Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain Read Online Free

that,” Pierce replied on a sigh.
    Alicia looked at her youngest nephew and smiled. “Pierce, all you need to understand is that you always have a place here. No matter what transpires, this will always be your home.”
    ******
    “How did Pierce and Mollie take the news?” Chaz Yarbrough sat in Noah Dodd’s office smoking a thin cheroot as he leaned back into the large leather chair.
    “Not well, I’m afraid.” Noah hadn’t been surprised when Mollie had jumped from her chair, demanding to tear up the agreement. He’d calmed her down after some quick talking and a reminder than he’d already shared a portion of the details about their new job. “However, they did accept the plan, such as it is at this point. Of course, they will need to work on the way they communicate in public, lest people catch on that they’re not married.”
    Chaz chuckled. “I know what you’re saying. They either want to throttle each other or…” He let the rest trail off, sure that Noah knew what he alluded to.
    “That is the one potential flaw in this plan. They can be brilliant working together or go up in flames. I’m betting each will work through any personal issues with the other to make this assignment a success.”
    “You wouldn’t have set them on it if you weren’t sure of their ability to follow this to the end.”
    “Now, what do you have for me?” Noah was ready to get down to the reason for their meeting. He liked Chaz, the way he operated, his cool professionalism, and willingness to take risks other agents avoided. They’d both served in Europe, which, in Noah’s opinion, was a benefit and provided them with contacts that might very well be needed for this assignment.
    “There isn’t much right now.” Chaz slid a file across the desk. Scattered bits of information that he and Lee had pulled together for both teams the agency had established for this assignment. “This is all we have.”
    Noah pulled the file toward him and began to review the contents, shaking his head at the utter lack of detail. He wondered if they’d gotten involved too soon in the investigation. “The East Coast group has been provided the same material?”
    Chaz nodded.
    “My understanding is they will be working from New York City. My counterpart, in the Eastern region at the Treasury, has arranged a place for them to work.” Noah continued to scan the small amount of information.
    “Do you have anything identified for Pierce?” Chaz asked.
    Noah looked up from the file. “Yes. We were lucky on two counts. First, Louis Dunnigan is providing offices for our use. Second, it turns out that Victoria MacLaren, Jamie’s wife, owns a mansion in the society district of Nob Hill. The team will hold most of its meetings at her home.”
    Chaz’s eyebrows lifted at the news. “Torie MacLaren?”
    “The same. A long story, but suffice it to say, the woman has substantial assets in California.”
    “I’ll be damned. I never would have figured her to come from money like that.”
    “You wouldn’t expect to. Nothing about the family indicates their standing or money, but, trust me, the family has both. Victoria MacLaren happens to have an over-abundance of it.”
    “She’s agreed to the use of her property?”
    “Yes. I met with her and Jamie yesterday. All the MacLarens know of its existence, but she and Jamie are the only two who know its location.” Noah handed Chaz the address.
    “When do they leave?” Chaz asked.
    “Within the next few days, once Lee Hatcher gets back to me. He’s got Eva on a train to San Francisco already. He’ll head out only if he’s needed.”
    “You do live dangerously, don’t you?” Chaz smirked.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Lee and Eva.”
    “What does that mean?” Noah thought he knew most of the secrets of his various agents. Perhaps he’d missed something.
    “Nothing much, except they used to be married.”
    ******
    Mollie packed the last of her clothes and shut the lid of