Page 33 of Promises in the Dark

Charlotte smiles softly. “I can see that.”

I glance at Charlotte and notice a piece of blueberry dangling in her hair. Without thinking, I step closer and extend a hand…

She flinches.

And my fucking heart splinters at the sight of her.

Her arms instinctively fly up to cover her face like a shield, a tremor washing over her entire body as her eyes pinch shut.

My hand stills for half a second before I lower it, keeping my movements slow. Carefully, I pluck the blueberry from her hair and step back, giving her space.

She hesitantly lowers her arms, blinking away tears as she stares at the blueberry between my fingers.

A nervous laugh slips out as her arms wrap around her waist. “Sorry. I don’t know why I—”

“I do,” I say matter-of-factly.

Silence surrounds us.

Her gaze lands on the floor as she nods.

“You don’t need to fear me, Charlotte,” I tell her softly. “I promise I will never hurt you.”

Knock. Knock.

“Come in.” Vin’s deep voice carries through his office door. I enter and find myself the first to arrive, before my brothers and Eli.

He looks up from the papers before him and arches a brow. “You’re early.”

“Figured you’d rather discuss this without an audience.” I cross the room and hold the photograph out for him.

His attention immediately shifts to it, his eyes grazing over the unidentified redhead. She’s holding his hand as he escorts her up the stairs leading to the office in our club, Red Eleven, in the Hamptons.

“My team cleaned up the security footage,” I explain as he carefully takes it from me. “They adjusted for the poor lighting and distance. This is as clear as we’re going to get.”

He glances up at me, hope dancing across his bright blue eyes. “Any luck finding her?”

I shake my head, and disappointment crashes over him.

“You can keep that one. I have another copy in my office,” I tell him. “Her face has already been uploaded into my recognition software. The second she appears anywhere tied to a public camera system, passport database, driver’s license, social media account… I’ll know.”

“I don’t understand.” He drops the photo on his desk and rubs his temple. “How is this woman so untraceable?”

I take the seat across from him. “Perhaps she doesn’t want to be found.”

He drums his fingers against the polished mahogany desktop. “If that’s true…” His gaze drifts toward the windows overlooking the estate. “Maybe I should let her go.”

I adjust my sleeve. “Is that what you want?”

He sighs, rubbing a hand over his beard. “No,” he admits quietly. Too quietly. “Just wish I could forget about her.” His shoulders slump, his head bowing down. It’s no secret my brother has been known as a ladies’ man his whole life. Never having any issues ensuring his nights always end with a woman or two in his arms. But this is the first time a woman he wants…doesn’t seem to want him. And I think… I think whoever this woman is might be breaking my brother’s heart.

“It’s her loss,” I tell him, meaning every bit of it.

A faint grin tugs at his lips. “Maybe I’m too much man for her.”

I grin. “That’s probably it.”

His smile falls, and his eyes shift to the window beside him. He stares at the lake, deep in thought. “We’ll give it one month. If we still haven’t found her by then…” He takes a deep breath. “I’ll move on.” He tugs at his collar. “As head of this family, I have other priorities that take precedence.”