Those steel-blue eyes pierced him, and for a brief second, he saw the same heat he’d seen on New Year’s.
Yeah, it was safe to say Trey was thinking about that night, too.
“Just say the word,” he teased. “That’s all you’ve got to do.”
Trey frowned as though he didn’t understand. Magnus knew better, so he kept his mouth shut.
“I’ll … uh … let Reese know you’re willin’,” Trey said, clearing his throat and turning toward the door.
Magnus chuckled at the double entendre he knew Trey hadn’t intended.
And then he was staring at the man as he walked out the door.
Peering down at Aurora and Sarge, Magnus grinned. “That’s not the last we’ll see of him, I promise.”
Chapter Eleven
Monday, January 18, 2021
On Monday morning, just four days after Kylie’s funeral, Travis woke up with a new determination.
He’d spent the weekend with Gage and the kids, a dark cloud hanging over them all as they went through the motions just to get through the day. His mother and father had stopped by on Saturday morning, then later, Sawyer and Kennedy brought Matthew and Brody by. The kids had enjoyed the visits because it gave them the distraction they needed, but Travis found himself growing irritable with the attention.
Because his mood hadn’t improved by Sunday, he’d skipped the weekly dinner at his folks’ place. Gage had insisted on going, and Travis saw no reason for them not to. It was while they were gone that an idea had come to him.
“Hey, Trav. Didn’t think we’d see you here for a while,” Kaleb said, his eyebrows dipped down in concern.
Travis gave his brother a single shoulder shrug. Kaleb and Sawyer had informed him they would gladly handle the management of Alluring Indulgence Resort until the time Travis felt he could return. Although he had graciously accepted their offer, Travis had known he wouldn’t be able to stay away. Not because he preferred to be taking care of the resort rather than his family, but because Travis knew he would need something to do. He was here because he wanted to be here. As far as he was concerned, there was no reason to ignore his responsibilities. It wasn’t like it would change the outcome of anything if he did.
He got similar comments from others on his trek to his office, and he offered the same response: nothing. He had more important things to deal with than making others feel better because they weren’t sure how to deal with him.
Once in his office, he closed the door. Figured there was no reason to invite more sympathetic looks from those who meant well.
No sooner did his ass meet his chair than he picked up his phone and dialed.
“Mornin’,” came a gruff, uncertain response.
“I want to offer a reward for any information leadin’ to the capture of Juliet Prince,” he said, rocking back in his executive chair and staring at the door.
“Well…”
“Brantley, I’m not askin’ for permission. I want it done. I figured I’d give you an opportunity to head it up since you claim you’re handlin’ the investigation. But if it’s too much for you…”
His cousin sighed. “Where are you?”
“At the resort.”
“Okay. Give me half an hour. Reese and I’ll stop by to chat. And before you get all up in arms, I think a reward’s a good idea. I just want to talk it out. Is Gage there with you?”
“No.”
“Should he be?” Brantley asked.
Travis wasn’t sure it was his place to decide that. And since Gage seemed to be content keeping his distance, he figured he could return the favor. “No.”
Another sigh. “All right. Half an hour.”
“See you then.”
After disconnecting, Travis found himself typing up a text to Gage. He kept it short and sweet: Meeting with Brantley and Reese. Offering reward. If you want to be part of the convo, meet in my office, half an hour.
Travis never did get a response.
As promised, Brantley arrived thirty minutes later with Reese in tow. They took their sweet time getting up to his office, probably stopping to chat with his brothers along the way. He half expected to see a line of people behind them when they finally knocked on his door, but there were no stragglers.
And there was no Gage.
“Come in.” Travis leaned back, trying to appear relaxed and not letting on that his stomach was twisted in knots. He’d thought coming to work would allow him to stop thinking about Kylie for a little while. That didn’t seem to be the case.
Both men walked in, their eyes scanning the room as though they were expecting someone else.
“Have a seat,” he said politely, although he didn’t expect them to be there long.
They sat, neither of them saying anything.
Travis wasn’t sure why they’d gone mute, but he didn’t really need their input, and he certainly didn’t need small talk.
“Like I told you on the phone, I want to offer a reward for any information that leads to the capture and arrest of Juliet Prince in relation to my wife’s murder.”
He probably shouldn’t have tacked on the last part so harshly, but it was all he could do to spit the words out.
“I know I mentioned to you that the governor discussed disbandin’ the task force,” Brantley said. “I just want to make sure you understood that happened. We no longer have jurisdiction over anything. In fact, we’ve gone private. The task force is under the umbrella of Sniper 1 Security.”
Travis wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but he nodded.
“We’ve got a large team of their agents down here assistin’ with the search. Includin’ RT and Hunter.”
For some damn reason, that loosened the knot in his chest.
Yes, Travis had been holed up in his house, and his warped and twisted thoughts had led him to think that no one was out there doing anything to find the bitch. Despite the fact he’d blamed them more than once—at least in his head—he should’ve known Brantley and Reese wouldn’t stop looking.
“We are pursuin’ several leads. I just want you to understand, we’re actively workin’ this. In fact, it’s the only thing we’re workin’ on.”
Travis swallowed a hot ball of emotion and nodded.
Brantley glanced at Reese, then back to Travis. Silence hung between them as though Brantley thought Travis might have something to say. If he thought he could get words out, perhaps he would, but it was taking everything in him to sit there.
Brantley nodded. “You mentioned a reward. How much are you thinkin’?”
Travis reached for his water, took a drink. “Whatever’s appropriate. Money’s no object.”
Brantley and Reese shared a look and then Reese spoke up. “We need to make you aware of what’ll happen once that reward is posted. Once it’s made public, we’ll be inundated with leads. Unfortunately, the majority of them will be bogus. And while it only takes one actual lead to get the result we’re lookin’ for, it’ll require additional resources to handle the influx. That means those who’re currently in the field will be called back in to answer the phones.”