Opal by Helen Hardt
LEIF
Cheating Buck and Aspen out of their honeymoon wasn’t on my to-do list, but the Wolfe family pays us big money to take care of these women and keep them safe.
They even sent their private jet to bring us back from LA to New York. Aspen insisted on coming with us, and even though Buck and I both tried to talk her out of it, that woman has a mind of her own.
Buck is worried for her safety, and so am I, but from what I can tell, the woman can take care of herself. She’s tall, strong, athletic. Gorgeous with dark hair and eyes. She and Buck will make beautiful kids.
Damn.
Kids.
I can’t believe Buck is married. That last tour of duty fucked both of us up so bad, I wasn’t sure either of us would be able to have a decent relationship, but Buck defied the odds. He and Aspen are perfect together.
As for me? I’m not looking. I don’t think I’ll ever look. Definitely too fucked up. Torture and violation… We’re prepared for it during training, but can you ever be truly prepared?
No.
You can’t.
Buck and I are meeting Reid and Rock Wolfe at their office this morning, and of course Aspen is tagging along. Once we get through security in the Wolfe building, we take the elevator to the main office and check in with the receptionist.
“The Wolfes are expecting you,” the receptionist says with a smile. “Have a seat, and someone will come get you soon.”
I plunk my ass down on a comfortable couch in the reception area. Buck and Aspen sit across from me on another couch, Aspen twiddling her thumbs.
Buck and I both rise when Reid Wolfe, dressed in his signature navy-blue tailored suit, walks out to greet us. Fatherhood suits him. He looks more at ease these days. When I first met Reid, he was a stiff businessman who had no time for anything but work—unless it was a quick fuck with his woman du jour. Now he’s a devoted family man, married to one of his father’s victims and a father himself to an adorable infant girl.
“Buck, Leif.” Reid shakes our hands, and then his gaze falls on Aspen. “Ms. Davis, I’m glad you came along. You may be able to offer some insight.”
Aspen shakes Reid’s hand. “It’s Mrs. Moreno now.” She smiles. “But Aspen is fine. And that’s why I’m here. I want to help.”
“I know we’re asking a lot of you and your new husband, postponing your honeymoon for a little while, but we think this might be serious.” He nods to the receptionist. “I don’t want to be disturbed during this meeting. Not at all.”
“Yes, Mr. Wolfe.”
Then to us, “Follow me.”
Buck, Aspen, and I follow Reid through the winding hallways to one of the conference rooms. I’ve been in this particular room many times, but it always leaves me in awe. It’s huge, of course, with a solid cherry table that seats up to twenty. The chairs are cushioned with blue and gold brocade, but the most iconic part of the room are its walls. They’re home to a triptych of paintings by Roy Wolfe, and whenever I look at them—abstract in blues, golds, grays, and whites—I see something different. Today I see the ocean…but perhaps that’s because I was just in LA at a house on the beach for Buck’s wedding.
When we enter, Rock—Reid’s oldest brother and chief executive officer of Wolfe Enterprises—stands.
He looks a little rougher than Reid, who always looks refined. But there’s no mistaking the resemblance between them. Only their eyes are different—Reid’s are blue and Rock’s are green. But they both have the same determination in their gazes.
“You all know my brother Rock.”
Rock shakes hands all around. “Good to see you. Thank you for coming. My wife, Lacey, will be here in a minute.” He gazes at the doorway. “Here she is now.”
Lacey Wolfe is blond and blue-eyed, and she’s just starting to show a baby bump.
“Mrs. Wolfe,” I say, “nice to see you again. And congratulations.”
“Thank you, Leif. And please call me Lacey.”
“You know my friend, Buck Moreno, and this is his wife, Aspen.”
A smile spreads across Aspen’s face when I say the word “wife.”
Lacey shakes both their hands and holds onto Aspen’s a bit longer. “I just want to tell you that you’re amazing. And thank you for coming. We all feel so terrible about ruining your honeymoon.”
Aspen attempts a smile. “Buck and I will have a honeymoon. I just feel so fortunate that, after all I’ve been through, I found such an amazing life for myself. So I want to help Kelly.”
“All of you ladies are amazing,” Lacey says. “Your strength and fortitude humble me.”
“That’s kind of you,” Aspen says, “but your family made sure we got the best mental health treatment on the island.”
“Yes, Riley and Matt have done an incredible job with the treatment center. I’m so glad it was helpful to you and the others.”
“Most of the others anyway,” Reid says. “Please, have a seat. All of you.”
“So what’s the story?” I ask. “Which woman has been making threats against Kelly?”