Free Deadly Memories (Hardy Brothers Security Book 18) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

the history of teenage girls to never be bullied. Everyone was probably too frightened to say anything to you because they didn’t want to wake up in cement boots at the bottom of the Detroit River.”
    “That was a double-edged sword,” Sophie said. “While it’s true no one picked on me, it’s also true that no one wanted to be my friend because everyone was afraid of me. I never had sleepovers, I was never invited to dances or parties, and I was often pointed in the direction of the library rather than the coffee shop where everyone hung out.”
    Grady ran his hand over the back of Sophie’s head, the admission making him inexplicably sad. “I guess I never thought about that either.”
    “Oh, don’t get morose,” Sophie said, smirking. “I had plenty of people to hang around with at home. Peter made sure to employ a bevy of hot security people to keep me entertained and busy.”
    “That’s still not funny,” Peter said, shaking his head. “I remember the day you tried to convince that new one … what was the poor boy who came from Wisconsin’s name?”
    “Teddy,” Sven said, smiling at the memory. “Sophie kept calling him her teddy bear and making him really uncomfortable when she paraded around the house in her bikini.”
    “Yes, Teddy,” Peter said, making a face. “You told Teddy that I had a rule requiring anyone in the pool area to take his shirt off. Poor Teddy believed you. You were a pain when you were a teenager.”
    “And what happened to poor Teddy?” Grady asked.
    “Oh, don’t worry, he’s still alive,” Peter said, waving his hand. “He wasn’t cut out for security work, but he was perfect to take care of the gardens at my Tuscany home. He’s still there.”
    “You have a house in Tuscany?” Grady was flabbergasted. “How come I didn’t know this?”
    Peter shrugged. “You never asked. If you can get Sophie to take some time off, I’ll arrange for you to stay at the house for as long as you wish. It’s quite lovely.”
    “It is quite lovely,” Sophie agreed. “Can we go back to talking about my car? I cannot take this thing to work. People will talk.”
    “That’s not my biggest concern,” Peter said. “I want to know who would paint the word … well, you know what word … on your car. Do you have any suspects?”
    “I have no idea,” Sophie said, her face smooth as the lie slipped off her tongue.
    Grady frowned as he studied her and the expression wasn’t lost on Peter.
    “Something tells me Grady feels different,” Peter prodded. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “You’re a terrible liar,” Sophie said, wrinkling her nose at Grady. “I’m guessing you got caught all of the time when you were a teenager.”
    “I did get caught a lot,” Grady confirmed. “I got away with a lot, too. I just can’t figure out why you’re trying to hide this from Peter. It’s not like it makes you look bad.”
    “It’s not like it makes me look good either,” Sophie pointed out. “I don’t want to worry him.”
    “Well, I’m already worried,” Peter said. “It can do you no harm to tell me what’s going on.”
    “Ugh.” Sophie made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “I’m going to blame you for this when it blows up in my face, Grady.”
    “I can live with that.”
    “It’s nothing really,” Sophie said, turning her somber brown eyes on Peter and flashing her best “I’m your daughter and you can’t yell at me” smile in his direction.
    “Don’t do that,” Peter chided. “That’s your puppy dog face. I don’t like your puppy dog face.”
    Grady snorted while Sophie’s face fell.
    “It really is no big deal, Peter,” Sophie said. “I got assigned to the accident out at Stony Creek the other day. The father of the boy driving the car had an issue with me printing the full story and came after me in a restaurant while I was having lunch with Mandy. He said some nasty things and stormed out. He’s the one who probably did