Flare, page 23
“Is that a reasonable assumption?” I ask.
“Reasonable? Hell, I don’t even know what reasonable is anymore. But my brother gets shot, in a place where he almost never goes? And the next thing you know, all this other shit comes to light? The puzzle pieces have to fit together somehow, Brock.”
“But there’s more, Dad. The stuff Brendan Murphy uncovered under his floorboards.”
“I’m not completely convinced that is related,” Dad says. “But it is something else we need to figure out.”
“Hell, yeah, we need to figure it out. Because whatever else was left under those floorboards is no longer there after Murphy’s place got trashed.”
“I know, son. I know.”
“We need to go back, Dad. Tonight. Rory’s going to be involved with her father for a few days. That gives me the chance to deal with some of this stuff. We’ll check out Doc Sheraton’s land. Talk to him about the guard dogs. We have to figure out who’s behind this. We have to.”
“I agree with you. And we will.”
“Except…”
Zach and Dusty waggle up to the deck to have their ears scratched. I oblige, stroking their soft heads.
“I have to take care of the Pikes’ dogs.”
“We can get someone else to take care the Pikes’ dogs. What about your brother? Or Dave or Henry?”
“Yeah, I suppose Brad could do it. Someone just needs to come over here in the morning, feed them, and let them out, and then do the same thing in the evening.”
“Perfect. Call your brother and get that all arranged. If he can’t do it, get Henry or Dave. I’m going to talk to Bryce about taking a few days off. Let’s get started as soon as we can.”
“I’m in. All in. At least while Rory’s occupied with her father.” I sigh. “I just wish…”
“So do I,” Dad says. “I get it, Brock. It’s a tough thing. But at this point, it’s ride or die, son. We figure this out, or we go down.”
“I understand.”
I end the call.
Ride or die.
I breathe in and hold it, drawing strength for what I must do. What I must do for my family. For Rory. For the future of the children she and I will have someday.
They deserve everything I have to offer, everything my name has to offer.
The Steel family will not go down on my watch.
Continue reading the Steel Brothers Saga with Book Twenty-Four
Coming December 27, 2022!
Pre-Order Now
* * *
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Message from Helen Hardt
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Flare. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page and join my mailing list: http://helenhardt.com/signup/. I often do giveaways. If you’re a fan and would like to join my street team to help spread the word about my books, you can do so here. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.
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Helen
Also By Helen Hardt
The Steel Brothers Saga:
Craving
Obsession
Possession
Melt
Burn
Surrender
Shattered
Twisted
Unraveled
Breathless
Ravenous
Insatiable
Fate
Legacy
Descent
Awakened
Cherished
Freed
Spark
Flame
Blaze
Smolder
Flare
Scorch
* * *
Blood Bond Saga:
Unchained: Volume One
Unhinged: Volume Two
Undaunted: Volume Three
Unmasked: Volume Four
Undefeated: Volume Five
* * *
Misadventures:
Misadventures of a Good Wife (with Meredith Wild)
Misadventures with a Rock Star
* * *
The Temptation Saga:
Tempting Dusty
Teasing Annie
Taking Catie
Taming Angelina
Treasuring Amber
Trusting Sydney
Tantalizing Maria
* * *
The Sex and the Season Series:
Lily and the Duke
Rose in Bloom
Lady Alexandra’s Lover
Sophie’s Voice
* * *
Daughters of the Prairie:
The Outlaw’s Angel
Lessons of the Heart
Song of the Raven
* * *
The Cougar Chronicles:
The Cowboy and the Cougar
Calendar Boy
* * *
Collections:
Destination Desire
Her Two Lovers
* * *
Non-Fiction:
got style?
Acknowledgments
We’re getting closer to answers…but of course there are always more questions! This is the Steel Brothers Saga, after all. Brock is becoming a new favorite of mine, which is no surprise, since of the three original Steel Brothers, my favorite is his father, Jonah. It’s been great fun revisiting him and Melanie.
Huge thanks to the always brilliant team at Waterhouse Press: Jennifer Becker, Audrey Bobak, Haley Boudreaux, Yvonne Ellis, Jesse Kench, Jon Mac, Amber Maxwell, Dave McInerney, Michele Hamner Moore, Chrissie Saunders, Scott Saunders, Kurt Vachon, and Meredith Wild.
Thanks also to the women and men of Hardt and Soul. Your endless and unwavering support keeps me going.
To my family and friends, thank you for your encouragement. Special shout out to Dean—aka Mr. Hardt—and to our amazing sons, Eric and Grant.
Thank you most of all to my readers. Without you, none of this would be possible. I am grateful every day that I’m able to do what I love—write stories for you!
Rory and Brock return in Scorch, which has a surprise in store for you. Be prepared to say hello to some old friends!
About Helen Hardt
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
For more information, please follow Helen Hardt at:
www.HelenHardt.com
Helen Hardt, Flare
