Darkness & Lies: A Brotherhood Novel (#1) by Brandi Salazar

and curiosity sparking behind her brown eyes, was a familiar one that he knew well.
    She was up to something.
    He had given it his best shot to control the urge he had to pry into her business and allow her to take care of herself like the big girl she was, but it was hard when every waking thought he had revolved around her. The fact that she had been attacked last night was just an added bonus to his already weighted thoughts.
    “Seriously, Bas, I don’t need an escort,” Kris said with some annoyance. Sebastian had insisted on joining him to check on her. The obvious torch he carried for Cheyenne was enough to burn them both and Kris hated the fact that he might have to consider the kid competition for something that he had in the bag just a few short months ago.
    “No problem , man. Not like I have anything better to do.” The men narrowed their eyes on each other in a s i lent challenge that wasn’t lost on either of them. Cheyenne was fair game and there would be blood before either would let the other claim the prize.
    Shoulder to shoulder, Kris and Sebastian walked down the hall together , coming to a stop in front of room 225-Cheyenne's room.
    “I can handle this if you want to head down and grab us a table,” Sebastian offered none too innocently.
    Kris wasn’t fooled in the least. He had been playing this game since Bas was in diapers. “Not a chance, kid.” Raising his fist, he rapped lightly on the door before tur n ing the handle and letting himself in.
    The silence was deafening. Both noting the still made bed that had obviously not been slept in since Che y enne had left it this morning, Kris crossed the room, nud g ing open the bathroom door to see if she was in there.
    “Where could she be?” Sebastian asked him.
    Running his hand through his hair, something he did whenever he needed to think, Kris scanned the room for clues to her whereabouts.
    “I have no idea, but I don’t think she ever came back here after breakfast this morning.”
    “Yeah, me either.” Sebastian’s voice held a note of worry in it. “I think we should check the girl’s rooms, see if she’s with them, or if she’s stopped by or something.”
    “Good idea.”
    The men left the room in search of the rest of their team.
     
    He had to admit; the woman could hawk a loogie like a pro. Her aim was dead on, lethal. Wiping his for e head with the back of his sleeve, Erias returned her glare with equal rancor.
    “You vile pig!” Cheyenne screeched.
    “Me!” Erias bellowed. “I’m not the one spitting like some sort of boor! Honestly , woman, I don’t know who taught you your manners, but they should give you your money back.”
    And he had no idea what he had been thinking when he had brought her into his room. He had intended to earn her trust, make her see that he really was a good guy and then talk her into abandoning this ridiculous need to di s cover what was on top of that mountain and go back home where she belonged. He couldn’t have predicted that she would turn into some rampaging beast with a bad case of rabies. For the last couple of hours, he had been forced to strong -arm her several times , even going so far as to shield the room so her voice couldn’t carry to the rest of the h o tel’s occupants.
    This woman was the hardest-headed thing he had ever had the displeasure of dealing with. As it was , he was getting tired of this little cat and mouse game they were playing and more than ready to get down to business.
    “What are you doing?” Cheyenne asked wearily, still panting from the anger of being tossed back onto the bed for the thousandth time. The man had been tossing her around for hours. Every time she tried to make a break for it; he would circle her waist and toss her back onto the bed. Her legs were so tired she wasn’t sure how she still had the strength to stand, but she was not about to go down.
    She had screamed at the top of her lungs until her throat was sore and her voice was