pointed to the vidphone by the bed. “Actually, why don’t you cover up
first, then call him.”
She flushed. “Good point.”
After a shower with Tara, whom he couldn’t leave alone, Romy
dressed in his trousers and double-checked Tara’s Otra statuette. It remained
safe in the room’s vault, and if Romy were right, the thing had to be worth a
small fortune. It felt old and powerful. Probably another draw to a man like
Trotter.
His mate drew on a robe and dialed her brother. The phone
rang several times before the screen cleared and a man with blond hair and blue
eyes answered. He seemed familiar. Then Romy recognized the badge around his
neck on a chain.
“Who the hell is this?” the guy growled.
“I’m Tara Drake. Why are the police picking up my brother’s
phone?”
His aggression vanished. “Tara?” He peered closer, his eyes
widening when Romy stepped close to Tara to get a better look at the vid.
“Talson?”
“Sean?” Romy stared in surprise. “I thought you worked at
Port Townsend.”
“I transferred to Port Chase six months ago. Nicer weather
here.” His obvious interest in them told Romy her brother would no doubt hear
about this call soon. “So I see you two are friendly. I’m glad you called.
Tara, where’s Mannie?”
“How do you know my brother?”
“He’s a good friend of mine. And apparently he’s missing.”
Sean stepped back from the vidphone, giving them a view of a messed apartment.
“Someone trashed his place, and when he didn’t show at the bar last night, I
figured he’d had a change of plans. When he didn’t call me today, I popped by.”
His eyes hardened, and Romy was glad to have at least one member of the law on
their side. Who knew how many officers Trotter had on the payroll?
“Can you meet us here in an hour?” Romy gave Sean the
address.
Sean nodded and disconnected.
“This isn’t good.” Her brother missing? This had Jonah
Trotter written all over it. “I’ll look into it.” Using his psychei ,
Romy saw the Yal brothers knock Mannie unconscious with a stunner before
hauling him away in a nondescript craft. “Definitely Trotter.”
She bit her lip, and he hugged her tight, wanting to offer
what comfort he could. “Tell me what all you know about him, Romy. Please.”
“Hell. None of it’s good. Trotter is the son of my parents’
friends. That’s the reason they hired him, that and he supposedly knew what the
hell to do in a shipyard. But after a few months, my brothers and I noticed the
numbers not adding up. But when we checked with my father, he refused to hear
anything bad about Trotter. So Val, Roarke and I decided to look into things.
“Consider yourself lucky Trotter thinks he’s in love with
you. Otherwise he’d have raped and killed you like he’s done so many others.”
She swallowed hard, and he hated to see the fear in her
eyes. “He’s killed others?”
“Yeah. Apparently Trotter’s girls never do repeat
performances for more than a few weeks. He either kills them or sells them. And
that Majesty he’s pushing? He’s trafficking the stuff throughout the
southeastern states. He’s a major player, and my family has unwittingly given him
more leeway to do it.”
“Maybe I’ve been a little harsh on the Talsons.” Her eyes
softened as she studied him. “It’s not your fault, Romy.”
“We should have looked into his background before we hired
him, but my father has a weak spot when it comes to family and friends. That
and I think Trotter has a very strong ability to persuade.”
“A big pusher , hmm?”
Romy grimaced. “He has tremendous power. I’m just glad you
were immune. You have no idea how badly he wants you, veyou .” He
gathered her to him, ignoring her tension. “I really am sorry I misled you
about my identity. But I had no idea I’d walk into a situation as bad as this.”
“We’ll fix this.”
“You’re damn right we will. I have hard evidence on Trotter.
I just need to get it and
first, then call him.”
She flushed. “Good point.”
After a shower with Tara, whom he couldn’t leave alone, Romy
dressed in his trousers and double-checked Tara’s Otra statuette. It remained
safe in the room’s vault, and if Romy were right, the thing had to be worth a
small fortune. It felt old and powerful. Probably another draw to a man like
Trotter.
His mate drew on a robe and dialed her brother. The phone
rang several times before the screen cleared and a man with blond hair and blue
eyes answered. He seemed familiar. Then Romy recognized the badge around his
neck on a chain.
“Who the hell is this?” the guy growled.
“I’m Tara Drake. Why are the police picking up my brother’s
phone?”
His aggression vanished. “Tara?” He peered closer, his eyes
widening when Romy stepped close to Tara to get a better look at the vid.
“Talson?”
“Sean?” Romy stared in surprise. “I thought you worked at
Port Townsend.”
“I transferred to Port Chase six months ago. Nicer weather
here.” His obvious interest in them told Romy her brother would no doubt hear
about this call soon. “So I see you two are friendly. I’m glad you called.
Tara, where’s Mannie?”
“How do you know my brother?”
“He’s a good friend of mine. And apparently he’s missing.”
Sean stepped back from the vidphone, giving them a view of a messed apartment.
“Someone trashed his place, and when he didn’t show at the bar last night, I
figured he’d had a change of plans. When he didn’t call me today, I popped by.”
His eyes hardened, and Romy was glad to have at least one member of the law on
their side. Who knew how many officers Trotter had on the payroll?
“Can you meet us here in an hour?” Romy gave Sean the
address.
Sean nodded and disconnected.
“This isn’t good.” Her brother missing? This had Jonah
Trotter written all over it. “I’ll look into it.” Using his psychei ,
Romy saw the Yal brothers knock Mannie unconscious with a stunner before
hauling him away in a nondescript craft. “Definitely Trotter.”
She bit her lip, and he hugged her tight, wanting to offer
what comfort he could. “Tell me what all you know about him, Romy. Please.”
“Hell. None of it’s good. Trotter is the son of my parents’
friends. That’s the reason they hired him, that and he supposedly knew what the
hell to do in a shipyard. But after a few months, my brothers and I noticed the
numbers not adding up. But when we checked with my father, he refused to hear
anything bad about Trotter. So Val, Roarke and I decided to look into things.
“Consider yourself lucky Trotter thinks he’s in love with
you. Otherwise he’d have raped and killed you like he’s done so many others.”
She swallowed hard, and he hated to see the fear in her
eyes. “He’s killed others?”
“Yeah. Apparently Trotter’s girls never do repeat
performances for more than a few weeks. He either kills them or sells them. And
that Majesty he’s pushing? He’s trafficking the stuff throughout the
southeastern states. He’s a major player, and my family has unwittingly given him
more leeway to do it.”
“Maybe I’ve been a little harsh on the Talsons.” Her eyes
softened as she studied him. “It’s not your fault, Romy.”
“We should have looked into his background before we hired
him, but my father has a weak spot when it comes to family and friends. That
and I think Trotter has a very strong ability to persuade.”
“A big pusher , hmm?”
Romy grimaced. “He has tremendous power. I’m just glad you
were immune. You have no idea how badly he wants you, veyou .” He
gathered her to him, ignoring her tension. “I really am sorry I misled you
about my identity. But I had no idea I’d walk into a situation as bad as this.”
“We’ll fix this.”
“You’re damn right we will. I have hard evidence on Trotter.
I just need to get it and
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