Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 121887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I sensed they gave it a wide berth because it was getting on their nerves.
But I thought it was kind of cute.
“Water?” Shirleen went on.
“Or Perrier?” Marjorie offered.
“Vodka?” Shirleen continued.
“It is against protocol to offer alcoholic beverages to witnesses,” Marjorie snapped.
Shirleen glared at her. “They aren’t witnesses. They’re victims.”
“We aren’t victims. We solved the case,” Willow said.
Everyone looked at us.
“Hold,” Javi grunted.
“Until the others get here,” Gabe rumbled.
Good plan. We didn’t want to have to repeat our story to everyone.
“Actually, I could use a Perrier,” I said.
“I’ll get it!” Marjorie almost shouted.
Shirleen didn’t horn in on that.
Marjorie bustled out of the room.
I looked to Javi. “I’m fine, honey.”
He appeared no less homicidal.
“Really,” I asserted.
And…
Nope.
He still looked like he wanted to murder somebody.
I fell silent.
Marjorie showed with our Perriers. The sparkling water was in a tall, thin, blemishless glass that had cool glass straws and a slice of lime in them.
Total class, NI&S was.
We were sipping when the others arrived.
The others being everybody.
NI&S had a big conference room, but with everyone there, we were packed in like sardines.
Mace, being the Big Kahuna, started it.
“First, are you both all right?” he asked.
Aw.
He was so sweet.
“We’re fine,” I said again, and then looked among the Angels. “And we kind of got kidnapped into solving the case.”
All the women’s faces brightened, even the Rock Chicks.
This news didn’t alter the expressions of the men in the slightest, though I didn’t think that was about us winning and solving the case. It was about Willow and me being kidnapped and they were clearly amassing to send a team out to come and get us.
Mace sat in a swivel chair, put a forearm to the table, leaned back, radiated total bad-A hotness and ordered, “Share.”
We’d signed NDAs.
Still, we shared.
Everything.
“To end,” Willow said after we tag-teamed the rundown, “I have to deliver the laptop to Congressman Mahoney’s office by the end of the day.”
“You will not be doing that,” Mace returned.
“Uh, we signed an NDA,” I pointed out. “If someone else does it, he might sue us for all we’re worth. I’m not worth much, but I’d like to keep what I have.”
“You. Are not. Delivering. That laptop. To the congressman,” Mace stated ominously.
I pressed my lips together.
“I will personally explain to Congressman Mahoney that he can be assured of our discretion,” Mace continued.
I had no doubt he’d communicate just that.
And probably more.
Like, say, sharing with Congressman Mahoney that if he or any of his henchmen got anywhere near an Angel again, they’d be dealing with the Hottie Squad.
I reckoned this message coming from Mace would be read loud and clear, even by a United States Congressman.
I was okay with them delivering the laptop. I’d had enough excitement for one day.
Mace looked over his shoulder at Raye. “Who has the laptop?”
“I do,” Luna replied.
“I’ll take her to get it,” Knox said immediately.
Awesome!
Luna shot him a filthy look.
It pinged off Knox entirely.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Luna looked like she’d argue, then she trudged out like she was being led to the plank she was going to be forced to walk.
Knox followed her, scowling at the back of her head (so maybe her filthy look did land, though, that scowl on his handsome face, um…someone give me a fan).
I totally got why they didn’t go there (boy, did I).
It still made me sad.
“Who’s looking after SC?” Willow asked.
“Tito called Joey and Gemma in,” Shanti answered. “Dream’s coming in later after the kids she’s watching get picked up and she drops the kids at Scott and Louise’s.”
Weird.
I never thought I’d think this, but it seemed having Dream on the team was going to be useful.
“But for now, Byron’s helping,” Raye added.
Hmm.
It also seemed like, when you spent every weekday at a killer coffee and cocktail emporium, you soaked in the lay of the land.
I hoped that meant they could finish out my shift. I always needed the tips. Now more than ever with this doubling up business between Javi and my pads. But being tased and kidnapped took it out of a girl.
Not to mention, I was wrong earlier. Now that the drama was over, the aches and pains of being flipped over some dude’s shoulder and landing hard were making themselves known. My body was kind of achy, so I needed a bubble bath ASAP.
“Their kidnappings are a lot less dramatic than ours were,” Roxie noted.
“I know,” Indy replied. “I’m kind of jealous.”
Annette took a seat at the conference table and declared, “I’m totally opening Head South.” She looked at me. “Can I be an Angel?”
I liked Annette. She was funny and sweet and all in for a good time.
However…
“We don’t pick the Angels, Arthur does,” Raye told her.
“Bummer,” Annette muttered. She turned to Roxie and pouted, “I never got kidnapped.”
Roxie patted her shoulder like she was consoling her.
I sipped Perrier and turned to Javi. “I don’t want to break up the party, but after all of that, I kinda need a bubble bath.”