The former SEAL’s dark eyes narrowed with the man’s deep scowl. “You’re new, so I’ll let that one slide. And to answer your question, yes. I’m fucking sure.”
Between the stoic bastard’s body-builder physique, his flat, unreadable expression, and the colorful tattoos running from the tip of the man’s neck all the way to his fingers, the guy looked more like the leader of an angry mob of bikers than the American hero-turned-businessman that he was.
“He’s right.” A different male voice sounded from somewhere close behind him.
Olly turned to see Ivan Petrov—Jax’s right-hand man—walking across the dark tiled floor in their direction. Standing a couple of inches over six feet, the muscular blond was also an ex-SEAL.
From what Izzy had shared when she first introduced them weeks earlier, the two men had even served in the same unit back in the day. Now the two partners didn’t just runSin, butthey also made up the most successful private investigation duo in the city.
“Your girl’s clean as a whistle.” Ivan came to a stop beside him. “Right down to her driving record.”
Olly gave the folder in his hands another glance. Though he had yet to open it, it was obvious the contents inside had doubled since he’d dropped it off with Jax that same morning after leaving Scarlett’s hotel.
He opened the folder, frowning when he scanned the document on top. “You pulled her grade school transcripts?”
“You wanted thorough.” One of Jax’s massive shoulders shrugged beneath the man’s black leather jacket. “I’m nothing if not a man of my word.”
Clearly.
Olly began flipping through the stack of intel and…Jesus.Thorough was right. It seemed as if every aspect of Scarlett’s life was in there. Including her diploma from the University of Indiana Bloomington.
A Master’s in education.
“Your girl’s taught first grade at Aurora Elementary School for the past four years,” Jax announced. “It’s part of the South Dearborn Community School Corporation, located in Aurora, Indiana. Which, as it just so happens, is the same little town where she grew up.”
South Dearborn Community School Corporation.
It was the same name listed on the pay stubs Scarlett had given him that morning. And though he’d have to give the documents in his hand a more in-depth look, Olly was willing to bet the tax returns he’d spotted in there would coincide, as well.
The image of the alluring redhead filled his mind again. Not as she’d looked when they’d spoken down in the hotel lounge…but before.
Wet. Naked. Her most intimate parts had been hidden by that damn towel.
It had been an unintentional tease, of course. One that had nearly knocked him right on his ass the second he’d stepped out of the elevator and onto her floor.
Knowing the very same woman was an elementary teacher almost made him wish he were back in school. Almost.
I sure as hell would’ve paid better attention in class if my teachers had looked like that.
“Everything matches with what she told you,” Jax’s rumbled reiteration smacked him back to the moment at hand. “Her name, the DNA test…the results.” The other man’s gaze became pointed. “And in case there’s still any question, yes. Scarlett Hathaway is Rose Goodwin’s half-sister.”
“I talked to the P.I. she hired,” Ivan spoke again. “Guy by the name of Thomas Gibbs out of Cincinnati. He confirmed Scarlett was a client of his and that he was the one who gave her your name.”
Now that’s surprising.
“He just…gave all that up to you?” Olly eyed the other man with suspicion.
“Not at first. Client confidentiality and all that.”
“So how’d you get him to fold?”
A slow, knowing smile lifted the government-trained killer’s lips. “Let’s just say, I can be very convincing when I need to be.”
“I’ve got a guy in Cincinnati who’s also in the business,” Jax chimed back in. “Called him first, just to see if he knew anything about Gibbs.”
“And?”
“He said the guy was one of the best P.I.’s around.” There was a stretch of silence before the other man added, “Of course, he may have also let it slip that the man had a habit of picking uphookers. A little secret Thomas has been keeping from his dearly devoted wife.”