Sweet Hart Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Legal Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

  Hart Consulting

  SWEET HART

  RAE MARKS

  Sweet Hart

  ISBN # 978-1-83943-127-2

  ©Copyright Rae Marks 2021

  Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill ©Copyright May 2021

  Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

  Pride Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2021 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

  Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book”.

  Book one in the Hart Consulting series

  When Brayden stumbles into a covert operation, Sam has to keep him alive. Together they navigate their unexpected attraction and the world of the Ukrainian mafia.

  Brayden Hart needs to find his older brother Mason and time is running out. Mason disappeared after being discharged from the military two years before. While on leave from the army, Bray follows a lead his friend has been able to find. When he knocks on the door of a dingy apartment outside Miami, the last person he expects to meet is the gorgeous but grumpy Sam Wheeler.

  Sam denies knowing Bray's brother and turns him away. But Sam is Bray's only lead. Luckily, Bray's childhood friend is one of the best hackers in the country and helps Bray follow Sam to Ukraine.

  In Kiev, Bray falls blindly into the fray of a covert operation and Sam steps in to keep him alive. While navigating the choppy waters of the Ukrainian mafia, Bray and Sam fall into the bedroom. But what happens when the mission ends?

  Dedication

  To my friend Jean, who challenged me to keep writing, and to my husband, who believes in me when I don’t even believe in myself.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Bluetooth: Bluetooth SIG Inc.

  Glock: Glock Gesellschaft MBH Limited Liability Joint Stock Company

  DHL: Deutsche Post DHL

  Sherlock: Arthur Conan Doyle

  Sig Sauer: Sig Sauer Inc.

  Narnia: CS Lewis PTE Ltd Corporation

  Magnum P.I.: NBC Universal Television Distribution

  Hoover: Techtonic Floor Care Technology Limited

  Academy Award: The Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences

  Minecraft: Mojang Studios

  Pirates of the Caribbean: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

  GQ: Conde Naste

  Hansel and Gretel: Brothers Grimm

  Robin Hood: Walt Disney Productions

  Gran Hotel Miramar: Hoteles SantoS

  San Francisco 49ers: Denise DeBartolo York

  New England Patriots: Robert Craft

  Las Vegas Raiders: Mark and Carol Davis

  Chapter One

  Brayden

  “Look, kid. I got nothing to tell you.”

  Bray pulled his gaze from the full lips he’d been watching as the man in the doorway, Sam, gave a flat refusal. He took a deep, calming breath and willed away his body’s response. Maybe he needed to back up a little and explain the urgency of the situation. He didn’t have a lot of time to find Mase, and this Sam guy was his best bet.

  The guy blocking the doorway would be hot if his eyebrows weren’t pinched together so tight and his big, full lips weren’t turned down. Hell, he was still hot, even in full intimidation mode.

  Sam’s honey-blond hair was longer on top and styled high. His groomed beard was just a few shades darker than the hair on his head and hinted at the tiniest bit of red highlights. Bray lowered his eyes again to Sam’s lips. Both were plump, but the top lip was a little fuller than the bottom one. That was rare, in Bray’s experience, but sexy as hell.

  The tic in the jaw next to those lips brought Bray back to the matter at hand. He looked up into Sam’s cinnamon-brown eyes as he considered his options.

  “I know you’re working with Mase and I have to find him. I’m—”

  “I don’t know what you’re going on about, but I have shit to do.”

  Sam tried to close the old, paint-chipped door in Bray’s face, but Bray stepped forward, using his foot as a doorstop. He wouldn’t give up that easily. Bray needed to untie his tongue and keep on task, no matter how sexy the guy was.

  “Please, I don’t have a lot of time. I just need to talk to him.”

  “Look, kid—”

  “I’m not a kid. I know he’s pulled some crazy stunts since he got kicked out—”

  “You don’t know shit, kid. If you just got kicked out of the military and you’re looking for camaraderie and a job, forget it.”

  As soon as Sam said the word ‘military’, Bray breathed a sigh of relief. Sam swore under his breath. So the guy definitely knew his brother. Sam flexed his huge biceps as he crossed his arms. His head dipped to one side as he leaned forward
. Bray swallowed then a tiny breath escaped his lips as he imagined the man before him leaning in to steal a kiss. Was this guy Mase’s boyfriend? If so, his brother was one lucky bastard.

  “Move your foot. Like I said, kid, you don’t know shit,” Sam ground out through clenched teeth.

  “Just tell me what’s going on. Is he okay? If he’d returned any of my emails over the past two and half years, maybe I’d know more about what was happening.”

  “You think I can help you?”

  Bray gave one sharp nod of confirmation. Sam blew a breath out between his lush lips and dropped his arms to his sides. The crease between his brows eased a bit as he seemed to really look at Bray for the first time. He looked over Bray’s head down the hallway for a moment before coming to some kind of decision.

  “What’s your name, kid?”

  “Bray, Brayden Hart.”

  There was a pause. Bray assumed it was Sam digesting Bray’s last name, Mase’s last name.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but I got nothing for you, Mr. Hart.”

  “How’d you know I was in the army?”

  “You got it written all over you, from your close-cropped cut to your military stance.” The guy rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I’ve got things to do, kid, so do you mind moving your foot—or do I need to move it for you?”

  Bray wet his dry lips as he contemplated his choices. He could call Max for another favor, but if he went that route, he’d need this part to be believable.

  “I can just sit out here and wait until he comes home.”

  “You’ll be waiting the rest of your life, kid.”

  “It’s Bray or Brayden, and I think you have a really good idea when you’ll be talking to Mase again.”

  Looking over Sam’s shoulder, Bray took in the shit-hole apartment with its dingy brown carpet and walls so old that the wallpaper was peeling at the corners along the ceiling. A ceiling with tiles that had different-sized brown rings, a sure sign of water damage. Was this how Mase was living now? The thought made Bray’s gut twist uncomfortably.

  If Mase needed money… Bray shook his head. Mase would never be the one to reach out, which was exactly why Bray was standing in the hallway that smelled like piss mixed with broccoli farts. Unless the inside of the apartment smelled better, he didn’t see how anyone could even think about putting a morsel of food into their mouth in this place.

  If by chance Sam did talk to Mase before Brayden could get to him, he had to figure out a message most likely to get a response. Would Mase come home or even return a call if he knew the truth? Probably not. Bray bit his lip as he waffled. He didn’t like lying, and he especially didn’t like lying to family. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive his father for his ‘little white lie’.

  “When you see him, tell him Nickel needs him. Tell him it’s looking like it might be life or death.”

  Both those statements taken separately were absolutely one hundred percent true. Nick might deny he needed their older brother, but he and Bray were twins. Bray knew they both required all the support they could get.

  When Mase heard those statements together, Bray knew what he’d assume, and he’d have to apologize for it later. For now, he decided it was the best route. He had a feeling Sam would repeat those statements verbatim to his brother.

  “Nickel?” Sam asked.

  “Nick, my twin.”

  “Twins? There’re two of you running around wreaking havoc?”

  “Nick wreaks more havoc and we’re not identical, so there aren’t exactly two of me.”

  Sam’s only response was a raised eyebrow.

  “So you’ll tell him?”

  “I’m sorry. There’s no way I can help you,” Sam said with the shake of his head.

  Even though Bray was anxious, he hesitated before lifting his foot. He needed Sam to think he was reluctant to leave. Sam was only a couple inches taller than Bray’s five-foot-eleven-inch frame, but he hunched down a little, so they were eye to eye.

  “I can’t help you,” Sam said again.

  Bray swallowed as energy began to hum under his skin at the man’s direct stare. He couldn’t be lusting after his brother’s boyfriend. Wetting his dry lips one last time, Bray nodded and lifted his foot. The two men stared at each other for a moment longer, until the sound of a baby screaming somewhere down the hall had Bray turning his head. Before he could even suck in another breath, the door in front of him slammed shut and the lock snicked into place.

  With a dejected sigh, Brayden looked at the door for another minute. Guilt had his stomach tightening into knots. He couldn’t afford to stand around, though his hesitation to leave would probably work in his favor in case Sam was watching through the peephole.

  When he pushed open the door of the building a few minutes later, Bray sucked in some of the fresh air. He didn’t even care that his clothes immediately glued themselves to his body with the humidity Florida was famous for. He was just glad to be out of the stench that had pressed down on him inside the apartment building.

  After one last glance at the second floor, Bray walked down the sidewalk toward the parking lot. As soon as he was in his rental car, he dialed Max’s number.

  “How’d it go?” Max said.

  “He wouldn’t even admit he knew Mase.”

  There was silence on the other end. Max had warned him against making contact with Sam. He’d suggested following him until he led Bray to Mase, but Bray didn't have that kind of time.

  “So, it looks like you were right,” Bray admitted.

  There was still silence on the other end of the line.

  “Look, Sin. I still need help.”

  Bray always struggled calling his friend by his pseudonym. Even though it stood for Super Intel Nerd, calling a nerdy guy like Max, Sin seemed funny to Bray.

  “Next time listen to me. You’ve now ruined the advantage of surprising him.”

  “Fine. Can you find out where he’s going?”

  “Of course I can.”

  Bray could hear the light click-clack of Max tapping on the keys of his laptop. Putting the phone on Bluetooth, Bray started his rental and pulled out of the parking spot behind Sam’s apartment building.

  “Where’s he going?” Bray asked as he pulled out onto the street.

  “I have him traveling out of Miami to Kiev tomorrow with a stopover in Munich.”

  Bray tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. This had just gotten a lot more complicated and expensive than he’d anticipated. Was Mase undercover or was he in trouble? If he was in trouble, Bray wanted to be there.

  “Looks like I’ll be heading to Kiev,” he sighed.

  “I’ll book you a flight that stops over in DC. I’ve got something I want to give you if you’re going to Kiev.”

  “I just have to check out of the hotel. Give me a couple of hours to get to the airport.”

  Max disconnected the call without saying goodbye, but it didn’t surprise Bray at all. Max was always on to the next problem.

  Chapter Two

  Sam

  “So that’s Mase’s little brother?” Brody said through Sam’s ear mic.

  “Yeah, his bro.” That from Ax, who chuckled at his own joke.

  Sam almost snorted, but he couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from the gorgeous man taking up his doorway. After all, everyone called Brody ‘Bro’. There was irony in that too, since Brody wasn’t a bro. He was the sweetest guy Sam had ever met. The guy’s handle in the army had been ‘F-Bomb’, but only because the kid didn’t swear.

  “He’s adorable,” Colt purred through the mic.

  Even though he knew it was a joke, Sam found his gaze flicking to the door down the hall where Colt, Ax and Brody were cooped up doing surveillance. Sam was off his game today and the blond in front of him was responsible. He’d never expected Mase’s family to get entangled in their op.

  “Better get him out of here and quick, Magnum. Your mark is T-minus eight minutes,” Ax said.


  Sam wanted to roll his eyes at his call sign. He hadn’t used it in years, but Colt and Ax had of course started using it as soon as they’d found out what it was. Colt went by Reaper. Ax’s call had been Loco. It wasn’t exactly fair that Sam got the name of a cheesy eighties TV character. Damn mustache.

  Sam leaned in and told the kid again that he couldn’t help him. Brayden Hart kept licking his lips and it was making Sam’s pants tighter than he liked. It was probably a nervous habit, but it kept drawing attention to his perfectly formed mouth, not to mention his razor-sharp jaw.

  Sam usually dated guys his own age, but Mase’s little brother was ringing all his bells. All the more reason to get him out of the way. Brayden had no idea what he’d just stepped into.

  After a few more delay tactics, Brayden finally moved his foot from blocking the door. It was a good thing too, because the stench in the hallway was pretty unbearable. It also gave Sam a minute to let his body calm down before he had to meet with some pretty serious homophobes. The last thing he needed was a tent in his jeans.

  As soon as he closed the door, Sam went to his laptop. He opened it and watched the security cameras located throughout the building.

  “One of you needs to tail him to make sure we’re the only ones who know he was here.”

  “Be more than happy to follow that ass—” Colt started.

  “Bro, you follow him. And make sure you’re the only one following him.”

  “Sure thing, Sam,” Bro replied.

  “Did you know they were twins? Can you imagine if they were identical?” Colt groaned.

  “Kid looks smart enough not to fall for your bullshit,” Ax said.

  Someone snorted and Sam assumed it was Bro, since it was only his three back-ups in the apartment down the hall, and no way was Colt going to laugh at a joke at his expense, even if the guy was a man-whore.

  Sam hadn’t known they were twins. He knew Mase had two younger brothers but not much beyond that. They tried to leave the past in the past. But two guys who looked like that kid? No one in their right mind would be able to resist putting that in their spank bank.