Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6, Kathleen Brooks [great novels of all time TXT] 📗

out of here the second their rights were read. Trevino wants them, but I’m not going to give them to him without a fight,” Connor said.

“I’ll take care of it,” Cy’s calm voice said over the coms. “I’ve already made a call.”

“Curtis is leaving, and he’s not carrying a thing,” Paxton sighed. “We’re coming back to the van.”

Paxton fought not to feel defeated as they all drove back to the van. Police sirens drew close to them and sped past them on the way to arrest anyone in the SUV filled with drugs.

When they reached the van, Connor was missing from inside, but the rest of the crew were waiting for Paxton and Peter.

“We’ve got nothing,” Paxton said between his gritted teeth.

“We’ve gotten a lot, Kendry,” Cy’s hard voice said. “We’ll be able to take down Curtis’s inner circle and cause him to panic. He’ll be making his move to sell those paintings soon. You need to get back to Shadows Landing now. I’ll clean things up here. Now go. Go home and protect my niece or I’ll be the one you’ll have to worry about, not Curtis.”

“We should get to Tinsley. Curtis is out of options. He’ll be moving those paintings any day now,” Peter told him.

The urge to get to Tinsley was almost overwhelming. “Thank you, Cy,” Paxton said, holding out his hand to Tinsley’s scary uncle.

“It’s been fun. I’m protective of what’s mine, but you’ll do nicely for Tins. I’ll see you at the wedding. September is a lovely time to get married on the beach there.” Cy smiled at him as Paxton’s mouth just seemed to hang open. Then Cy picked up his cell phone and they were all dismissed. “Marshall, get the guys together. It’s a guys’ trip to Atlanta to take down a gang and a corrupt FBI agent.”

“Yes!” was heard through the entire van.

Tinsley had said her family was interesting, and he’d learned firsthand that was true. They made him smile and gave him the courage to do what was needed to protect Tinsley. He knew he had backup.

19

Tinsley was curled up in bed at Ryker’s when a soft knock at her door had her looking up from the book she was reading on her phone.

“Come in,” she called out.

The doorknob turned and Ryker entered. He strode into the room and sat down with a sigh in one of the chairs. “How are you holding up?” he asked her.

“I’m fine, but something tells me you’re not.”

Ryker waved the question away. “Just some work stuff. Nothing to worry about. I wanted to let you know that Granger called me. They’re on their way home. Should be here in the next thirty minutes.”

Tinsley’s heart started beating fast as she sat up in bed. “Did they find the paintings?”

“No. But they got the whole organization desperate to sell them. I’m sure Paxton can fill you in when he gets here.”

Tinsley fell back against the mountain of decorative pillows Ryker’s interior designer had picked out. “So, it’s not over yet.”

“It’s not but, Tinsley, I can take over. I can claim to own the gallery. Ridge and I were talking and we don’t want you in any kind of danger. I know enough about art to get by. Plus, I don’t have a family. Ridge didn’t like it but he understands. I don’t have someone who loves me waiting for me at home. That makes me the best choice for a dangerous job. Let me take on Myriad and keep you safe.”

Tinsley’s heart broke for Ryker. “That’s not true. You have a family who loves you and I refuse to put you in danger. I don’t have someone waiting for me either. I appreciate your concern. But Ryker, I can do this. I have to do this.”

“I know you can. I just don’t want you to. And you do have someone waiting for you—someone that Granger told me was driving over a hundred miles per hour to get back home to you. Someone who screamed into a SUV full of men that he wasn’t sleeping in the guest room anymore.” Ryker placed his hands on the arms of the chair and pushed himself up to standing. “He might not have said it yet, but that man loves you, Tinsley. It’s clear as day you love him, too.”

“What?” Tinsley asked, stunned. No one had noticed her slow change of feelings. At least she thought no one had. She shouldn’t be surprised Ryker saw what no one else did. He had a way of sitting back and observing. It served him well in business, but it’s also what kept him from having a personal life. There were too many Biancas in the world out to land his money, not his love. It would take someone very special to break through the reinforced walls of his heart.

Ryker gave her a small smile. “I’ve seen your paintings, Tinsley. They’re a testament to your love for him. You have your chance to be happy. Don’t pass it up. Let me fill in for you. I can bullshit my way through anything, even with some guys who know nothing about valuable art.”

Tinsley was sure both Ridge and Ryker thought she would happily step down, but she wasn’t going to. “No. Thank you for the offer, but I refuse to step down. Ryker, this is my life. This is what I’m good at and I can help. I want to help. I don’t come into the middle of one of your negotiations and tell you that I’ll take over. Don’t come into mine and do the same.”

Ryker was silent for a moment and then a sad smile crossed his face. “I knew you were the strong one. Everyone always looked out for you, but I saw you. I saw you looking out for everyone else. They thought they were taking care of you, the youngest of us, but it was always the other way around. You saved me. You protected Edie with everything