Page 74 of Theirs to Hunt

"You saw flaws before legal, ops, or IT caught them. That matters. We've all seen it."

My throat tightens. "You want me to leave that role?"

"I want you to do for the rest of the company what you did there. Special Projects is internal audits. Operations cleanups. And sometimes outside work with Devon." He pauses. "Sometimes we have to circumnavigate the law to prevent harm. And sometimes we deliver justice outside the courtroom. But we protect the innocent. Always."

That last part lands hard. No apology in it.

I nod once.

"Do you have someone to take over customer service?"

"Not yet."

"Shawna," I say immediately. "She can maintain what I built. I'd want oversight to stay under my umbrella in case she needs help."

He doesn't hesitate. "Approved."

He slides a slim leather cardholder across the counter. Black keycard. Unmarked. Cool to the touch. "What's this open?"

"Everything."

I pick it up, turning it in my fingers. It feels heavier than it should. "You trust me with this?"

"I trust what you'll become with it. And I'd rather shape that than let someone else try."

Chapter sixty-three

Reagan, Sunday 08:20 p.m.

The night air smells of smoke and rosemary. Brooks is manning the smoker a few feet away, bourbon in one hand, the other adjusting the foil-wrapped tray resting inside. The pulled pork has been cooking low and slow all day, and the rich, savory scent hangs in the air, mingling with rosemary and wood smoke. It makes me regret my next question. But some things can’t be put off, especially when their answers could decide the future of our relationship.

“Can dinner wait?”

He checks the thermometer, nods to himself, then transfers the foil-wrapped tray into a stainless warmer set on the side counter.

“Meat’s done. It’ll hold for an hour.”

The casualness is for my benefit. Like he’s not wound tight with the same tension I am. But I catch the flick of his eyes as he passes. He knows exactly where this is going.

I keep my hand on the card and look up at Grayson.

“Before we go further… why me? If I’m going to leave reason to the side and take this leap, I need to know how deep the water is.”

He doesn’t speak right away. Doesn’t deflect either.

Brooks joins us, settles next to Grayson, and angles his chair so I’m facing both of them. He takes my free hand and meets my eyes, his voice quiet. Unapologetic.

“I saw you in an elevator,” he says. “You were with someone else. Talking, laughing. Warm. Totally in the moment. And yeah, you were gorgeous. But it was more than that. Something about you called to me. So I followed it. I started digging, watching, pulling your file. Every piece made me fall harder. Made us both fall harder.”

I glance at Grayson. He’s still silent. Still and sharp.

Brooks goes on, slower now.

“My dad needs loyalty. It’s not just something he values. It’s scarred him. Well, the lack of it.”

He glances at his father.

Grayson’s gaze drops. His hands curl into fists.