Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
“You’re not dead,” Zach said with a long-suffering sigh. “I would bet trying to look into Lacey is exactly what brought Arthur to your doorstep.”
“Handler, then,” Parker said as though he’d suspected all along. “I could have used a heads-up, Taggart.”
TJ gave him a shrug. “Dude, we had no idea. When you gave us Devi’s location we came right out, and let me tell you I wish I’d had some intel on what was happening here. I can’t unhear some of that. Luckily, I didn’t see anything. Well, until my sister sat down on Zach’s lap and she wasn’t wearing underwear. It almost set me off lunch.”
She rolled her eyes. “Nothing sets you off lunch.”
“Tofu does.” TJ looked to Parker. “Dude, did you bring some beef? Maybe a burger or two? There is no meat here.”
“We’re going to talk about what happened in town today.” Zach leaned over, whispering in her ear while Parker and TJ talked about the lack of animal flesh. “You’re mine. My sub. You don’t get to withhold that kind of information from me.”
“Hypocrite,” she whispered back.
“And that’s ten more,” he said, standing behind her. “I don’t care, Dev. I don’t care that you want to pretend we’re not really together. That’s okay. I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me because I am pathetically in love with you, but you cannot keep that kind of information from me.”
“How do they make like cakes and stuff? Is there no bread here?” Parker sounded a bit panicked.
Boys. She leaned back against him, not wanting to think about the fact that he said he loved her. Was in love with her. “I’m sorry, Zachary. I thought it was some random guy hitting on me, and that happens when I go into bars alone. I thought it might be different in a small town, but he was a tourist. I handled it and didn’t get hurt.”
“Sweetness, something’s wrong because I believe that was the man the Canadians were following. Did you hear him say the target drugged your drink? If they were following him, then he has something to do with Huisman.”
She hated that man. She turned and put her hands on Zach’s waist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was serious. And Tim’s accent isn’t as bad as that man says it is. I found him believable.”
That was the moment Tim woke, his eyes going wide, and he saw Zach and screamed.
“Hey, you’re fine.” Parker shook his head. “We’re with friendlies. Chill, buddy. At least I think he’s friendly, but he’s also got an actual Red Notice out on him, not to mention all the people looking for him in North America.”
Tim took a long breath and sat up. His eyes widened when he caught sight of Devi, and he went back into his perfectly serviceable British accent. “Oh, hey, mate, uhm, good to see you here.”
Okay, it was pretty terrible now that she listened to him. “You can drop it Canada Tim. Also, you’re a rat-fink weasel.”
Tim let Parker use Zach’s knife to free his hands. “Hey, I’m not a weasel. That asshole did drug your drink. I was hoping maybe you would be in a grateful mood and we could, you know, have a drink or something. I mean a drink drink, not a drugged drink. I would not do that to a lady.”
Zach growled.
“Dude, he will kill you,” Parker warned.
“Or I will,” TJ promised. “Though I have to say I’ll leave this to Zach. Cool thing is now he’s the one who has to beat up the assholes who hurt you.”
“Beat up?” She was surprised. Her brother was practically perfect. He never did the don’t-touch-my-sister thing the way her friends’ brothers sometimes did.
TJ seemed more relaxed now that he knew the Canadians weren’t going to try to shoot their way out. “It wasn’t many but I handled it when I had to, and now Zach can do it.”
Until he wasn’t around anymore. No one said it aloud, but she could feel Zach’s turn.
“We should get downstairs. They want a full debrief. I think you’ll find Arthur is concerned,” Zach offered.
“You gonna tell me who he really is because he’s not a fucking rural vet,” Parker said, helping Tim up. He straightened his shirt, and she didn’t miss the way he looked at himself in the mirror, trying to make sure his hair wasn’t messy.
She could have told him a little mess didn’t make him less hot.
But her Dom had enough stimulation for one day.
Zach held his hands up. “That’s his story to tell. I thought he was exactly who he said he was until about an hour ago when my old team showed up on my doorstep. Now before we go down there, could you tell me who your target was? If he was after Devi, I have to think Huisman sent him. How the fuck does he know where I am? I’ve been careful. Not even her family knew where she was until today.”