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  greeted her, tinged by a lingering hint of perfume. But windows could be opened, fans turned on. The smell wouldn’t last, but this architecture would.

  Gaping at the lovely foyer, Belle wandered inside, visually drinking in everything around her. In an instant, she envisioned the place all restored to its former glory. Mentally, she pictured the entrance with a grand, classic palate—white marble and rich floors, gray walls, crystal chandeliers, along with a pop of something bright, like red or peacock—something as bold as New Orleans. She’d drape coordinating fabric to frame the graceful windows and let light in. The area rugs would have to be replaced and the hardwoods refinished with a rich, dark stain, but the raw goods were there. No one made beautiful, solid wide planks like this anymore.

  Wow.

  Smiling to herself, Belle turned to Gates, ready to tell him that she had no intention of leaving. She noticed then that he hadn’t followed her inside.

  He stood just beyond the threshold, his briefcase twitching at his side. “You don’t want to do this, miss. I understand that you think the place is worth more. Maybe it is, but you should take the easy money and leave this house.”

  “Thank you for the advice, but I’ll be fixing it up.”

  Sir’s head came up, and he started barking at an empty room.

  She tried to settle him down. “Hush, now.”

  Malcolm wouldn’t step a foot in the house as he pointed at Sir, who squirmed to be let down. “See, you should listen to your dog. He knows this place is bad news. Everyone who lives in the Quarter knows its…unfortunate nature,” the lawyer said with a little shudder.

  “But the judge, the pillar of the community, doesn’t? Why would he want to buy this house if it’s so terrible?” God, she’d been working with lawyers too long.

  “I’ve advised him against it. He’s not listening.” Gates looked somewhere between uncomfortable and spooked. “Sell it now, miss. With the exception of your grandmother, women fare poorly in this house.”

  Was that some sort of veiled threat? It didn’t really sound that way, but Belle couldn’t decide exactly what that note in his voice was. “What does that mean?”

  He cleared his throat. “Two women hung themselves here. Young women. Rumor is, the place is haunted. Now, whether you believe that or not…”

  What she was more inclined to believe was that Gates meant to scare her away. He probably made money if he persuaded her to sell the house to this judge. Too bad.

  “I don’t like the thought of you living here all alone,” he went on.

  Sir’s whole body began wriggling, so Belle set him down since he seemed determined to run. He immediately found a spot in the middle of the room and started barking, but this was a happy sound. His tail wagged, and he did a little dance as though he was excited to see someone.

  Except no one at all was there.

  So the place was beautiful…and had an interesting energy. She hadn’t even seen the rest of the huge house, and she could already imagine that being here by herself at night could be a tiny bit creepy. What else had she expected out of a New Orleans mansion?

  Exhaustion weighed on her. It had been a terrible couple of days, but she’d take dealing with a supposed ghost over returning to Chicago and facing her former bosses any day of the week. Decision made, Belle dug her heels in. She wasn’t letting some old stories push her out of her rightful inheritance. Her grandmother had wanted her to have this place. Belle sought to learn as much about the woman and her undoubtedly colorful past as she could, and living in her home seemed like a good way to start. Her family had a whole secret history that she longed to discover. Besides, it might take her mind off of Eric, Tate, and Kellan for more than thirty seconds.

  “Thank you for your concern, but I’m not selling. I can handle anything this house throws at me. So let’s get the legalities out of the way. What do I need to sign in the way of probate papers so the key is mine? I really need a nap.”

  Sir pranced around the place like he owned it. At least he seemed to have calmed down. He yipped occasionally and sat back on his haunches, staring up at the air with a little growl.

  The lawyer dug into his briefcase and extended the papers to her through the open door. He handed her a pen a moment later. Gates could be superstitious if he wanted. If her grandmother had lived here alone for all these years without incident, Belle figured she’d be fine, too.

  “There are more papers for you to sign at my office. I’ll have them finalized and get all the property details and reports to you. Your grandmother also left you a little money in an account. I think it’s roughly thirty grand. I’ll send you all the details shortly.”

  Thank god. Thirty thousand wouldn’t be a lot compared to all the work the house would need, but it might be enough to finish off a room or two. She would start with an office she could use and turn it into her showplace.

  This spur-of-the-moment plan might just work.

  Gates frowned and shook his head. “I really wish you’d reconsider.”

  Belle merely smiled and shook her head. With a sigh, he left. The door closed, and she was finally alone. Well, hopefully.

  “All right, Grandma.” She looked around the parlor as a sense of responsibility engulfed her. “I’m going to make this place shine again and call it my home.”

  Weariness swamped Belle, and she yawned. It had been such a long night, and she still needed to check out the house and unpack. So much to do—right after her nap.

  She lay across a slightly dusty rose-velvet settee and rested her head against the back. She wouldn’t sleep long, just long enough to rest her eyes. But as she drifted off, visions of Eric, Tate, and Kellan haunted her.

  Chapter Seven

  “Please join us, love.”

  It took everything Kellan had not to laugh at the nervous look on Kinley’s face as her husband ushered her inside the living area of their suite. Her eyes widened briefly when she caught sight of the five other men waiting for her. He, Eric, and Tate had joined Kinley’s other spouses, the Anders brothers, in their suite’s living area. After a brief meeting with Dominic during which they’d laid out the chaos his wife had aided, Dominic had agreed to allow a polite interrogation of his wife. He’d also vowed she would feel the sting of his hand later.

  Even Butch sat with the men while Gigi’s little head poked out of Kinley’s Prada tote. The minute she put the bag down, the dog hopped out, running through the suite to hide behind the drapes as if Gigi knew trouble was coming.

  Kinley wasn’t given that option.

  “Why don’t you have a seat?” Kellan said to the blonde, taking over the conversation now. “We have some questions for you.”

  He had to give her credit. After her initial apprehension, she steadied and sank into the chair they’d left for her in the middle of the room. She held her head high as she looked them over, like a queen gazing down at her subjects. Oh, Dominic so needed to whack that ass.

  “Is this an interrogation or can I have a cup of coffee? I didn’t get one since I was pulled away from breakfast.”

  Law Anders rose. “I’ll get us all something. I get the feeling we’re going to need it. You’ve been a bad girl, baby.” He softened the assertion by winking her way.

  “I love it when you cause trouble, sweetheart.” Riley leaned in eagerly, as though he was getting ready for a show. His smile couldn’t quite hide his excitement.

  No wonder Kinley was running rampant. Kellan tried not to roll his eyes.

  Dominic frowned. “Hey, you two need to take this seriously. Do you know what she did?”

  The Anders brothers shook their heads. Law made his way to the coffeepot in the room, but upon hearing Dominic’s displeasure, he sent a sidelong glance to Kinley.

  She looked at her hands, folded in her lap.

  “Start talking about Annabelle,” Dominic demanded.

  Her head popped up and her smile illuminated the room. “Of course, Master. I could talk about my best friend all
day. Where to start? The beginning, then. Belle was born on a crisp autumn morning…”

  Dominic growled her way. “That is not what I meant. You’re digging yourself a hole. Consider this your first and last warning.”

  That was one more than Kellan would have given Kinley. If she was going to be difficult…well, Kellan had dealt with hostile witnesses before. “Where is Belle now?”

  “I’m not exactly sure.”

  “Kinley…” Dominic barked.

  “Yes, Master? I’m telling you the truth. I don’t know exactly where she is.” Kinley tried to appear cooperative, even contrite.

  Kellan wasn’t buying it.

  “But you have a very good idea, don’t you?” Dominic drawled.

  She pursed her bow mouth, obviously unwilling to answer.

  In the face of her mute response, he scowled. “That’s ten. Answer the question, Kinley. This is important.”

  “To you, Master?”

  “To Kellan, Eric, and Tate. Disappointing them will be disappointing me. Tell Belle’s lovers everything you know about her whereabouts.”

  Kinley’s whole face went stormy and stubborn, her eyes narrowing. “Belle’s never had any lovers. She’s a virgin. She was waiting for the right men to come along.” She sent them an acid glare. “I guess she hasn’t found them yet.”

  Tate wilted like a fucking hothouse flower. “We’re so sorry about that, Kinley. Honestly, I loved knowing that she’d waited. I kind of wished I’d waited, too, but then our experience together would probably be horrible for her because it takes a man some time to build up stamina. I blew my load in three point seven seconds the first time.”

  “Really?” Eric stared at his best friend, rolling his eyes.

  “Dude, you were there. And you, like, came in her hand. Belle deserves better.” He turned to Kinley. “Please. We want to apologize and ask her for a second chance. You have to tell us where she went.”

  “I like him. He can live,” Kinley pronounced.

  Kellan would use whatever she gave him to hunt Belle down. “Excellent, then tell him where to find her.”

  “I really don’t know exactly. I was shocked to discover she’d left.” The little brat’s mock surprise crawled all over Kellan.

  “She left in your car,” he pointed out. “You gave her the keys.”

  “She needed them.”

  “But you’re surprised that she left?”

  Kinley squirmed in her seat. “She didn’t say why she needed the keys.”

  Kell sent an angry glare to Dominic, who crossed his arms over his chest and speared her with a dark glare. “That’s ten more, love. We’re up to twenty. Want to make it thirty? I can arrange that.”

  “Come on, Kinley.” Riley sent her a glance that suggested she be reasonable.

  Law watched the entire event unfold, a smile playing at his lips, as if his wife’s little defiance amused him.

  “You gave her the keys to your car without asking where she was going?” Kell raised a brow.

  “She’s my friend. I trust her because she’s got a lovely heart. She’ll return the car to me when she no longer needs it. I just wonder about that male she was with. She called him Sir.” Kinley shook her head as if the situation was so, so sad. “Guess you guys lost out. Sorry.”

  “What?” He bit the word out violently. Belle had found another fucking Dom in a few short hours? That was incomprehensible. Impossible. Although given who Dominic’s friends were, it was possible an unattached Dom might have been around the hotel last night after the wedding. At this point, what surprised Kell more was that the guy hadn’t come with two or three friends.

  Or maybe that’s who Belle was driving to meet. The thought stopped Kell cold. On the other hand, Oliver and his brothers hadn’t mentioned Belle being with another man. He scowled. Something was fishy here…

  “She wouldn’t leave with a man she’d just met and she certainly wouldn’t be calling him Sir,” Eric said, shaking his head. “I’m going to call her again.”

  “You snooze, you lose,” Kinley said in a little sing-song voice.

  “For your disrespect, that’s yet another ten.” Dominic’s foot tapped against the floor as he glared at her. “Your ass is going to be red after thirty.”

  Kinley ignored him, then her purse began ringing. She put a hand over her mouth, blinking as if she was utterly surprised. “Oh, my gosh. Belle’s phone must have fallen into my bag.”

  So Belle had gone somewhere in Kinley’s car in the middle of the night without a phone. And possibly with another man. Kellan’s palm itched fiercely.

  “Kinley, you had to have seen which direction Belle drove off,” Riley prompted. “Help the guys a little. They seem genuinely eager to have her back.”

  “I only saw that my friend was crying and heartbroken because the men she’s longed for turned out to be complete douchebags who refused to touch or collar her. They made her feel inferior simply because she hadn’t slept with a man yet.”

  “That isn’t what happened,” Kellan insisted, trying to gather his patience. “And if she was crying and heartbroken over us, why would she be with another man?”

  “Well, of course he was going to console her,” Kinley shot back.

  Kell was amazed Dominic didn’t take his wife over his knee now. But since he didn’t seem inclined to, it was time to point certain truths out to Kinley and watch her carefully. Every witness had tells. As cool as Kinley was behaving, she would still react to his questions. “You allowed her to drive off without her phone. What if her flight gets canceled?”

  Nothing. Not a drop of emotion crossed those pretty features. “She’ll be fine. She has my car.”

  “I’ll go to the airport right now and find her,” Tate offered.

  “Sit down, Tate.” Eric understood that Tate sometimes needed a handler. Or maybe a leash…

  So, based on Kinley’s reply, Kell guessed that Belle hadn’t gone to the airport. He changed tactics. “Do you know how dangerous the highway could be in the middle of the night? If she’s driving any distance, she could break down. Without a phone, she’d have no way to contact you or roadside assistance.”

  A flicker of worry crossed Kinley’s delicate face, underscored by the way she shifted in her seat before she shook her head. “The car is in perfect condition.”

  “But tires go flat, don’t they? Belle doesn’t know how to change one.”

  “She doesn’t,” Tate put in with a nod. “She called me a few months ago when her beater got a flat.”

  “It’s a new car, so the tires are new, too,” Kinley defended.

  “That doesn’t help if she accidentally runs over glass or nails. She could be all alone, stranded on a highway right now, and you’d never know.”

  Kinley fidgeted, looking to a corner of the room, not meeting anyone’s gaze.

  “And there are a lot of drunks on the road at three in the morning. What if something happened to her? How long would it take for us to know?”

  Kinley bit her lip, then sighed. “She’s fine, okay. She’s already where she needs to be, so you can stop worrying. We bought her another phone and I’ve already talked to her. Don’t expect me to give you the number. She doesn’t want to talk to you. And she wasn’t alone because she had Sir.”

  Kellan had his doubts about Sir. “Tell me about this guy. Where did she meet him?”

  “I introduced them. All he wants is her happiness. When he kissed her and she put her arms around him, I left them alone. I knew they’d be fine together.” Her eyes slid off and to the right again.

  Maybe Kinley wasn’t coughing up the whole truth, he decided, but she wasn’t totally lying, either. Had she packed a blow-up doll in Belle’s bags as a joke? Or maybe they’d taken to naming their vibrators, but then why say they were kissing and hugging? Kell wasn’t sure about that, but he doubted highly that Belle had run off with some guy she’d just met. She hadn’t saved herself all these years only to give her innocence to the first pri
ck Kinley