Page 14 of Branded Souls (Ember Hollow Romance #3)

Fox

A ugust leaned back in the chair at the head of the conference table, arms crossed over his chest as he looked at all of us.

I stood near the wall closest to the door of the conference room, trying my best to hide my anxiety.

It was late in the evening, the only time we could call a meeting where all our brothers could make it to the Hearthstone Security and Investigation building.

Emersyn and Skye were back at the cabin.

Alone. But August and I had set up the basics of the security system and had the live camera feed from the perimeter of the cabin going directly to my phone.

If anyone came near the property, I would be notified.

Graham, the second oldest, ran a hand through his dark-brown curls. “Skye has been here for almost two weeks already working on this documentary.” He looked at August, like he knew there was more to this meeting. “Why all of a sudden is it so important for all of us to discuss it now? ”

August and I had called the meeting on the guise of discussing the implications of the documentary on our family. When really, I wanted to discuss what else was going on with Skye.

August’s face didn’t betray anything, but I felt the looks my brothers were sneaking my way when they thought I wasn’t paying attention.

“I truly have been meaning to get us all together to talk about how we felt about this doc coming out. Our sister’s story—our family’s story—is so closely entwined with it.” He let out a heavy breath. “But there’s something else.”

“Something else?” Roman grumbled. He was the oldest and the only one who no longer worked for the security business.

August and I exchanged the briefest of glances. I wasn’t in the mood to explain things.

“There’ve been some developments with Skye,” August continued. He quickly described the Jane Doe, how it could be her mother, and the computer tampering. “Fox is going to be working overtime on finding whoever is targeting her, so we’ll need all hands on deck while he’s occupied with this.”

My brothers nodded in almost perfect unison.

Reid, the youngest of us and our private investigator for the company, leaned his elbow on the table. He looked directly at me when he spoke. “What can I help with?”

I shifted my shoulders against the hard wall. Reid had recently gotten married, and his wife was very pregnant with their first baby. I hated to ask him to take on even more work right now.

“You can start with gathering as much information as you can find on Skye’s mother and what might have happened to her when she left the family.

” It was August who spoke, gaining Reid’s attention.

August picked up the file that had been sitting in front of him, and handed it to our youngest brother.

“Here’s the information we have on the Jane Doe.

If there’s any connection you can find, it would be helpful. ”

“I also want you to look into Charles Adler, see what he’s been doing.”

August glanced at me. “You think her father could be involved?”

My expression hardened. “I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

Reid took the folder, nodding. “I can do that.” He paused, his eyes flicking to me again. “How’s Skye handling all this?”

I didn’t want to talk about Skye.

I couldn’t believe what I’d gotten myself into. I didn’t want to talk about her, but I was going to be living with her? It was a lot to take in. But even after everything she had done, I couldn’t let something happen.

Reid watched me, expectant.

I cleared my throat. “Skye is…Skye,” I muttered.

Reid furrowed his brow, but nodded. “She’s always been a fighter, I guess.”

There was a pause before Roman spoke up, straightening in his chair and looking directly at me. “You gonna be okay?”

His expression was steady, as always. Where August was the natural leader, Roman was the natural protector.

He was always busy, working as a firefighter—he’d been promoted to chief, which was why he no longer worked for Hearthstone part-time—and raising his little girl.

He’d lost his wife shortly after my niece, Hailey, was born and he’d been doing it all ever since.

But he never stopped looking out for us .

“I’m good.” I nodded. “I’ll feel better when all this is over and she’s back where she belongs.”

Something twisted in my chest, a feeling I didn’t want to acknowledge. I had always known Skye was meant for bigger things than Ember Hollow, but I had thought I’d be with her wherever she ended up.

Not left behind like an unwanted pet, wondering what I’d done wrong.

Now that she was back, I knew better than to get caught up in her orbit.

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t forget to take care of yourself,” he warned.

I could’ve told him to do the same. “I will.”

“Can I get a copy of the case file?” Graham asked, cutting through the tension. “I can work up a profile of Jane Doe’s murderer and see if it matches with the Shadow Stalker. Since she’s an unconfirmed victim.”

Graham was a forensic psychologist. He knew the Shadow Stalker better than anyone, having interviewed the man himself shortly after he was arrested and brought to the regional detention center nearby. The court had called Graham in to assess his mental state at the time.

August raised his brows. “That would be helpful. I’ll get that sent to you as soon as possible.”

A beat of silence settled over us, the weight of everything pressing down on us like fog.

Reid pressed his lips together. “It’s strange that they’d been watching her computer for days and just now started deleting files.”

“Maybe they had already deleted files, but were more discreet about it,” I offered .

Reid lifted a shoulder. “It’s possible.” He looked over at Graham. “If Jane Doe is Skye’s mother, and she is actually one of the Shadow Stalker’s earliest known victims, then why would anyone care that Skye is looking to identify her?”

“It seems very strange, but I don’t think we have enough information.” Graham looked over at me. “Skye is a public figure. She must have fans out there, people who either love her…or hate her. Perhaps this has nothing to do with Jane Doe or the Shadow Stalker.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Maybe. Honestly, motive hasn’t been an immediate priority over her security.”

“That’s why you have us.” Reid shut the file and set it back flat on the table. “When she’s secure and safe, we can get more information.”

I glanced around the room, at the men I’d grown up with—my brothers, my team, my only constants. They were already moving into action, already ready to help, ready to be whatever I needed.

“Thank you,” I said, throat tight.

Reid grimaced. “Don’t thank me. I still owe you for helping save Lark.”

It seemed a long time ago when Lark, his now wife, had needed saving. I looked away and shrugged it off.

“What our little brother is trying to say,” August cut in, “is that we all look out for one another. No matter what.”

I swallowed hard. Nodding, I pushed away from the wall, suddenly needing some fresh air and the stillness of night, anything to ground the restless energy building inside me.

“I’ll keep you all posted,” I said.

Roman gave me a long look before nodding .

As I left the room, a single thought burned in my chest like a promise: if protecting Skye meant risking everything again…I’d do it. I only hoped my brothers wouldn’t get caught up in the crosshairs.

A ugust threw his truck into park in front of the cabin.

When the headlights blinked off, the heavy, stifling darkness settled around us.

A single light was fixed to the siding beside the front door.

It wouldn’t be enough. I’d have to look into getting some better lighting out here. Maybe ones on a motion sensor.

My brother and I sat for a moment in silence. I stared blankly ahead, my overnight duffel bag on my lap.

“I know we keep asking you this, but are you all right?” August asked.

I felt him glancing at me from the corner of his eye, his hand squeezing the steering wheel. My stare locked on the cabin, on the door I knew Skye was waiting behind. “No.”

It was the first time I answered with honesty. In the stillness and quiet, the reality set in. I didn’t regret my decision to keep Skye safe, but I was tired, and sleeping in the same place as my ex was not something I looked forward to.

I let out a heavy breath. “But I will be,” I finished, hoping to convince myself along with my brother.

Not waiting for his answer, I opened the door and jumped out of the truck.

August followed quietly behind me. When we were a few steps from the front door, the dead bolt snapping open met my ears .

Emersyn pulled open the door. “Hey, guys.” She greeted us with a meek, concerned smile as we stepped inside the small cabin.

Looking around the space now, knowing I would share it with Skye, made my skin itch. There was really no place to get away from each other.

I stepped to the side, giving August a clear path to Emersyn. He marched forward, not missing a beat as he wrapped his arms around Emersyn and pressed his lips to hers.

I looked away, giving them a moment, and met a pair of hazel-green eyes. The tops of Skye’s cheekbones reddened as she shifted on her feet.

My stomach tightened as the unwelcome memory of what it used to feel like kissing Skye surfaced. As if on their own, my eyes darted to her lips. I had long ago memorized the shape of them, the taste of them.

Her mouth parted as she pulled in a sharp breath, yanking me free of my thoughts. My hand tightened around the strap of my duffel bag and I gave my head a little shake. Those were thoughts I definitely didn’t need to entertain.

Embarrassment crept under my skin as I avoided her gaze. Skye wasn’t mine anymore. I didn’t even want her to be. The thoughts of kissing her needed to stay far away from the front of my mind.

“We’re gonna get going.” August’s voice was a welcome distraction. He had an arm slung over Emersyn’s shoulders, and she leaned into him. “Emy’s tired.”