Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I don’t need an intervention! Besides, it wasn’t an intervention; it was an ambush.” I growled. Regardless of being taller than him and just over eye to eye with Brody, my statement went way over their heads. Lightyears. “I—”
“Ye daftie, wee clipe.” Brody glared at me, calling me a snitch. His mouth sharpened like the Strider’s SMF knife I used in special ops. “Shouldn’t have told Cam this. So allow me to share—”
“Don’t you dare!” I gritted out.
“As a matter o’ fact, the wean utilized Leith’s services. He helped Jamie save a lassie. Nae thank you call, text, not a note in the mail. I’d distracted my mate, Rocket.”
Camdyn glared at me. “Leith helped you do what?”
“Don’t worry. They didn’t need the likes of us, bràthair,” Brody added. “Apparently, this one’s a Marine Rat.”
Now, Number One had crossed the line. Still, I didn’t get a chance to respond because Camdyn rounded on me. “I’d do anything for you, Jamie. You went to Leith? He’s our big brother, but he … hardly knows his way around a gun.”
“I know.”
Sometime during my quick explanation, Jordyn slipped out of the car and gave a small arched hand wave. “Hi, guys. He saved me.”
“This is Jordyn.” I stalked to her side and rushed through the introductions. “We were just leaving.”
“Jordyn, you prefer a laddie with quiet strength and lethal capabilities, do ya?” Brody chuckled. “Or so I’m told.”
“Yes and no.” Jordyn stepped forward and held out a hand. When Brody shook it, she gave his hand a firm pump. “I love Jamie MacKenzie. He’s my best friend. And I pretty much love everything about him, quiet strength included. Now stop trying to insult your little brother.”
Camdyn shook her hand. “My wife will love you. Forgive this one.” He jutted his head to Brody. “Justice hasn’t been putting him in his place like usual since managing Leith and Chevelle’s restaurant.”
“It’s true. My wife works too much. Too independent.” Brody nodded. “So, if I hurt your feelings—”
“Not my feelings,” Jordyn said.
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, if I hurt the bampot’s feelings, my apologies.”
I folded my arms.
“You’re coming to our parents’ house?” Camdyn’s eyes linked with mine. “That way, you can tell Leith you need to borrow his car. Although, I’m sure he’d probably give you his Audi A7 to save this old girl.”
“Negatory. I’d rather send him a cashier’s check in the mail with no return address.” I sneered. “One of you screwed me over.”
“Excuse the heck outta me? Gone is the little boy who looked like he couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag. Who is this man?” Camdyn scratched the back of his head. “Because what you won’t do is accuse me—”
“It was either you.” I glared at Brody. “You or your brother, Leith. Or your father. As members of Clan MacKenzie, I’m branding you all traitors!” I turned to Jordyn. “Get in the car. Let’s go.”
Her eyes widened at the bark in my voice. After doing an about-face, I strode around the car. A hand dropped on my shoulder. I rolled away from the touch before Brody could apply pressure, spun around, back foot planted, and threw my arm into an uppercut that sent him stumbling backward. “Don’t touch me!”
A dazed look flashed before his eyes. Little Brody licked the blood from a gash on his bottom lip. “Alright. First one’s free, Jamie. I see you’ve still got that mouth of yours. I suppose it’s because we always allowed you to have your say.” He dipped his head. “Well, on account that you were speaking, we’d allow you to have your say. Mark my words. You say another thing about your family—”
I stepped toward him.
“Okay, you proved your point, bro,” Camdyn said.
I jerked away when he put a hand on my chest.
“Not yet.” Here I was, allowing anger to play me like a fiddle. Lordy, I couldn’t stop myself from getting all up in Brody’s face, beard be damned. “Is this the part where invisible masking tape should shut me up like it did when I was a child, huh?”
Brody patted the side of his bearded face, daring me to deck him. “No. Go right ahead.”
“The trafficker that’s after Jordyn didn’t pay that coward to try to execute me while standing behind a friggen badge. You have those police affiliations, right?”
“We do,” Brody said honestly as Camryn asked, “What coward?”
“Name them.”
“Why?” Brody lifted his chin.
Jordyn slipped out of the car. “If you wouldn’t mind just humoring Jamie. Maybe one of you said something to a cop buddy, and he’s also on the take from Aleksandr Chelomey.”
“What sort of name is that?” Brody frowned.
“Russian,” I spoke up, flicking a glance at Jordyn. Great. She witnessed my outburst, the unhinged man I once was. This, after all the talk I did about becoming a new creation and how I’d help her with the nightmares and the lies that swarmed in her head.