Colton's Amnesia Target (The Coltons of Kansas)

by Kimberly van Meter - A Sinclair Homecoming (The Sinclairs of Alaska)

  “You don’t think this is connected to the attempt on your life?” Jordana queried, not convinced.

  Admittedly, the first thought that jumped to his mind was filled with paranoia, but now that his heart rate was settling down, he didn’t think the hit was deliberate. “It was just bad luck that it was our vehicle that was hit. I doubt it was connected.”

  “I disagree,” Jordana said flatly, unwilling to budge. “We need to report it and I need to bring in my brother Ty for additional security.”

  “Whoa, whoa, let’s hold up for a minute. The last thing that will help is overreacting to a situation that’s likely unrelated. I don’t need your brother showing up trailing my every move.”

  “Ty owns a security company. This is literally what he does for a living. I’d feel a lot better if he were here watching your back.”

  Did he really want a shadow? No.

  Did he think Jordana was overreacting? A little bit.

  Was he willing to do whatever he could to put her mind at ease? Yes.

  He sighed, relenting. “Fine. If it’ll make you feel better. Get your brother on the line. I just hope it’s not a waste of his time.”

  “Your safety is not a waste of time,” Jordana said sharply. “And you’re wrong...someone is still trying to kill you. My gut is never wrong.”

  He wasn’t going to argue.

  What if she was right?

  And just like that, the evening was ruined.

  Chapter 19

  Money was a great motivator. Jordana asked Ty and his team to come to Chicago to watch over Clint, and after she offered him double his usual rate, he made it happen.

  But to be honest, Ty might’ve come whether she’d offered him money or not because big brothers were like that—even when their little sisters were all grown up.

  Or maybe he was just as curious as the rest of the family to find out why Jordana had packed up and split with a guy she barely knew.

  Everyone had questions—questions she hadn’t answered before leaving town. The thing was, she didn’t want to get into a deep conversation about her motivation when she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten to this place. Sure, the investigation was an easy excuse, but it didn’t take a trained investigator to see that it was flimsy as hell. Jordana didn’t relish the idea of admitting to her family that she was crazy about Clint, and yes, it’d happened fast but she couldn’t deny how she felt.

  Her mom would lecture her about being impulsive, her dad would yell about her lack of professionalism, her sister Bridgette would frown and ask if she’d thought things through, the triplets would grab some popcorn to watch the show, and her baby sister, Yvette? Well, she’d probably watch the ensuing chaos with detached interest without offering much more than a shrug because Yvette was ridiculously contained with her feelings.

  So yeah, Jordana hadn’t been superexcited about sharing what was happening in her personal life when she didn’t know if it was going to last.

  Why shake up the fishbowl if this thing with Clint was short-lived?

  But now Ty was coming and he’d have questions. If she wanted him to stick around, she’d have to be honest.

  She picked up her brother at the airport. His team was taking a later flight. Clint had offered the guest bedroom but Ty preferred a hotel, which suited Jordana fine because it felt awkward to be cuddling with Clint with her brother watching. Ugh. Big brothers remained protective no matter how many birthdays she’d had.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Windy City,” Ty said, folding Jordana in a hug before they climbed into the town car. She’d missed the big lug. Of her brothers, Ty was her favorite. He had a way about him that was hard to ignore. Between those incredibly dark blue eyes that didn’t miss a single detail and that slightly unruly shock of dark hair, it was hard to find anyone who wasn’t intrigued or drawn to Ty. His only flaw? The man had a serious streak a mile long that could be a real buzzkill at times. Still, she loved the butthead.

  “Thanks for coming,” Jordana said, gesturing to the awaiting town car. Clint had insisted they use the car service for traveling around the city, even though Jordana would’ve preferred to use Uber.

  Ty paused at the luxury with a knowing grin. “Moving on up, sissy?”

  “Shut up,” she growled, climbing into the car.

  Today, she was the one cutting short the laughs, which was a change. When he saw she wasn’t in the mood for jokes, he sobered quickly. “Okay, what’s the situation? You can handle yourself on most days. It must be serious if you’re calling me in.”

  She drew a deep breath, then as quickly as possible, she gave Ty the backstory of their current situation, ending with, “And that’s why I think last night’s accident was no accident—along with everything else that has happened.”

  Ty took a minute to digest what she’d shared. “I agree,” he said to her relief. “I don’t think it feels like coincidence, either.”

  “I’m so glad you agree with me,” she said. “Clint refuses to believe that he could be in real danger in spite of everything that’s happened. I think he thinks if he doesn’t give it the appropriate weight, it’ll stop being true.”

  “Denial is a powerful thing. Maybe he knows you’re right but he doesn’t want to further alarm you.”

  “Too late and that tactic does not work on me. If anything, it makes my anxiety worse.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I guess he doesn’t know you well enough yet.” Ty paused before saying, “And about that...kinda moving a little fast, don’t you think?”

  Ah, the big brother talk. She knew it would come sooner or later. It didn’t matter that she’d served in the Navy, been on her own for quite some time and worked as a police detective, Ty would always see her as that kid in pigtails. Boy, that got annoying. “Yes, it’s very fast,” she acknowledged, meeting his gaze without flinching. “But I know how I feel and I know myself well enough not to second-guess. The way I feel about Clint is unlike anything I’ve ever known. I’ll do anything to keep him safe. Will you help me?”

  It was the simplest way to get Ty to understand that she wasn’t messing around nor was she taking her own actions lightly. She knew how it looked from the outside and she knew how she’d react if someone she loved were doing the same. She didn’t fault her family for being apprehensive, but in the same breath, she hoped for their understanding.

  Ty smiled, reaching for her hand to give it a short squeeze. “I’ll do what I can to help your man. I hope he’s worthy of your love.”

  Jordana smiled, so happy Ty was there with her. “Thank you. Your support means everything.”

  Ty gave a short nod, acknowledging the moment, and then switched to business mode. “Okay, so I’m going to need a list of associates, his itinerary and any pertinent information you picked up during your investigation if we’re going to do this right.”

  “Perfect. I can get that to you tonight after you get settled at the hotel. When is your team coming in?”

  He checked his watch. “Flight is scheduled for eight o’clock.”

  “That gives us some time to squeeze in some visiting. Deep-dish pizza, maybe?”

  “Oh, girl, you’re speaking my language and I’m starved. I miss the days when flights offered actual food instead of peanuts and a ginger ale.”

  “Who drinks ginger ale?”

  “I do.”

  She made a face. “Reminds me of Granny when we were sick. Always forcing ginger ale down our throats.”

  “It’s supposed to settle your stomach,” he said, chuckling.

  “Well, it had the opposite effect for me. Gross stuff.”

  “You and your picky palate.”

  It felt good to banter with Ty. They’d always been close even if they had bickered hard enough to bring the roof down. Now, as adults, they were just as close but their lives kept them ap
art for long periods of time. Ty was always off doing cool stuff with this security business and Jordana was focused on her law enforcement career.

  Ty broached a subject Jordana wasn’t keen to touch but she supposed it was the hot stove that threatened them all.

  “What’s the deal with those bodies being found in one of Dad’s warehouses?”

  “It’s been a nightmare, honestly.”

  “I’m kinda shocked that you’re the investigator. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

  “A big one but the department is small and there just isn’t anyone else qualified to run the investigation. I have a partner, Reese Carpenter, who’s working the case with me. Captain said Reese will keep me honest,” she answered with a wry chuckle. “Reese is a good man. He won’t let me lose perspective.”

  “What does Dad say about all this?”

  “Not much. I think he’s just hoping it goes away. Dex has been up my ass about the investigation, though.”

  “Of course he has,” Ty quipped, not surprised. “He’s always been about the image of the company. This situation is probably a PR nightmare.”

  “It doesn’t bolster confidence, that’s for sure.”

  “Has Dad lost any contracts because of this situation?”

  “Dad hasn’t shared that information with me. You know how he is. Dad is a subscriber to old-school misogyny. He thinks women should stay in the kitchen and out of men’s work. Oh, and Uncle Shep is moving into the carriage house. Mom is all in a tizzy about it. I caught her scrubbing the stainless steel out of her pots and pans the other day.”

  “Uncle Shep? Has he retired from the Navy?”

  “Yep, and I guess he’s ready to spend his retirement fishing and doing whatever it is retired people do.”

  “Good for him. He’s earned a little R and R.” He recalled a memory. “Remember that summer Uncle Shep was home before Yvette was born? Mom was pulling her hair out with the triplets and dad was absent, as usual. If it weren’t for Uncle Shep I think Mom would’ve had a nervous breakdown.”

  “Yeah, it was the best summer actually. Uncle Shep made things bearable. Mom is too high-strung for her own good. I swear someday her head is going to pop off if someone leaves the bathroom without straightening the bathroom towels.”

  Ty laughed. “You’re always so harsh on Mom. Cut her some slack. I can’t imagine running a house with six kids practically on her own while holding down a nursing job. It’s a wonder she didn’t become a closet alcoholic.”

  “And relinquish some control? That would be a nightmare for Lilly Colton,” Jordana returned with a snort. “And you’ve always been a mama’s boy so your opinion is invalid. You don’t have Mom always nitpicking at you like she does me.”

  “I think you nitpick each other,” he said.

  That was a circular argument that Jordana didn’t have the energy or desire to continue. Ty would always side with their mother, end of story. By this point in their lives, she’d accepted that fact.

  “You know Bridgette is home, right?” she said.

  “Yeah, she mentioned something about coming home for a while to follow some kind of lead about a cancer cluster?”

  “Yeah, in Braxville. It’s pretty serious. She’s staying at the house and Mom and Dad are always driving her nuts. I told her I’d help her look for a different place to stay while she’s in town.”

  “All this talk of cancer makes me want to get a full checkup.”

  He wasn’t joking. Jordana had no doubt Ty had already scheduled that checkup appointment but she didn’t blame him. It was unsettling to hear that Braxville might be an epicenter of a cancer explosion. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to follow his lead.

  “Hey, did you ever hear the rumor about Colton Construction being responsible for a few workers getting sick?”

  Jordana did a double take. “No? What do you mean?”

  “It’s probably just people talking but I remember hearing something about Dad’s company being the root cause of people getting sick.”

  “That’s ridiculous. People will say anything when they’re bitter and mean. Dad’s made plenty of enemies in his time. He’s not exactly the most personable guy in the world but he did an amazing job with the Ruby Row Center. You’d think people would stop spreading rumors when the man has actually done something great for Braxville. Besides, do you really think Dex would be out there pushing for more jobs if he thought Colton Construction was a liability?”

  “That’s true. Dex the Dealmaker loves money.”

  “Well, when running a business, at least one person should know how to network,” Jordana said with a sigh, “because Dad would probably push away more people than gain them if it weren’t for Dex.”

  Ty agreed. “Hopefully, it’s all resolved soon. The stress can’t be good for Dad’s heart.”

  A chill settled in her bones. She didn’t like to think of her dad being vulnerable to anything, much less the aging of his body, but the stress weighing on his shoulders was more evident each day. “He’ll be fine,” Jordana declared, refusing to think otherwise.

  They arrived at the penthouse just as Clint arrived, as well.

  Time to get this show started. Hopefully, Clint made a good impression on Ty, otherwise...things were going to get awkward.

  * * *

  Clint knew meeting the older brother was a big deal to Jordana so he wanted to be on his best behavior, but as it turned out Ty was a cool guy and he liked him immediately.

  “Flight good?”

  “As good as can be expected with only peanuts to chew on for the long flight,” Ty grumbled. “According to my dad’s business partner, Dex, they used to offer full-course meals on long flights. When did that stop? Jordana said something about deep-dish pizza. You know a good place?”

  “Do I know a good place?” Clint repeated with a big grin. “I know of the place to get the best deep dish and I insist that you let me take you.”

  He caught the subtle roll of Jordana’s eyes because she knew he was trying to make a good impression, but he also sensed that she appreciated his effort so he wasn’t about to stop.

  “Luigi’s, owned and operated by the same family since the 1930s, emigrated from Italy and brought all their culinary secrets with them. One bite from a Luigi’s pizza and you’ll wonder how you survived without it.”

  “Sounds like a moral imperative that I find out for myself if the claim is true,” Ty said dryly. “But you honestly had me at family owned and operated. Any business that can survive working with family must be doing something right.”

  Jordana excused herself to freshen up before dinner and that gave Clint an opportunity to talk frankly with Ty.

  “I really appreciate you coming out here to put Jordana’s fears at ease. She’s been wound up pretty tight about this whole situation.”

  “I agree with her,” Ty said, surprising Clint. “Look, my sister has some killer instincts, and if she says something isn’t right, I’d listen.”

  “It’s not that I’m not listening, but the odds of all this being connected seem astronomical.”

  “Not really if you think about it. First and foremost, we’re going to dig into your associates. Money is a big motivator for foul play. We will need to clear all the people closest to you before we can widen the circle.”

  “Jordana said the same. She’s mentioned concerns about my business partner, Alex Locke, but I really can’t see him doing something like this. We’ve known each other for years and created the company from scratch together. Aside from business partners, we’re friends. He’d never do something like that to me.”

  Ty looked sorry to be the bearer of bad news. “In my experience, it’s always the person you least expect who’s screwing you over. Jordana said you also have an assistant?”

  “Yeah, Jeana, but she’s been my rock through this. When you meet
her, you’ll understand, there’s no way it could be her.”

  Ty nodded but kept his judgment to himself. Jordana reappeared from the bedroom and Ty clapped his hands together, ready to eat. “I can practically taste that melting cheese already. Let’s do this. I can’t think on an empty stomach.”

  “Bring your credit card—my brother can eat twice his weight in food. Mom used to always say that Ty was going to eat her out of house and home.”

  Ty puffed up, almost proud as he patted his stomach. “What can I say? I was a growing boy.”

  Clint chuckled as the two bantered back and forth as they went downstairs to get into the car, but his thoughts were stubbornly stuck on the realization that maybe he ought to stop downplaying everything that’d been happening.

  Maybe he couldn’t keep denying the fact that someone was actually trying to kill him.

  The thought was a sobering one that not even the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago could budge.

  Chapter 20

  Having Ty in Chicago with Jordana lessened some of the homesickness that popped up unexpectedly, but as they dug deeper into Clint’s business and associates, the strain of having someone over his shoulder all the time was starting to show.

  “Ty is using the information found by the forensic accountant to dig deeper into who is embezzling from your company,” Jordana said as they settled onto the sofa with their Thai takeout. “Whoever is behind this scheme is pretty sophisticated—”

  “Can we not talk about the investigation tonight?” he asked with a touch of irritation. “We can talk about other things, right?”

  She drew back, stung. “Of course but I thought you’d want to know what Ty has been doing. You are paying him to do a job—a pretty important job, in my opinion, which seems far more important than how much I don’t care for the weather here in Chicago.”

  “What’s not to like? The weather is temperate, practically California weather. Cool enough in the evenings for a light jacket but warm enough in the day for a short-sleeved shirt, or a dress,” he said, trying to lighten the mood, but Jordana wasn’t having it.