Without a Hitch(110)

Nova collapses into the chair beside Kitty, who’s gone pale. Her words a breathy whisper. “I let him in. I…”

“Mrs. Blaine? They’re very good at what they do. There’s no way you could have known,”

Preston says gently.

My stomach turns as Colton explains, “They spent an entire year watching you. Targeting you all.

It wasn’t their first job, but they’d hoped it would be their last. I’m guessing that’s why they came at you as hard as they did. Christine meticulously planned it, and Paul is basically her gofer. He’s by no means innocent, but she was certainly the brains of their operation.”

“How do we stop them?” Kitty asks, but her voice is monotone, and Nova takes her hand.

“Should I get Ollie?” I ask, suddenly regretting having him sit by Lochlan’s side.

“No, but thank you,” Nova responds. “Just tell us what to do.”

“Well.” Colton’s eyes shine as he turns up the charm. “I don’t think there is anything for you to do.

The two of us,” Blake grunts, and Colton flashes him an award-winning smile. “Excuse me, the three of us—”

“Hey.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. We’ll all go.” Colton grins, and I realize that was the plan all along. “We’ll offer them a deal. They wouldn’t sell to Blake because of his connection to Loch. They won’t even take a meeting with us for the same reason.”

I stare at him in confusion as dread settles in my gut. “How will this plan work if they won’t even meet with us?”

Colton’s eyes dance as he glances around the room. “We have shell companies, well, our brother has shell companies that can’t be traced back to The Westbrook Group. We’re using one of those.

They’ll never see us coming.”

Nova stares between the two Westbrooks and Blake, then shakes her head. “This is a whole lotta testosterone wrapped up in dollar signs.”

Colton and Preston laugh with matching full-body chuckles, and even Blake grunts with a grin.

“We’ll offer them a deal, but it won’t matter if they take it or not—the FBI will close in as soon as we’re done. Our brother has connections that will allow you to say your piece to the con artists, but their fate is already sealed,” Preston explains.

“Do you think they’re dangerous?” My nerves force me to ask the question.

“We wouldn’t let you anywhere near them if we thought for even a second that they’d harm you, Till.” Preston commands the room when he speaks. He reminds me of Lochlan in that way.

“It’s settled. We’ll head to their office first thing in the morning. They’re expecting a suit, but it’s us they’ll get. Hopefully, Blake will keep his tats on display. You’re a little scary like this, man.”

Blake doesn’t respond, but I see his lip twitch. “I knew you’d show,” Colton adds cockily.

“Fuck off. I’m only here because Loch deserves better than—than what he’s been dealt.”

“He’s not the only one,” Colton says gently. He crosses the room and pats Blake on the shoulder.

Blake shrugs him off and opens the door. “Tomorrow,” he mutters on his way out.

I’m left staring in awe at this amazing group of people, and I wonder if Lochlan has any idea how much he’s loved.





C HAPTE R 43

TILLY

M y hands shake uncontrollably as we enter a nondescript building in northern California that’s owned by Christine and Paul. Nova and Kitty flank me on either side as Colton, Preston, and Blake lead the way. They’re a sight to be seen, and I watch with morbid fascination as Christine does a double take in the doorway.

“She looks like she wants to run,” Nova singsongs beside me.

“She wouldn’t make it far.” Kitty has my arm in a death grip, and I wince. When I shrug, she eases up but doesn’t let go.

“Paul,” Christine hisses. “Get. Out. Here.”

That’s when I notice her baby belly is nowhere to be seen, and I lose my shit. That motherfucking-piece-of-shit-phony. I’ve never had a violent inclination in my life, but I charge her, ready to rip her apart. Blake snags me around the waist and hauls me up like a barbell onto his shoulder.

“You psychotic piece of shit,” I yell. “What the bloody fucket is wrong with you? Who pretends to be pregnant?”

With brass balls the size of Texas, Christine steps forward, completely disregarding the wall of human muscle that surrounds me on either side. “Aren’t you cute,” she hisses. “Like a mouse. I suppose after me, that’s how Lochluster prefers them. I bet you blend in, don’t you? Never cause trouble. Always the fixer. Yeah, I know about your little side hustle. It’s cute that you’re so na?ve. I’m sure it suits Lochlan to have someone so…hmm, how should I put this? Plain by his side?”

Preston and Colton step forward, but I stop them. “Put me down, Blake. I won’t touch her.”

“You promise? Loch told me you were fiery, but I wasn’t expecting this.”

“He told you about me?”

“Not the time, Till,” Colton mutters with amusement at my side.