“There’s nothing to tell.”
She stopped and shook me. “The only reason you aren't behind bars right now is because of Dad.”
I scowled. “Thank you for the reminder.”
“What does he want for saving your ass?”
I checked our surroundings. “Could we discuss this somewhere more private?”
“No.” She put her hand on her hip. “Because when we get there, you’ll keep avoiding the issue.”
Damn it. My sister was a bulldog.
“I don’t know,” I said through my teeth.
“Well, you better find out before you end up in a jail cell for no reason.”
I appreciated her faith in me. She’d never consider I’d done anything to warrant an investigation.
“I meant I don’t know the price I’ll have to pay to Father.”
She linked her arm through mine in a show of support. “It’s going to be high.” Her voice was quiet and full of understanding in a way only she and Teague could.
“What can he want that I haven’t already given him?” I’d forced these thoughts away for days because I didn’t want to think about them. I only played games I could win. With our father, there was no winning.
I wasn’t sure about the odds in a federal investigation.
“I’ve never seen him make such an effort to keep something from public knowledge.” She stepped over a missing chunk of concrete on the sidewalk.
I had. But I didn’t want to think about that either. That familiar searing pain reserved only for my mother slashed through my chest.
“What about this place?” I wasn’t hungry, but I needed a break from this conversation.
Beau raised her eyes to the faded awning, then quickly perused a menu taped in the window. “I could go for a BLT.” She nudged me in the shoulder. “You used to make that for me.”
I held open the door for her. “I’m surprised you remember.”
“I’m surprised you never learned to cook anything else.” She flashed an evil grin as she slid into a booth near the back.
“You have no room to talk, dear sister.”
She pretended to buff her nails. “I don't have time to perfect my culinary skills while I’m conquering the world.”
“And you certainly have.”
Pride for the woman she’d become filled me. It couldn’t have been easy growing up in a house full of men. And even though she hadn’t known our mother all that well didn’t mean she couldn’t feel her loss.
Teague and I were the ultimate duo of overbearing and overprotective brothers. I didn’t care if Beau was ninety years old, that wasn’t going to change.
She ordered two bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches for us and tossed her menu on the table.
Her gaze was intense as she looked at me. “I’m worried about you.”
That concern was in every line around her eyes. I was supposed to be the one to keep her from worrying . . . not be the cause of her stress.
“Don’t.”
“Stop treating me like a little kid you can’t talk to.” Her worry quickly turned to anger.
“I can’t speak to you about matters I know nothing of.” I folded my hands on the linoleum tabletop.
“Why are you avoiding this? It’s not like you. You’re not afraid to face anything.”
I stared. Was that how she saw me? On one hand, I was glad. That’s what I wanted her to see. She had no idea that she and Teague were my biggest fears. That I was terrified something—or someone—might infringe on their happiness.
The waiter dropped off our sandwiches. Neither of us touched our food once he walked away. It was as if she were an eight-year-old again, holding her breath until she got what she wanted.
“I’m—”
She folded her arms over her chest and glared when that was all I could get out.
“It’s not as if I can walk into the FBI headquarters and ask to see their files on the investigation,” I finally said.
She made an unimpressed face. “I don’t see why not.”
If anyone would, it would be my sister.
“I’ll take care of this.”
“I don't believe you.” She tore off a bite of her BLT and retrieved her phone from her purse as she chewed. “If you won’t do something, I’ll find someone who will.” She jabbed at the phone screen. “I’m calling Daniel.”
Chapter Twelve
Lincoln
“I shouldn’t have to learn of your impending arrest from your sister.”
Daniel Elliott leaned back in the chair behind the desk of his home office. It reminded me of mine, though something about his was less cold. His entire apartment was less so. Was it because of Vivian?
“I didn’t realize I owed you a report.” I sat across from him, though I wanted to leave if this was the topic of conversation. “If you’d have told me over the phone this was what you wanted to discuss, you could've saved me the trip.”
Beau had wasted no time calling him after lunch and had escorted me to his building. I knew when I'd arrived that was the purpose of the visit, and while it made me uncomfortable to draw him into my issues, I felt obligated to make my sister happy.
Daniel drilled his sharp gaze into me. I rested my ankle on my knee.
“I’ve been through this.”
“I’m aware.”
“Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
“You’re free, aren’t you?” It was callous to diminish the gravity of his situation, but I could solve my own problems. And while I appreciated everyone’s concern, I was so tired of the subject being shoved in my face.
“I made a call to one of my contacts at the bureau.”
I dropped my foot back to the floor and leaned forward. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
It was one thing to loan someone money or give them a place to stay, but completely another to get involved in a federal investigation. He and I both preferred to keep a low profile. If he made an inquiry, even if it was off the record, that could shift some focus to him. I didn’t want him tangled in my mess any more than I wanted Beau or Teague involved.
“If you’d have bothered to mention the investigation, we might have been able to save you the hassle in the first place.” Daniel was a difficult man to read most of the time, but I didn't miss the irritation in his tone.
"I didn't know about it,” I said with annoyance. “And even if I had, you have a life, a family.”
He scowled. “And an incredibly obtuse friend.”
Why couldn’t everyone accept I could solve my own problems?
I sighed. “I appreciate your concern—”
“Cut the shit, Hollingsworth.”
I gripped the armrests. “All right. Stay out of it,” I snapped.
“Not a chance in hell.”
We stared at one another in a clash of wills. He and I weren’t afraid to be honest, but we'd never spoken to each other in such a heated tone. Then again, we’d never meddled in the other’s affairs.
I just wanted to forget the entire incident. Everyone else seemed determined not to let that happen.