Chapter One

      Gabe looked from his cousin to the housekeeper, mentally assessing the situation. Tension crackled in the air. Luc’s eyes flashed with anger, whether at Vanessa or from being interrupted, Gabe couldn’t tell. In contrast, the beautiful housekeeper’s big chocolate-colored eyes were filled with tears.

      Something was wrong between these two, and like a bloodhound on a scent, Gabe was determined to get to the truth. “What the hell is going on in here?”

      “It’s nothing,” Luc muttered, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket and studying the screen.

      “I’m simply upset about Mr. Marshall,” Vanessa said quickly, unwilling to meet Gabe’s gaze, “and the toll this accident is having on Mrs. Santiago-Marshall and the rest of the family. Luc was offering some words of comfort and encouragement.”

      “Right,” Gabe answered. In his experience, members of a house staff didn’t become emotionally involved in the lives of the people who paid them. As long as the weekly check kept coming, why would someone like Vanessa care so much about Harrison’s well-being?

      The Fixer had ensured none of Harrison’s children suspected their father had a wandering eye. But as far as Gabe knew, his uncle hadn’t ever had a dalliance with the young housekeeper. Which led Gabe’s thoughts back to Luc.

      Gabe eyed his cousin carefully, but Luc’s face was an unreadable mask even as his icy blue stare landed back on the housekeeper.

      Vanessa swiped at her cheeks. “I need to check on Mrs. Santiago-Marshall,” she whispered and hurried away.

      Gabe could have sworn her fingers brushed Luc’s as she moved past. Interesting.

      “Have you heard anything new about my dad?” Luc demanded, hands on hips.

      It was a conspicuous change of subject, but Gabe played along. No sense alerting Luc to his suspicions regarding Vanessa at this point.

      “Your father’s condition is unchanged,” Gabe answered, frustration creeping up his spine. “We’re waiting to hear back from another doctor, this one in London.”

      Of all the situations he’d fixed over the years, his numerous skills couldn’t seem to do anything to help the one man who meant the most to him.

      Gabe hated feeling powerless. It reminded him too much of his childhood before he’d come to live with his aunt and uncle at Casa Cat. Any kid would have been happy to be raised on the stunning Spanish revival estate. The massive theater room in the basement and the enormous pool had made the Marshall kids—plus Gabe—the envy of all their friends. But Gabe was mostly grateful for the love and stability his aunt and uncle had shown him.

      Luc gave a curt nod. “What about Rafe and Elana? Have you heard how their trip to Paris is going?”

      Gabe bit back his annoyance at being interrogated by his cousin. Luc assumed Gabe was content to be the family’s workhorse, keeping tabs on individual schedules like a social secretary. He had no idea how much influence Gabe truly wielded behind the scenes. Gabe took a deep breath before answering. His power in this family was indisputable, even if no one other than Harrison understood that.

      “They get home today,” he said, earning another nod from his cousin. “I’ve arranged a car to pick them up at LAX.”

      “My brother and sister are flying commercial?” Luc asked with a small laugh.

      Gabe inclined his head. “Rafe suggested the company jet stay at the hangar in case we needed it