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I was so damn tired, I needed to hit the sack and get some shuteye.

Luckily, the team had a two-month break before our next investigation.

We’d been non-stop for months, and we were all dangerously close to burnout.

I’d argued and gained a long break for them.

It wasn’t as if the network didn’t have enough footage to make another three seasons easily.

They had plenty because of our constant filming.

The team had returned to Spearfish with me, and we’re hired a house for two months.

It was the first time we had been back since I’d slept with Sunny eight months ago.

That wasn’t because I’d been avoiding him, but because we’d booked investigations back-to-back.

My problem was saying no when someone contacted us for help.

But seeing how drained we all were, I’d finally said we were on a break.

We’d arrived in Spearfish this morning and headed for the house.

It wasn’t far from the compound but had enough distance for my privacy.

Clio had texted me an invitation for this evening to the clubhouse, but I had refused.

We were so damn tired, all we wanted to do was sleep.

I’d told Clio we would see her this weekend.

Clio had been disappointed but said she understood.

I collapsed full length on my bed and closed my eyes. I didn’t even have the energy to get undressed.

◆◆◆

“Are we going to look at Ravenberry Manor again while we are here?” Freddie asked as she shovelled cereal into her mouth.

“We’re on a break,” I replied as I sipped my coffee.

“Yes, but Ravenberry was fun. And it wouldn’t be a formal investigation, you know, for the network,” Harry added.

“Seriously? You guys want to work instead of relaxing?” I questioned, eyeing the pool outside.

“Yeah,” Phil said.

“We’ve got all the equipment. Let’s take two weeks and then hit the Manor. You think Lavender will open the doors to us again?” Jack inquired.

“You’re all insane,” I objected.

“Maybe, but that Manor was fun. It would be nice to have something of our own, without the networks breathing down our necks about deadlines,” Freddie said.

I rolled my eyes as the woman picked up her bowl and drank the milk from it.

“That remains disgusting,” Harry pointed out.

Freddie shrugged. She didn’t care. “Waste not, want not.”

“I’ll contact Lavender. I know the museums opened this March, but I also know she’s still got a ton of items to value. However, the rooms should all be cleared by now,” I said.

Everyone nodded and finished eating breakfast.

“I’m hitting the pool,” Harry announced and headed outside with Phil and Freddie on his heels.

“If you want a longer break, I can speak to the others,” Jack offered.

“No. I am good. Two weeks of rest and relaxation is what I need. I’m surprised they want to work.”

“They’re not working, though. This is fun for them. No cameras on them, just doing what they love to do, Callie.”

“Fair do, if that’s what you want, I’m okay with it. But remember, we’ve a two-month break. Make the most of it,” I said.

“Are you hitting the pool?” Jack asked as laughter came from the outside.

“Not with those animals in it. I don’t need to be dunked a hundred times. I’m going to hit the shops, I think. There’s a really cool soap and incense shop in town.”

“Enjoy yourself,” Jack replied and headed out.

◆◆◆

I was taking a selfie with a fan when I felt eyes on me. Glancing around, I couldn’t spot anyone. I exchanged a few words and carried on into the shop I’d planned to visit.

“Hi there, are you looking for something in particular or just browsing?” a woman asked, and I turned with a smile.

“Browsing, thank you,” I replied.

“Let me know if you want anything,” she responded, and I nodded. I picked up a basket, and wandering around the shop, I began filling it.

“I think I need another basket,” I said as I approached the woman. She looked at me and chuckled.

“Looks like it. I’ll hold that for you.”

“Thanks.”

After I filled a second basket and paid, I headed out with my bags.

When I’d arrived, I parked at the old Hellfire clubhouse, which was now their garage.

They also had a carwash and a parking lot there.

I’d parked next to the garage and left before anyone had seen me.

At the clubhouse was a second garage, one that Fanatic built his designs in.

Due to the high costs of the vehicles Fanatic worked on, they’d decided to keep that one close in case of theft.

My understanding was: originally Fanatic’s workshop was supposed to be with the main garage. But as said, when you’re building cars that sell for six figures, you don’t have them open to John Q Public. As I reached my car, I felt like I was being watched again and spun around.

What I saw made my mouth run dry.

Keen eyes watching me as he lounged against a wall, his ankles crossed, and a look on his face I couldn’t describe was the man who haunted my dreams. Sunny. He straightened up and headed towards me.

Fuck. I had not spoken to him in eight months, and looking at him now, it hurt. He had fucked my brains out and given me more orgasms than I’d had in my entire life. And then forgotten he’d done it.

“You good?” Sunny asked as he approached.

“Yeah, just shopping. We are taking a two-month break, our schedule has been hectic, and we’re close to burnout. I thought I’d buy some scented stuff as I love the things that woman makes. Are you okay?”

Sunny blinked at my babble.

“Take a breath, Callie.”

“Sorry. My mind’s just ticking over constantly. I got to learn to relax,” I muttered.

“You seem nervous. Did I do something?” Sunny murmured, stepping closer to me.

I wanted to back up and escape him. I wanted to yell, ‘You fucked me senseless and did not even remember. The best night of my life meant nothing to you.’ Instead, I said, “I’m fine.”

“Liar. When a woman says she’s okay, she isn’t. Talk to me.”

“Nothing to say. I’ve got to go, lots of shopping to do!” I chirped happily and hoped Sunny didn’t catch the falseness in my voice.

By his narrowed eyes, I’d failed. “See you soon, sweet girl,” Sunny said softly, sending shivers down my spine.

Sunny

It was her. That scent was burned into his nostrils, and she was wearing it again. Fuck, Callie was the mystery woman, and Sunny didn’t remember their night together. There was panic in Callie’s eyes as she looked to escape him.

He stepped back, and Callie literally fled with a half-hearted wave goodbye. Sunny watched her go.

“Run, Callie,” he muttered. “You and I are going to have a reckoning soon.”

Callie

Even that encounter had weakened my knees.

Before I’d slept with him, Sunny had attracted me.

He might have been fifty-one and me twenty-eight, which left a twenty-three-year age gap, but it didn’t bother me.

He was fitter than most men half his age.

I knew from exploring his body he still had defined muscles, and he took care of himself.

Chance was older than Clio, and Bear older than Thalia. Age was just a number.

Sunny had held my attention because of the quiet way he conducted himself. I knew he was watching his brothers for a traitor. And I hoped he was wrong. But I was drawn to him like a moth to a light. Sunny was irresistible. At least he was to me.

“Hello,” a voice said, and I glanced up and smiled.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked Madisen, who looked fantastic as usual in her nineteen-twenties dress.

“Shopping. I escaped my nutcase cousins for the day,” Madisen snickered, and I laughed.

Madisen had raised some real self-worth issues for me. The daughter of a now-dead mobster, Madisen marched to the tune of her own drums and was incredibly confident. Levi doted on her and her cousins. Madisen ran a nineteen-twenty speakeasy, which was set over a couple of levels.

Her cousin Brandy was in a relationship with Madisen’s other cousin, Camille.

Brandy had an office in the building where she operated the family’s charitable donations.

Meanwhile, Camille owned a dance studio in the same building as The Midnight Hour.

Madisen’s cousin, Camille’s sister Tamsin, owned a nineteen-twenty clothes shop in the same building as well.

The four of them were a force to be reckoned with.

“Callie, are you okay? You look a little flustered,” Madisen asked as her gaze flicked to the figure of Sunny walking back to the garage.

“Fine. Perfectly good. Where are you headed now?”

“I was going to get a coffee and a snack. Do you want to join me?”

“That would be wonderful. I planned to hit a steampunk clothing shop that opened recently here. I love their clothing,” I said.

“Yeah, but you don’t go full steampunk,” Madisen murmured as she studied me. “You know, I think Tami had some items you’d like. It’s not your usual style, but come see what she has.”

“Sure, why not?” I replied as she linked her arms with mine. “Let’s head to Clio’s tearoom for a coffee and lunch.”

“Perfect,” Madisen agreed.

◆◆◆

I winced at the bags piled at my feet. Tami was laughing as she placed three more down.

“How am I going to get them back to the car?” I demanded. The clothes had been amazing in Tami’s shop, so I had spent a small fortune.

“I’ll call for a candidate,” Madisen said.

“No, don’t. Some of them I do not like,” I replied. Shocked that the words had left my mouth, I clapped a hand over it.

Madisen and Tami started to laugh.

“No, a couple are assholes. But I know one who isn’t, have you met Jinx? He is adorable, if he’s at the garage, he’ll come help.”

“Not in my shop!” Tami gasped and began grabbing bags.

“He is danger-prone, isn’t he?” I agreed, grabbing bags, too.

“I swear to God, that boy was cursed with bad Juju,” Madisen said as Brandy entered.

“Hey, Cuz, grab some, please. We’re going to call for Jinx, but Tami doesn’t want him in her place,” Madisen called.