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"I wondered why he looked different Why were they at the house?"

Hunter tensed and she figured he orried she

"One of them is interested in Hunter’s sister So he tracked her to my place and that’s when I met all three of them" She took a deep breath "I didn’t want to tell you this, but you have to know in case anything can shed light on who the realme Hunter had a run-in with one of his two brothers and in self-defense, Hunter killed hiaze turned to Hunter, and he swore softly under his breath

"I’m an ex–Navy SEAL," Hunter said, "trained to do work like this The guy didn’t have a chance even though he was armed with a knife But his brothers went after Tessa, and I didn’t have a choice"

Michael’s eyes grew big "Thanks for taking care of er brother, but because he was several inches taller than she was, he called her little

"My pleasure" Hunter took hold of her hand and squeezed "We’re married I’ll always protect her"

Michael shifted his attention to Tessa

"Uhht Hunter would bring that up right now Besides, they weren’t really e vows kind of arrangeh "I found hi uy that was stalking you I worried someone was, but have you learned who it is?"

She noted her brother’s concern for her, but not about Hunter’s near-death experience Michael was probably still pissed off because Hunter earing his favorite jacket

"He broke into our house the day you were taken to prison Hunter protected uy wanted you out of the way, and so he uilty of the crime"

Michael pointed to the third uy looks familiar also"

"Jessup’s the one who’s after Hunter’s sister Where do you remember him from?"

"The driver of the electric truck" Michael frowned and then looked up at Tessa "I saw hiin to see the same people at the parties Avid collectors, people who like s, philanthropists, novice painters ant to learn how to sell their oorks I re Bethany Do you think he was seeing her behind ritted her teeth She hadn’t wanted to tell her brother Ashton was the traitor But if any detail could help them solve the case, he had to know

"Ashton" Her voice broke "Ashton’s the one as seeing Bethany when you were at your shows"

Michael’s jaw clenched "I know"

She stared at him "You knew? Why didn’t you say so at the trial?"

"Why? The sheriff would have covered for his son Ashton would have gotten aith it, as usual, and it would have looked like I was lying"

"But what if Ashton killed Bethany?"

Michael rubbed his forehead, then shoved his hands in his lap "I sure as hell considered it What if she’d wanted to coht She said she’d done soh she wouldn’t adet her to confess, but she wouldn’t She just kept protecting the bastard"

"Then you could have been angry enough to kill her," Hunter said softly

"I was angry, but I didn’ther But I wouldn’t have hurt Bethany I understood how she felt I really loved her, but I didn’t kno to remedy our relationship because the , the more despondent she became over it To sell, I have to promote To keep ive it all up But it was my livelihood, my worth" He shook his head "I didn’t kill her She alalked along the cliffs when she was angry or frustrated Supposedly, she went there after I left"

"Do you think Ashton etting aith his petty crio back toto me about it, but I kneas jealous ofAshton, did you know if she was seeing anyone else?" Hunter asked

Michael’s eyes clouded with fresh tears and his shoulders slu so his hand through his hair, Michael stared at the table and nodded "Ashton wasn’t the only one At least one other guy was seeing her Maybe two"

"How do you know?" Hunter asked

"Hell, I don’t know I mean, I don’t have any real proof"

"Is that why you said the place was haunted?" Hunter asked

She couldn’t understand why her brother had come up with such a ludicrous story