"That's an interesting coincidence. A dead accountant at the same time he starts showing interest in a young, submissive accountant."
"Who the hell told you Hannah is a submissive?" Dylan didn't like the way the men were talking about her.
"Down, boy. I'm just saying Davenport likes to hire beautiful women he can bully and manipulate," Lukus said.
"Well, it isn't working. She's telling him to take a leap."
Dylan didn't like the look that had suddenly appeared on Lukus's face. "So far she has," Lukus said slowly. "But what if she was working for us and we could get her into that warehouse? You might be right. She could be the key to the whole investigation."
Dylan instantly regretted pushing the men to notice Hannah. Now they were going to try to use her, just like Davenport.
What assholes.
Before he could even protest, Lukus was on his feet, barking orders. "Keep digging on Hannah Martine, Cam. I want to know as much as you can tell me about her so I know how to turn her into our eyes and ears." Lukus turned to Dylan to ask him a surprising question. "Where is she right now?"
"At the florist she works at. Why?"
"Because we're gonna make a trip to her apartment and see what we can find out about her and her connection to Jake Davenport, that's why. We need more information on Hannah Martine."
Dylan had been pushing them for weeks to include Hannah in their investigation. Now that he'd succeeded, he was regretting it. "That's an invasion of her privacy, not to mention illegal," he said.
"Then I guess we should be careful not to get caught then, shouldn't we?" Lukus was already gathering up his laptop and a few other belongings.
Dylan stood his ground, not liking the turn of events. Lukus and Derek turned back from the front door. "Well, you coming, Junior?"
The only thing Dylan hated worse than the idea of breaking into Hannah's apartment was the idea of letting Lukus and Derek break in without him.
He begrudgingly moved to follow them, reminding them, "My name's not Junior."
Chapter Seven
Hannah
Hannah was just about to wrap up helping Mia get their orders out the door. It was the least she could do on her last day. She'd tried to break the news that she was leaving town, but the words just wouldn't come. She'd have to send her best friend a letter after she and Connor got settled somewhere safe.
She looked up at the sound of the front door to Bloomer's dinging a customer's arrival. It took a second glance for her to recognize Mia's younger sister. It had been almost five months since she'd seen Lucy, and the time had not been kind to the twenty-year-old.
The skin-tight mini-skirt she wore barely covered her ass, and her four-inch heels looked ridiculously out of place in the casual shop. It was the caked on make-up and over-processed hair that made her look like a hooker.
Mia chose that moment to join them from the back room, carrying a large bouquet in her arms. She almost dropped the flowers when she saw her younger sister. "Lucy?"
"Hey," was all the youngest member of the family managed, dropping her duffel bag to the floor.
Mia got over her surprise first. "Thanks for coming home. We need your help around here."
Lucy plunked her purse down on the counter next. "I'm not staying. I have a life, you know. I've been taking acting classes and going on auditions. I even got a callback this week. I just came home for a couple of days."
Mia was furious. "Listen, it's summer. Your classes are over and you need to come home. It's busy, and you need to earn all of the money I've been sending you."
Hannah watched as the two sisters argued.
"Aren't you listening? I'm on the verge of being a big star. I don't have time to play with flowers."
The dinging of the shop door opening was a welcome distraction from the stressful family reunion, until Hannah looked up to see none other than Jake Davenport standing a few feet away from the counter. He hadn't taken his sunglasses off yet, but she still felt his icy blue eyes raking over her. Her heart thumped hard as they stood in a standoff. She wouldn't have dreamed he would seek her out here.
How foolish of her.
Mia spoke first. "I know who you are, and you have exactly one minute to get the hell out of here before I call the police." She rounded the end of the counter to place herself between Jake and Hannah, as if the little wisp of a young Asian-American woman could be a match against the muscular Jake Davenport should he choose to overpower her.
Mia refused to take her eyes off Jake as he let a slow grin light up his face, reaching to slide the sunglasses from his face to expose the humor in his blue eyes. He was enjoying Mia's show of loyalty and that just pissed off Hannah all the more.
"I'm sorry to disturb you ladies, but I've come to talk with Hannah for a few minutes," he said.
"She doesn't have anything to say to you, you sonofabitch. Now get the hell out before I call the police."
Jake wasn't bothered in the least. In fact, he looked like he was having fun. "Such language, Ms. Yoshito. And I'd love to know what it is exactly you think I've done that the police might be interested in."
"Don't act all innocent with me. I saw the bruises you left on Hannah after your date."
Jake let his cool gaze move to Hannah, his glare penetrating her. "Hannah, dear. I think you need to set your friend straight. The last time I checked, you were a willing participant in our... date. More importantly, I wasn't aware
