“Can we change the subject, please?” I asked.
“Your entire purpose for bringing me to the bakery was to talk about this.”
Fuck.
As we turned the corner to head to the small storefront, Seth Walker approached in all his uniformed glory. I wolf whistled at him just to pay Otto back for being a prick.
Otto ignored me and jogged the last couple steps to take Seth into a big bear hug. “Fuck. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Seth kissed him while chuckling. “I saw you this morning at the breakfast table.”
Otto pressed his face into Seth’s neck and inhaled. Something about the gesture made my stomach hurt, and I quickly looked away.
The last person I’d even come close to having an intimate relationship with had fucked right off and slept with my cousin Web when he’d come to visit me in San Diego the first year I was in the navy. I hated the feelings of anger, betrayal, and resentment I’d felt toward both of them. No relationship had been worth fucking with my family.
After that, I’d decided I didn’t have the time nor the inclination for relationships with feelings. I was a navy man. A SEAL for fuck’s sake. It was A-okay for me to fuck, but love? Pfft. No need for that nonsense. I had a world to see and people to save.
After that, quick fucks before the next mission were my specialty. And when I’d come out of the navy almost two years ago, I’d embraced my reputation as a playboy even more. It wasn’t until I began seeing my brothers fall in love that I wondered how long I could continue to fool myself into thinking casual sex would meet all my needs.
I heard Seth smack a kiss on Otto’s lips, and I tried to shake off my moment of envy.
“I only have about fifteen minutes, and don’t let me forget to order something for Luanne or she’ll kick my ass,” Seth said before pulling out of Otto’s embrace and opening the door to the bakery for us.
We chatted with Stevie for a few minutes while ordering drinks and pastries. Once everything was ready, we found a spot in a quiet corner to talk. I explained that I was concerned for Augie’s safety after what had happened.
“When we walked out of the pub last night, his car door was open. Someone had been through all his shit.”
“You think he was specifically targeted?” Seth asked.
I shrugged. “He’s a member of one of the wealthiest families in this part of Texas. It’s not a stretch to think so. Did you know that the Stiel Foundation just pledged half a million dollars to the Second Amendment Foundation and 1.2 million dollars to Texas Right to Life? That’s some serious money for two organizations involved in volatile media campaigns right now, not to mention the money they regularly contribute to other conservative groups. Lots of people are, excuse the phrase, gunning for the Stiels right now in this state. No matter what side of these issues you fall on, you have to admit, it’s big money and big emotions tied together. That’s dangerous.”
Seth glanced quickly at Otto before looking back at me. “Has Landen Safekeeping been hired to look into this?”
“No.”
“Then what’s your interest here?”
I stared at him. “My interest is in keeping the man safe. Clearly, he’s terrified, but he doesn’t want anyone to know how much.”
Now Otto and Seth both glanced at each other with one of those silent spousal messages. I grunted and looked down at my cookie, annoyed as hell at their stubborn personalities.
Seth’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Have you asked him about it? Because the last I knew, he thought it was a standard residential burglary. We don’t have evidence of it being anything else.”
“How many other houses out that way have been burglarized lately?” I asked.
Seth paused for a beat. “None.”
“See? Jesus. This isn’t normal for Hobie. Can’t you at least consider that there’s something else going on here?”
“Saint, I get your frustration, but the standard items were missing from Augie’s house as would be missing in any break-in. Small electronics, keys, wallet, a couple of portable antiques. Whoever did this had no specific knowledge of the safe hidden on the property or the high value of a small painting on the wall. They were smash-and-grab types looking for an easy fix probably. I mean, thank god his great-aunt wasn’t still living there. Can you imagine if they’d found her alone and tried to ask her where the valuables were?”
It hadn’t occurred to me the burglars might have confronted Augie. My stomach twisted painfully. “Did they approach Augie?” I asked. “Did they come into his bedroom?” I felt light-headed at the very idea of little August Stiel being awoken by thugs in his own room.
“No, they didn’t approach him, but they did ransack his bedroom. He heard them break in and was able to hide in his closet I think.”