Dane

The days continued—hours of stress and frustration, punctuated by stolen moments and fleeting joy. He pulled her into dark corners for only seconds at a time. Found reasons to have her at meetings just so he could look at her. And begged her not to listen to his original plan that they only meet at home every other day.

​​

He couldn't keep his hands off her. He couldn't feel right unless she was in front of him. And he knew, no matter how well he hid his emotions, he was giving himself away. The problem was, he couldn't find the self-discipline to stop.

The only thing working in his favor with all these problems at work was that Chris was his shadow—constantly showing up with new information, or an update from a team. Calling with questions when they were investigating. Even at the Penthouse.

Knowing his brother could call or show up any moment kept Dane on edge. He never quite let himself fall into her arms without one ear on the door, or his phone. It had saved them more than once.

For her part, Lila walked around looking like a cat that got the cream. She was sharp and professional when others were around—but her cheeks stayed pink, and her eyes sparkling. He prayed no one noticed, but knew they walked a fine line.

That night, three days into this horrendous tightrope walk of a relationship, he got home a few minutes early, sending the car back to get her. He was determined to make her dinner tonight, so he took the risk and texted.

DON'T EAT. I HAVE PLANS FOR YOU.

She didn't respond, but he hoped it was because she was too busy getting through the work so she could come home to him.

As he explored the fridge and pantry, making choices for the meal, he let his mind wander to the fantasies…if they didn't have to hide. If they didn't have to live separately. If she could be near him all the time. If they could touch whenever they wanted…

Fuck that. He'd never do anything but touch her. He snorted a laugh at the mental image of himself running a staff meeting with her sitting on his lap.

The idea had merit…

He'd chopped broccoli and mushrooms, and was in the middle of mixing a sauce when the doorbell rang. Cursing because he knew that wasn't her—and she still hadn't texted him to say she was home—he stalked to the door and threw it open. He didn't have to fake the tension as his eyes landed on Chris and he spat, "What?"

"Nice to see you too, brother," Chris said dryly, walking in without waiting for the invitation. "As you know, it's my joy to be working after hours to keep your sorry ass out of the press."

Dane raked a hand through his hair and followed Chris deeper into the apartment. "What is it?" he said. "I have a phone call with Beijing in an hour."

Chris started laying papers out on the dining table as he spoke. "The verdict is in," he said darkly. "We have seven different reports: Two private investigators, some research from John, two updates from our teams, and two informants. They're all saying the same thing."

Dane folded his arms. He could see the tension in Chris. This wasn't good. "What are they saying?"

"Becky Hanson is dead." Chris turned to face him, eyes hard as flint.

Dane swore. A chill ran down his spine, taking all the warmth and excitement he'd felt about Lila with it. "How?"

"Reports only vary a little. The informants say it was a fake mugging. The others all claim a hit. Five say knife, two say gun. They all say the body was taken in a car away from the scene."

"Taken where?" Dane felt himself falling, descending, his mind clicking into gear—making him cold. Distant. Analytical. All the ways his father had trained him to be. All the ways he'd learned to not feel when there was death and destruction around him. Tick, tick, tick. His heart went cold and mechanical as he skimmed each report while Chris talked.

Chris sighed. "They don't all know. I'm inclined to follow John—he found a Jane Doe in a morgue in Three Rivers that came in at the right time. It's only two hours across the state line. And the Jane Doe was "well dressed and not intoxicated" despite the body coming in at three in the morning on Saturday."

"Have we got someone on it?"

"I wanted to talk to you first. Because there is one other credible report."

Hearing the warning in his tone, Dane looked at Chris. "What is it?"

"That he's got her on ice so he can bring her out when it will do the most damage to you."

Dane swallowed, but felt nothing. His father. It would be exactly like him to hold onto something like that.

Snap out of it! Dane thought to himself. We're talking about a woman. A real, woman with a real life who's probably dead. Feel something, dammit!

"The informants, they're…?"

Chris nodded. "Low in the ranks, but they've been right before. And both said the same thing independently."

Dane nodded. The risk was that his father had learned the informants were working with him and was feeding him false information. "What did they say?"

"They said he's got her. That the whole crew knows. There's a walk-in freezer in his warehouse…"

Dane winced, not because he felt it, but because he knew he should. He couldn't let Chris see how deeply this was affecting him. Taking him back to his roots. He was numb. Completely untouched by this. It wasn't right. But he didn't have any emotion available to care. And with Lila coming, he couldn't risk Chris deciding to intervene.

"What do you think we should do first?" Dane asked him softly.

Chris looked at the reports and frowned. "We can't get close enough to confirm the body in the freezer. That's something we'll have to deal with if it ever shows up. I think we get eyes on the Jane Doe and just see…go from there."

"Process of elimination," Dane said through his teeth.

Chris nodded.

"Okay, do it. But we're also increasing security. No contractors or new hires on the Tier One clients—or Tier two if we can swing it."

"Dane, the staff are going to burn out."

"I don't care."

"But—"

"We have fires on four corners right now. He's pressing in. We can't afford to get distracted and give him more room to play."

Chris swore. "We also can't afford to kill our own staff when we don't know for sure it's even coming from him."

"I don't care. One week." Dane heard a noise in his bedroom and Chris whipped his head around at the same time.

"What was that?"

Adrenalin flooded Dane. He didn't take his eyes off the report. Didn't respond at all. "Probably just my clothes falling off the counter. I was about to take a shower."

Chris looked at him, then glanced into the kitchen where Dane's very obvious preparation for dinner was still spread out on the counter.

And very obviously enough food for more than one person.

Chris turned back to Dane. "Expecting someone?"

"None of your fucking business," Dane said without emotion.

"We can't fight another fire, Dane."

He let his eyes snap up to meet Chris's and snarled, "Good thing I'm not lighting any then, isn't it?"

Chris didn't respond and they stared each other down for several seconds before he broke the gaze and waved a hand towards the papers. "If you've got a visitor, make sure these stay locked in the safe."

"No visitor. Yet." Dane said through his teeth.

Chris glanced at the bedroom, but didn't say anything. "Keep them locked up."

"You think you need to school me on security protocol?"

Chris shook his head. "I think when you get stressed you take risks, and we can't afford them right now."

Dane snorted, but his stomach was cold. His brother was right, he knew. Was that why he'd given in to Lila? Was it the stress, pushing him out of his head?

If only he could actually feel something, he might be able to figure it out.

"Anyway," he said sharply, "I need to shower, and you need to schedule staff. Call me at ten with an update?"

"Whatever you say, boss," Chris said flatly.

Dane rolled his eyes, but his brother was already heading for the door. They didn't speak again. And Dane locked the door behind him when he'd gone through.

He was still standing there, staring at it when Lila whispered from the bedroom door, "I'm so sorry. I tripped on something in the closet."

Dane took a single deep breath and turned back to her. Her eyes went wide, which made him wonder what his face looked like.

Why wasn't he feeling anything? She was still beautiful. And she'd changed into yoga pants and a soft sweater that clung to her curves.

He should be sweeping her into his arms and kissing her. But he just felt cold.

"Dane?" she said finally, in a normal voice. "What's wrong?"