Page 15 of Three

He’s holding a popular video game case and wearing red gloves. His arms look massive, contoured with the big muscles beneath. A long-sleeved, simple cotton shirt hugs the curves of his hard pecs and wide chest perfectly. The tightest jeans I’ve ever seen are so snug on his strong thighs, they might as well be painted on. A metal chain curls around his side from the front pocket to the back one.

My gaze falls on a line in the file.Marital status: single. A feeling that suspiciously resembles excitement spreads inside my chest at the discovery of his unattached status. I grit my teeth and push it the fuck down, trying to focus on something else.

“How about the black van’s plate I gave you?”

“The vehicle is registered to a shell company offshore called Cinderella and Co, LLC. It’s a cleaning company. The address for the Chicago branch is in the file.SerenaBotinsky is the CEO. She’s in her twenties, lives in L.A., has no criminal record and no apparent connection to Ramiel Masters.”

So why was he using that van? “Was the van reported stolen?”

“Nope. Why are you interested in ahotgame developer, Hunter? Is it related to your work?”

“Yes and no.” I wince at my automatically vague reply. I haven’t seen Opal in a long time, despite her numerous attempts, and she agreed to help and meet me at the last minute.

“You know, at the precinct they named me the Truth Whisperer. When they need a tough guy to talk in the interrogation room, who do you think they call?”

I know very well she’s capable of ripping me a new asshole.

I open my mouth, but she shuts me up with a pointed finger. “Don’t you dare say Ghostbusters!”

I feel a small smile coming up, and we exchange a brief conspiratorial gaze. Fuck, I missed her. More than I’ll ever admit, but this is how it has to be. She shouldn’t be seen near me. It’s not good for her reputation. Her career. Her life.

“Thank you for this.” I raise the file from my lap. I never asked her for help. I have a couple of people I can pay to get background checks, but they were both unavailable and I needed to get this information as quickly as possible. “I wouldn’t have asked you, but…”

“Hunter, we’re family. If I can help you, I will. I don’t give a fuck what people think. I’m a good cop, and you were one as well.”

Her praise should make me proud, instead I feel bile climbing up my throat. Because that was a long time ago—almost another life.

“No, I fucking wasn’t,” I growl. I fist both hands on my knees and turn my head toward the window as I try to push away the unwanted memories. My eyes burn with shame and anger.

“You’re a great P.I.,” she attempts at sugarcoating it.

“You keeping an eye on me?” I mutter.

“Always, butthead.” The affection dripping from her voice makes me turn my gaze toward her. She grabs my balled-up fist. Her hand is so much smaller than mine, but her grip is strong and effective.

“Hunter, I know you don’t want to talk about it.”

“You’re right, I don’t. It’s in the past. Done. Caput.” I pull my hand back, annoyed by her attempts at making me talk.

“We could clear your name.”Fuck, not this again!She’s like a dog with a bone.

“No, we can’t.” I sigh.

“Loretta’s father died.” Her words hit me in the gut like a metal, robotic punch would.

“What?” I murmur after a minute.That’s why there were no fresh flowers on Loretta’s grave.

“Four days ago. There’s nobody else.” Instead of giving me relief, the news adds another weight on my shoulders. His broken heart must have finally given out.

So he wasn’t the one who wrote that letter.

“What’s the point? Leave it alone.” Before she can fight me, I add, “Even if we succeeded, I wouldn’t want to be a cop anymore, Opal. Can’t ever serve near the people who let me down.”

I went to the police academy with them, worked on the streets with them, ate and laughed with them, helped when I could. I thought they knew me. But Opal was the only one who didn’t turn her back on me.Brothers and sisters in blue, my ass.

“No, you think you let yourself down.” So perceptive, my cousin, because, yeah, I think that too.“I didn’t see it either, Hunter. And he was my fucking brother,” she continues.

I shake my head at her. Damn her, I really don’t need this now.