Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
They’ll get rewarded commensurate with their risk.
I just don’t know how yet.
I’m distracted as I drive back home. I’m thinking about how I can put my new team to good use as I disengage the security system and head in through the front door. “Riley?” I call out and pause when there’s no response. “Riley!”
Nothing. Dead quiet. I’m on high alert as I pull my gun and immediately start sweeping the area. I check my phone for sensor alerts, but there’s nothing. Only one ping from an hour ago: someone left through the back.
That fucking girl.
I know exactly where she went. I put my gun away and storm back out. This time, I hit the street, walking instead of driving. I’m at the safe house door ten minutes later, banging on it angrily.
My sweet angel wife answers with a happy smile. “Alexan! We were just talking—”
I storm past her, fucking livid. “What were you thinking?” I snarl as she closes the door behind me.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I told you when I left not to go anywhere.”
“But I was just checking on Brenden.” She frowns at where her brother’s sitting on the couch. He still looks like shit, but he’s still alive at least. “I thought this place was safe?”
“It’s safe-ish, but it won’t be if you keep coming here.” I gesture at Brenden, trying very hard to keep myself under control, but failing. “What were you thinking, letting her come here?”
“I didn’t,” he says with a shrug. “I actually told her all this already.”
“Fine, okay, it was dumb!” She glares at me. “But since I was here, we both figured I might as well visit.”
I take several calming breaths. If I had known that the woman I’d fall for would be so damn impulsive, I would’ve learned meditation or something. Because I’m pretty sure she’s going to give me a heart attack.
“Mantis is good,” I say, stressing the word. “They’re extremely adept at what they do. Which means you could be followed and never know it. Which means they could know where Brenden’s staying.”
“I thought we were worried about Los Sombras?” she asks, glancing over at her brother. He shakes his head, exasperated.
“We’re worried about everyone!” I say, throwing up my hands. “That’s the problem. You have to be more careful.”
“My brother’s all alone in this stupid empty apartment. He’s half dead—”
“I’m not that bad,” he says, scratching the back of his head.
She looks at him like she wants to kick him in the teeth. “My brother is half dead,” she says through her teeth. “I can’t just leave him alone.”
“You’re going to have to.” I wave a hand at him. “Say goodbye. You’ll see each other again soon.”
She crosses her arms. “That’s not going to work for me.”
Brenden sighs. “Don’t get all stubborn now, Riles.”
“You hear this, right? My husband laying down the law?”
“He’s not wrong.”
“Thank you,” I say to her brother. “We have rules for a reason. You need to follow them if we’re going to live through this.”
Riley’s jaw works, but she finally nods. I can tell it’s hard for her. “Fine, alright? I screwed up. I can see that now. Just don’t be so smug about it.”
“Believe me, there’s not a smug bone in my body.” I nod at Brenden. “I’ll drop off more supplies soon.”
“Good luck with that.” He grins at me, and I’m pretty sure he’s talking about my wife.
I direct her out of the house and back down onto the sidewalk. She’s glaring at me the whole time as we take the long way back to my place. I make sure nobody’s following the best I can, but it’s not easy with Riley in tow. Finally, we make it back home.
“I know this is hard,” I tell her once the security system’s back in place. “But it won’t be forever.”
She slumps down onto the couch and leans back. Her eyes shut, and I study her long neck and her pouty lips. God, she’s beautiful, but infuriating too.
“I know,” she says at last, looking at me. “I made a mistake. I’m owning up to it.”
I walk over and sit beside her. I put a hand on her knee, then pull her close against me. Reluctantly, she leans into my side.
“This is hard,” I say softly. “But we’re going to get through it together.”
“I know that. I’m just worried.”
“You can’t do anything for Brenden right now. I promise, I’m taking care of him.”
“I know you are. I just hate feeling powerless.” She pulls back slightly and looks away. “That’s how I felt growing up, you know? My dad treated me like I was some huge disappointment. I couldn’t do anything right.”
“Your dad’s an asshole. You’re a clever and beautiful woman, Riley. You just need to be a little less impulsive.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She smiles slightly. “I’m working on it. It’s just hard to unlearn all the shit my father forced into my head over the years.”