“Yesterday I did. I guess Carter is staying with her during the storm.”
Braden grunted as he scrolled through his email. “I need to take a shower and change from these clothes. Once Ryker gets here we all need to have a meeting.”
Mac nodded. “And what about your houseguest?”
Braden gripped his phone and eyed his brother. “She’s not your concern.”
“You know she’s going to find out what’s going on. You’ve brought her here, she’s going to hear talk or get suspicious as to why you want back in her house.”
Gritting his teeth, Braden was well aware of all the concerns in having Zara here, but he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“You let me worry about Zara,” Braden warned. “Once Ryker gets here, we’ll work on a plan. I’d be more comfortable if Laney was here, too, but she’s stubborn.”
“Carter wouldn’t let her come.”
Braden laughed. “The day that schmuck keeps my sister away from me is the day he disappears from her life for good.”
Mac nodded in agreement. “I’ll text her and tell her I’m having Ryker pick her up on his way here. She needs to be in on this meeting anyway.”
“Give me fifteen minutes. We’ll just meet in here. I’ll have the cook prepare a late lunch for us.”
Braden headed toward the doorway, then stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t argue if Laney acts like it’s a problem to come. Ryker will take care of any issues. Just text him.”
Mac laughed. “You know Laney and Ryker are like oil and water, right? Are you wanting a fight? It’s best if I try to run interference before he gets there.”
Braden shrugged. “I trust Ryker to take care of it, and Laney will know why we need her here. It’s none of Carter’s business, and I don’t give a damn if Ryker offends him.”
“Our little sister is going to arrive, and I’m pointing her in your direction when she unleashes her anger.”
Braden thought of the woman currently upstairs in his bedroom. “I can handle an emotional woman.” He hoped.
Fifteen
“I didn’t need to be manhandled by the family bouncer.”
Braden sat behind his father’s old desk, now his, and looked across to his sister who refused to take a seat. With her arms folded, she shot death glares between Braden, Mac and Ryker. She may not be happy, but she was here.
“If you’d just said we needed to have a family meeting, I would’ve had Carter bring me,” she continued, zeroing in on Braden. “I don’t appreciate being told I was coming and my ride would be Ryker.”
The man in question leaned against the wall by the door. His thick arms crossed, he’d yet to take his coat off, and he’d not said a word. Braden knew the man was processing everything, but he also didn’t have a care in the world...least of all an angry Laney.
“Carter isn’t invited to my house.” Braden eased back in his chair and met his sister’s fiery gaze. “I know you like him, but I don’t, and you’re well aware of my feelings on that matter. Ryker was coming in from the airport, and it was easier for him to get you. Now, are you going to have a seat or stand there and pout because you don’t like your mode of transportation?”
Laney narrowed her eyes. “It’s the lack of respect I’m pissed about.”
“I respect you, Laney.” He smiled when she finally took a seat next to Mac on the leather sofa. “If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have been called to this meeting.”
Braden glanced up to Ryker. “Close that door.”
Once the door was closed, Ryker moved on into the room, sinking into the oversize leather chair next to the sofa. Braden eased forward, resting his forearms on the desk.
“We’ll discuss what happened with you in London later,” Braden promised, nodding to Ryker. “First, we need to discuss the scrolls. I’ve spent the last two days in Zara Perkins’s home, and so far all I’ve found is an empty tube that may or may not have held one or all of the scrolls. I’m sure they’re stored separately, because together they could be ruined.”
Laney shifted, leaning onto the arm of the sofa. “Did she know you were looking?”
“No. We were going through some of her grandmother’s boxed-up things, and that’s when I found this tube.”
He pulled the container from below his desk and sat it up for them to see. “I was unable to get it open, but when I brought it back, Mac managed to get into it. There was a miniscule section that looked as if it had been broken before, so he pried that part open.”
Ryker was first to reach for the tube. He examined it thoroughly before resting it on his leg. “Tell me where you looked in her house, and I’ll start my search in other areas.”
Because Ryker assumed he’d be the next plan of action. He never questioned his duties, his position. He’d been the muscles, the enforcer, the behind-the-scenes man for the O’Sheas for years. Braden knew Ryker felt an intense sense of loyalty because he’d been taken in when his home life was extremely lacking.
“I don’t want you going in again,” Braden countered, earning him raised brows from Ryker. “Zara trusts me, and I don’t want you going into her house while she’s here.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Laney stated, eyes wide. “We need to find these and get them back where they belong. Either tell her what’s going on or let Ryker look. And what the hell is she doing here?”
Braden ignored Mac’s smirk. “She’s staying here until her power comes back on, and that’s all you need to know.”
“So you’re sleeping with her, and you’ve earned her trust, you say, yet you can’t ask her to have a look around?”
That pretty much summed up his predicament, but he wasn’t going to get into this with his baby sister. Whatever was going on with Zara was private.
Besides, the guilt that slid through him was getting quite uncomfortable. He was using Zara, no way to sugarcoat that. If any man treated Laney like this, Braden would destroy him.
“She doesn’t have to know,” Ryker chimed in. “I’m quick and thorough.”
Mac eased forward to face Ryker. “Braden has suddenly developed a conscience where his woman is concerned.”
Angry that his credibility was coming into question, Braden fired back at his younger brother. “Would you betray Jenna?”
Mac’s eyes narrowed. “Jenna is my best friend, nothing more. I’ve known her for years. And, no, I’d never betray her for any reason.”
“Then shut the hell up, and let me handle this.”
Raking a hand over his face, Braden truly had no idea how to deal with the situation. “The scrolls may not even be in the house at this point. They could’ve been moved or accidentally tossed out. But, I have to believe had they been sold, we would’ve heard about it. Documents with Shakespeare’s earliest works would’ve hit the media worldwide. Even if sold on the black market, we would’ve heard whispers. Our reach is far enough in the underground world.”
“So how are you going to search the house?” Ryker asked.
“When I take Zara back home, I’m going to find a reason to stay.” That wouldn’t be too hard, considering their current state. “I’ll search where I haven’t. I won’t leave anything untouched. I don’t want to lie to her any more than necessary, so we’re not breaking in.”
“And what are you going to do if Zara finds out you’ve lied to her?” Mac asked.
“She won’t find out,” Braden assured him. She couldn’t find out, because if she did, all this work would be for nothing. Not only would she permanently block him from searching, she’d never trust again. He’d made so much progress in only two days, he refused to believe anything bad would happen. And it was a risk he was willing to take to get all he wanted.
Zara had become too important too fast. He wasn’t ready to sever their personal tie. Scrolls aside, he wanted her. And, if he told her even a portion of the truth, she was so distrusting that he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t cut him out of her life. She had every right.
“The cook has prepared a late lunch,” Braden stated, coming to his feet. “I need to speak with Ryker privately.”
Mac and Ryker stood, but Laney remained seated, stubborn as ever. “And when can I go home?” she asked.
“Whenever Ryker wants to take you.”
Ryker glanced to Laney. “Might be a while. I still need to eat and crash. I had a bit of a run-in with the London police, and I’m jet-lagged.”
“I’ll call a cab,” she said through gritted teeth.
“No, you won’t,” Ryker commanded.
Braden bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. Mac turned his head to hide his smile, as well. Ryker could go without sleep for days. He was a force to be reckoned with, and if he wanted to do something, he’d do it. Apparently he didn’t want Laney to leave yet, which was fine with Braden. The more she was away from Carter, the better.
Before Laney could protest, because she no doubt would, her cell rang. Pulling her phone from the pocket of her jeans, she glanced at the screen, then up to Braden. Without a word, she came to her feet and moved to the opposite side of the room where she answered with her back to them.