Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
His head tilted, as if waiting for her to finish.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve got a Glock and a shotgun beneath the bar. If anyone threatens me, I won’t hesitate.”
“All right.” He stood, making the porch creak in protest. “Put on your boots. I’ll take you.”
She blinked. “You’re not going to fight me on that?”
“Nope.”
She leaned back, trying to mask her surprise. That had actually worked? Apparently so. But as she slid on her boots, she couldn’t help feeling the tiniest sense of sadness deep inside. What if he had said yes?
Chapter 15
Christian walked with Amka inside the tavern, her SUV parked out front with the board he’d inserted in the broken window protecting the back seat. Ace sat at the bar, shoveling in what looked like breakfast casserole. Christian gave him a nod. Ace returned it with a slow lift of his chin.
His brother’s eyes looked a little bloodshot, but his shoulders stayed squared, and his gaze tracked sharp. He’d keep an eye on her. That was enough for now.
Christian stepped back out onto the street, heading south toward the sheriff’s office. Mountain Man’s Garage had already confirmed they’d ordered a replacement for Amka’s busted back window, and it wouldn’t take long to install once it came in. Just a cracked pane of glass, but it still crawled under his skin. The woman could’ve been shot.
She wanted a house. Kids. Some version of calm. Maybe that was why she’d agreed to marry Jarod? Perhaps Christian’s gut feeling there was off because he wanted her. That much, he could admit to himself. But he wasn’t the settling down kind. There had to be someone better for such a sweetheart like Amka. Someone who could give her a decent life.
The thought made his ears itch.
He didn’t want a wife. Never had. No woman deserved that kind of mess. But still, Amka deserved someone solid. Someone who could actually stay.
Problem was, Christian couldn’t think of anyone good enough.
A green AWT rig rounded the corner, tires crunching gravel, and pulled to a stop. Dutch rolled down the window. He must’ve grabbed the rig from where he stored it in the garage of Flossy’s B&B. “Sorry I’m late,” Dutch said, grinning. “Flossy fed me.”
“No problem.” Christian pulled the door open and climbed in. The interior still smelled like coffee and gear oil. “Got your message last night. Guess I’m officially on the job?” Surprise filtered through him at the anticipation pulling at him. He actually wanted this job.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” Dutch checked his mirrors. “Since that one victim who disappeared was wearing an EVE logo on his sweatshirt when your brother found him, I figured we’d head out to EVE today and see if they can ID the other two victims we found. It’s a long shot, I know. We’ve emailed those crazy scientists, but they’re slow getting back to us.”
“They’ve always been a mystery to this town,” Christian muttered. “You think we’re getting in?”
“We should. Damian’s head of security now. I called ahead. He said he’d meet us.”
Christian nodded, settling deeper into the seat as Dutch flipped a U-turn and aimed for the river road. “It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve seen him.” He’d been meaning to check up on his too-serious brother for a few days.
Dutch kept one hand on the wheel, his tone casual. “How you holding up after getting shot at?”
“I’m fine.” Christian glanced out the window, tracking the blur of pine trees. “No bad dreams. Nothing. But I’d sure like to know who pulled the trigger.”
“You think Amka was the target?”
Christian exhaled slowly. “Either Amka or Wyland Friday would be my guess as the target. Both attacks seem to circle back to them.”
“She’s gonna need cover,” Dutch said, eyes forward. “You planning to provide that?”
The question hit harder than it should have. Christian didn’t answer right away. Not because he didn’t know, but because he wasn’t ready to say it out loud. He didn’t need to start unloading feelings like a damn teenager.
His phone buzzed in his jacket pocket, and he flinched, still not used to carrying the thing.
Dutch gave him a look. “You all right?”
“Yeah.” Christian pulled the phone out, clenching his jaw. “Just not used to feeling this reachable.” He lifted the phone to his ear. “What?”
“That is not how you answer the phone.” Damian’s voice rolled smoothly through the line.
Christian lifted one eyebrow. “Why are you calling me? We’re on our way out to meet you.”
“I understand that, but it’s about to rain again, and I’d rather not spend time meeting in the parking lot,” Damian replied. “You won’t like it in this facility, and I’d rather not put you through our security and elevator system.”
Christian relaxed. Damian had always seen through all of them. Every brother. Probably why he’d gone into intelligence. He’d also gone out of his way to keep Christian comfortable, and that building, with its underground levels, tight halls, and forest of radio towers, would set his stomach on edge. “I appreciate that,” Christian said, not seeing the need to lie to his brother. “You coming into town?”