Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(40)

Rain splattered down, and he twisted on the windshield wipers.

He’d been working since lunchtime, trying to track Greg down after searching their building. They’d found seven bugs placed throughout the offices and none in the apartments.

It had to be the kid. Nobody else knew they were in town. At least nobody who’d want to listen in on their conversations. Part of him wanted to shake the kid until his teeth fell out. The other part . . . Well, that one was somewhat impressed with the little shit.

Denver had suggested leaving the bugs in place to lure Greg back in. For now, Ryker needed to pick up Zara while Denver figured out how the kid had hacked into their security systems without leaving a trace.

Just who the hell was this kid?

Not only was Ryker on the hunt for Isobel Madison, but he also had Denver set search parameters in place for Greg, the mysterious genius boy.

Ryker’s attention shifted as Zara pushed out of the building, laughing at something Brock Hurst had said. The lawyer was on her heels, his briefcase bulging at his side.

Zara scanned the sidewalk and saw the truck. Her smile widened.

Damn if that didn’t feel good.

Ryker jumped from the truck and came around to open her door.

“Ryker,” Brock said, hunching his shoulders against the rain.

“Brock.” Ryker hooked Zara around the waist and lifted her into the truck, not missing the other man’s close scrutiny of the act. Were they about to have a problem?

Brock paused and switched hands with the overloaded briefcase. Rain matted his brown hair to his face, but he straightened to his full height. “It’s good to see you. How long are you in town this time?”

Ryker half turned from Zara to stand eye to eye with the lawyer. “Why?”

Brock blinked intelligent eyes. “We might have a job for you. It’s a nasty divorce case, and there may be drugs involved. We’d need the investigation to be very low-key.”

Sounded like the Pentley case. “We’re concentrating on missing persons cases right now and don’t do divorces, as you know.” Three other times he’d turned down jobs from the firm regarding divorces.

“I’ve always wondered about your business. Employees, partners, other clients,” Brock said, his focus narrowing. “You’re such an enigma.” While he spoke to Ryker, the words were obviously meant for Zara.

“We like to stay under the radar,” Ryker said smoothly, planting his hand on Zara’s thigh, heat flowing through him in a primitive warning.

Brock’s eyebrow lifted. “It’s probably better that way, considering you don’t stay in town long,” he drawled, all charm.

Ryker leaned toward the lawyer and released Zara, keeping her partially behind him. “You know, Brock, I like you and always have. You work hard, you play hard, and you don’t pull any punches.”

Brock widened his stance, his lips twisting in almost a mocking smile. “So?”

“I’d hate for us to have a problem, you know?” Ryker made his intention clear in his gaze.

Brock full-on grinned, his good nature and a new determination shining through. “So would I, buddy. But fate is fate, you know?”

“Fair enough.” Ryker turned back to Zara, who was watching the interchange with curious eyes. “Bye, Brock.”

“I’ll see you on Monday, Zara,” Brock said, turning to hustle through the rain and down the street.

Zara eyed him. “That was interesting.”

Not really, but Ryker couldn’t blame the guy. Zara was the entire package, and Brock was smart enough to see it. Too bad Ryker had made a move first. He leaned in and indulged himself with a kiss, drawing her sweet lips against his. “I don’t share, baby.”

She rolled her eyes. “For goodness’ sake. I guess I’m lucky you didn’t both try to pee on my leg.”

Humor bubbled through him. The woman had a point. “How was work?”

“Okay,” she murmured.

That wouldn’t do. He tugged her sideways and pulled her core against his, the tension from his face-off with Brock making him rougher than he liked. The rain dropping on his head wasn’t doing a thing to calm him, either. Her legs spread on either side of his hips. “What’s going on, Zara?”

“Nothing. Just lots of work to do for the trial.” Her fingers fluttered over his jacket, and her gaze dropped to track the progress. “We should probably get going.”

What was she hiding? “Is there something going on I need to know about?”

Her gaze lifted to his. “No. Not at all.”

Hmmm. The woman didn’t get him at all. No more secrets. He leaned over her, enjoying her quick intake of breath. “Let me rephrase that. Is there something going on that you don’t want me to know about?”

A faint pink tinged her cheeks.

That’s what he’d thought. “Did something happen with Brock?” The guy hadn’t exactly hidden his interest in her.

Her eyes widened. “Of course not.”

“Did he figure out you’ve been helping the other side in the divorce?” Ryker slipped his hands into her back jeans pockets and clenched. Her full curves filled his palms, and his groin awakened.

She blinked, and her eyes darkened. Her heated core warmed his dick through his jeans. “No. Besides, I haven’t really helped Julie. Everything I’ve told her should’ve been in all the discovery responses, anyway. And lending her money? That isn’t an ethical breach, I don’t think.”