Page 49 of Finding Denver

The message ends.

“Fuck, what do I do?” I ask Lewis. “Ranger will lose his shit if I go.”

“What if it’s about the Capellis?” Lewis asks. “There’s a reason Finn has men everywhere. If the Capellis have threatened you, then you need to know. Ranger doesn’t have the range out here to get that information.”

I chew my lip. Lewis is right. Ranger doesn’t even know what happened the other night, because if he did, he’d already be here. I need to know what’s happening.

I guess I’m going to lunch with Finn McEwan.

I’m striding through the hotel lobby when I spot the men Lewis mentioned. Two are sitting on couches reading newspapers, and one tracks me as I leave. Another is by the door, and one more is across the street.

How many more are there that I’ve missed?

I’m embarrassingly late when I stroll through the doors of Sleek. It’s a bright, airy place, with white tablecloths, large windows, and mirrors that give the illusion of an even bigger space. I look over my shoulder to speak to Lewis. “Can you wait by the?—”

I slam into a brick wall. But the wall has hands, and they’re on my upper arms, keeping me upright.

“You’re late, Del.”

I blink up at Colt. He isn’t smiling, but amusement dances in his eyes as he keeps hold of me. He’s in a white shirt, the top button loose, tattoos peeking through. His sleeves are rolled up, his signature ink on full display. A man no longer in hiding.

The last time we were this close, he was holding me as Isobbed, and the memory has my skin flushing painfully hot.

“You’re here.”

He tilts his head. “I am. And Finn is waiting.”

Right. Finn. I lean to the side, and that’s when I notice the restaurant is totally empty except for Finn and one other person. He’s sitting with a woman at a round table in the center of the room.

“I thought it was just him,” I whisper.

Colt smiles. “Where’s the fun in that?” He finally releases my arms. “Go on.”

“Wait, are you not coming?” I shove aside my pride and relative dislike of him in favor of knowing at least one person at the table.

“I need to make a call.” He leans close, his lips by my ear. “Knock ’em dead, Del.”

Not the advice I need, given what happened last time I was in a restaurant.

Lewis tells me he’ll wait at the edge of the restaurant and gives me an encouraging nod as I walk over to the table. Finn stands, and the woman I saw Colt with the other night stands, too. She must be Helena McEwan.

“Denver. It’s been too long.” She yanks me into a bone-crushing hug, and it takes a lot of effort not to wince.

“Long?” I squeak as she pulls back. “We’ve met before?”

She laughs, but her smile fades when she realizes I’m not joking. “Yes, we’ve met before,” she says and places her hand on her chest. “Elephant.”

I wait for her to elaborate, but she doesn’t. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“We sent you cards every year. Birthdays, Christmases … ever since you were little. We even came to see you a few times, didn’t we, Finn?” Finn nods silently. Helena continues. “Your mom always called us Hel and Finn, but you were little, and you heard?—”

“Elephant,” I say quietly. “I remember, but … I didn’t know that was you.”

I have vague memories of meeting my parents’ friends. Of cards signedElephant. But it was so long ago.

Finn clears his throat and leans over to kiss my cheek. “Either way, it’s lovely to see you. Despite the circumstances.”

Is this a business meeting? I doubt he kisses other people on the cheek. There’s a chance he’s not used to working with women, as is the case with most men in this life, or maybe this urgency has nothing to do with what happened at the restaurant.