Page 21 of Only the Hunter

“What’re you doing?” she asks, annoyance clear, sounding like the teen I remember.

“Proof of life for Dad.”

Her shoulders tighten. Just slightly. Enough that I see it.

“I thought you were in New York,” she says, swatting the phone away.

“I am. It’s an hour flight. Saturday. I told Dad I’d do this.” He turns to me. “Didn’t know you’d be here. Come back with me,” he says, holding his phone up, trying to take a pic while Evie blocks her face with her hands.

“Come back where?”

“The city.”

“New York?”

“Yeah. You’re still a free man, right?”

He checks his phone at the partial pic he grabbed of Evie, and taps away, presumably sending it to his father.

“Last I checked.”

“I’ve got the best place to go. It’ll be worth your time. You will thank me.” His smug grin tells me everything I need to know. It’s got to be some strip club or something.

A lot of my old military teammates are married with kids. But there are stragglers with attitudes like Scott. And nothing against his aunt, but my money’s on Scott never settling down. Unless there’s a payday of some kind for justification.

“No can do. Rain check,” I say, instantly meeting those dark eyes, since I’m using her word.

“No, man,” Scott says, using the same tone he’s always used to talk me off the fence. “I’ll fly you back tomorrow. I’m telling you. Worth your time. It’s this place called The Sanctuary.” He swipes his phone, clicks, and hands it to me. “Flick through those. All there. Tonight.”

On screen there’s a photo of a beautiful woman. Posed. Black hosiery. Mini dress. Long hair. I flick. Another image. Different woman. Flick. Another woman. It could be a catalog shoot on his phone.

“And you, little sis,” Scott says, turning his attention back to Evie.

“I can’t believe Dad sent you here,” she says.

“Dad says you need a car.”

“My car is going to be fine.”

I pass Scott’s phone back to him. “Tell you what. I’m going to swing by the auto shop where Evie’s car is. It’s on my way. You two catch up.”

“How do you know where my car is?” Evie asks.

“Sources,” I say, holding back on sharing Rhodes’s name with Scott.

“We’re going car shopping,” Scott says. “Dad’s orders.”

His easy dismissal of my nonanswer makes me realize I could’ve mentioned Rhodes’s name and chances are Scott never would’ve inquired.

“Unlike you, I don’t follow Dad’s orders,” Evie snaps.

Yeah. That’s a sibling fight I’m not touching. I step toward the still open front door. “Evie. Fantastic place. Scott. Ring me the next time you’re in town.”

“Come on, man. Trust,” he whines. “You want to come out with me tonight.”

No, I really don’t. The women on his phone didn’t look like strippers, but regardless—not my scene.

“Can’t,” I say, stepping out of the townhouse. “Next time. Evie, I’ll call you later.”