As they started down the extra-wide, curved staircase, he studied Izzy from the corner of his eye. Despite being three years her senior, she’d always been the more level-headed of the two.
Always there, hovering over him as ifshewere the oldest. It only got worse after he was sent to prison.
Though it grated on him slice by painful slice, Olly knew the foundation of his sister’s overprotective nature had been built from the guilt she felt for all that had happened.
Their parents’ deaths.
Being forced into foster care.
His arrest.
None of those things—or what he’d gone through after—had been Izzy’s fault. Hell, a drunk driver was to blame for killing their mom and dad.
As for the rest…
Olly was his own person, and he’d made his own choices. Choices that, despite all the other bullshit that had come along with them, he’d make again in a heartbeat.
Sure, his actions all those years ago may have sent him to prison. But they’d also saved his sister from the son of a bitch who’d attacked her. So hell yeah, he’d do it all over again.
Only this time, I wouldn’t just beat the bastard to a bloody pulp. I’d fucking kill him.
The two siblings reached the bottom of the stairs and began making their way across the polished wood floor toward the living room’s impressive stone fireplace. Crackling away with dancing flames, the structure offered coziness to the wide open space.
Standing around the extra warmth were Grady Thorne, Declan King, and a woman Olly assumed was Skye King—Declan’s wife.
Grady was the first to spot them. As soon as he did, the decorated detective began making his way over to meet them.
Standing at least two inches above Olly’s six-foot frame, Izzy’s fiancé was seriously built. Dressed in a pair of faded jeans, white sneakers, and a gray V-neck tee, he’d donned a navy blue ball cap to cover his baby-smooth head.
The man’s thick, well-trimmed salt-and-pepper beard shifted as Grady approached him with a welcoming smile. “Hey, Ol.” He formed a firm grip around Olly’s hand and leaned in closer. Lowering his voice to a level only the two of them could hear, Grady whispered, “You good?”
“Yeah, man.” Olly let the lies roll right off his tongue as the two shook hands. “I was just taking a self-guided tour. Congrats, by the way.” He gave his future brother-in-law a slap on the shoulder and glanced around the open space. “This place is great.”
Intelligent blue eyes studied him for a beat before Grady released his hand and took a step back. “Thanks, brother. Well…almostbrother. Just a couple more months until it’s official.”
Filled with obvious affection for Olly’s sister, the other man turned to Izzy and smiled. Olly watched with guarded envy as she slid into Grady’s welcoming arms.
He honestly couldn’t remember ever seeing her so happy.
“You guys look really good together,” he told the couple sincerely. “I’m happy for you.”
“Aww, thanks, Ol.” Izzy’s sisterly love radiated from her glittering gaze. “You’re next, you know. Especially with that new haircut.” She gave him a teasing wink. “Yep, just you wait. You’re going to be fighting the ladies off with a stick.”
Self-preserving denial rejected the notion, but the smile on Olly’s face never wavered. “I’m not so sure about all that.”
“Well, I am.” Another wink accompanied his sister’s confident smile.
He may turn a few heads, but he knew the drill. Women were all too happy to let him buy them a drink or two. Once they found out about his past, however…
They always leave.
Grady’s deep chuckle tore Olly from his thoughts. A beat later, the detective’s eyes turned a bit more serious. “Iz told me about the woman who called last night. She ever get ahold of you?”
“She did.” Olly’s eyes narrowed as they slid back to his sister. “I still can’t believe you gave my number to a stranger.”
Rather than cower beneath his scowl, Izzy held his gaze with an unapologetic shrug. “I went with my gut on this one.”
“And your gut said, ‘Yes, Isobel. Giving your brother’s number to a woman neither of you has ever metisa good idea. Oh, and by the way…this stranger could be some psycho who was involved in Rose’s disappearance or some scammer who heard about it and has decided to fuck with you’?”