Free Her Three Liberators [The Hot Millionaires #6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Zara Chase Page B

responsible. “I already told you. He took what cash was left and ran off with it.”
    “Jonny’s going to contact some of the others who cancelled,” Brad said, “to see if they got the same e-mail.”
    “Thanks,” she said reluctantly, slanting him a sideways glance. “Is there any way of finding out who’s behind the e-mails?”
    “Not for the average Joe,” Harry responded. “But they can’t hide from me. It’ll take some digging but—”
    “But Harry doesn’t do defeat,” Brad said.
    “Too right I don’t.” He tapped Steffi’s butt. “Especially if it gets me in your good books.”
    Steffi couldn’t help laughing at his puppy dog look. “I thought we were doing this for Daniel,” she reminded them.
    “Ah, yes, so we are.”
    “Some of the speculation has found its way online, apparently,” Jonny said, scowling. “It’s a classic case of a whispering campaign that’s grown a life of its own.”
    Steffi’s heart sank. “Let me see.”
    She sat beside Harry, who pulled up a well-known horsy chat room. She scrolled through it and gasped when she found several mentions of Marius by name, speculating as to his virility.
    “Can they say that sort of thing without proof?” she asked, outraged.
    “I’m afraid so. They aren’t saying it’s true, just that it’s possible, which is enough to put people off. When you think of the, er…stiff stud fees, people won’t take risks.”
    “Well, then, we’ll have to fight back. We can get some of the owners who have had their mares covered by Marius to say how pleased they are.”
    “We could, but it seems they’re suggesting it’s a recent development.” Jonny touched her shoulder. “Was there a virus here at the yard recently?”
    “Yes, one of the mares brought it in. Not sure how it got past the owner’s vet. All incoming horses have to have a health certificate. Anyway, we picked it up quickly and it was contained. Marius didn’t cover the mare or come into contact with the virus. We were very careful about that.”
    “So he’s definitely not firing blanks.”
    “Nope.”
    “How did word of it get out?” Brad asked.
    “That’s what I’d like to know,” Steffi said, so angry she felt ready to explode. “I thought all Daniel’s hands were loyal but—”
    “There’s always one on the lookout for a few extra bucks.” Jonny shrugged. “It happens. Mind you,” he added, a chilling cast to his expression, “when I find out who it was, and I will , then he’ll regret the day he was fucking born.”
    “You’ll have to queue up behind me,” Steffi said.
    Jonny’s gaze focused on her ass and his expression lightened. “There are definitely worst places to wait in line,” he said.
    “Don’t you ever take anything seriously?”
    “I was being totally serious,” he said, much to the amusement of his brothers. “Especially when they try to get one over on Daniel.”
    “Yes.” Steffi dropped her head. She’d almost been enjoying herself, sparring with these three, which was a big mistake. “I can’t help feeling I’m to blame for bringing these added worries down on his head, even though I’m not responsible for them.”
    “Daniel’s a big boy, babe,” Jonny said softly.
    “So are his sons,” Harry added, not taking his eyes off his computer screen for long enough to smile at her.
    “That’s true,” Brad agreed.
    “We could get the vet to test Maruis’s semen and put the results out through responsible horsy outlets,” she said.
    “That smacks of desperation,” Jonny said. “We’ll do it as a last resort, but let’s try and find out what’s going on here first.”
    “Okay. It’s your call, I guess.”
    “Which brings us back to the subject of you,” Jonny said, leaning against the wall, crossing his long legs at the ankle, and folding his arms casually across his taut chest. “If you want to make Daniel happy, then shouldn’t you reconsider his suggestion?”
    “What, you three?” She