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)
Dutch glanced over and pulled the truck to the side of the road.
“No, I can’t right now. I’m in the middle of five different things,” Damian said. “But I did look at the email Dutch sent. I don’t recognize either of the victims—the woman or the man. I ran a full search of our records. They did not work here.”
Christian popped his neck. “Would you tell us if they did?”
“I’ve got no reason to lie,” Damian said, voice smooth as ever. “If I knew who they were, I’d say it. I also got my hands on the autopsy reports from Anchorage.”
Christian frowned, glanced at the screen, then pressed the speaker button. “You’re on with Dutch now. How’d you get ahold of those?”
Dutch turned his head toward the phone, brows drawing tight. “Please don’t say anything sketchy.”
“I’m the security director of EVE,” Damian said flatly. “No condescension intended, just fact. I can access pretty much anything.”
Dutch shook his head. “What are you even doing out there, anyway? That place is weird.”
Damian chuckled. “Why not? It’s close to home. They offered me a job. After years in the service, I could use the paycheck. Plus, I’ve always been curious about the place.”
Christian shifted, a slow awareness pricking at the back of his neck. “You need backup?”
“No,” Damian said. “If I do, I’ll call you. I promise. In fact, I’ll try to get into town for the next chowder day at Sam’s Tavern.”
“Absolutely,” Christian said, more than happy to spend time at Amka’s, even if it was getting harder and harder to believe anything she said about Jarod. Holding her all night had felt like torture and a blessing rolled into one. He hadn’t slept that well in years, but waking up with her soft curves pressed against him had nearly wrecked him.
Another night like that? He wouldn’t survive it. Not without touching her.
And that kiss…that one kiss had almost blown his head off. She sure as hell didn’t kiss like a woman engaged to another man. In love with another man. Christian would never forget the sweet taste of her. He wanted another one. Now. He cleared his throat. “Damian? Since you’re so good with records, think you could run a deep dive on Jarod Teller for me?”
Dutch nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Just in case. You’ve got access to sources we don’t.”
“You think he shot at Amka?” Damian asked.
Christian stayed quiet for a beat. “You already know about that? The shooting just happened last night.”
“Please. It’s Knife’s Edge. You think I don’t have people there?”
Christian narrowed his eyes. “Who are your sources?” He thought through options. “Which one of our brothers did you talk to?”
“Neither,” Damian said, clearly amused. “Like I said, I’ve got my sources.”
Christian didn’t like that. Not even a little. “All right,” he said finally. “I guess there’s no reason for us to come out there now. But Damian, if you’re in trouble, you’ll call me.”
A long pause stretched over the line. “If I know I’m in trouble, I’ll call,” Damian said.
Christian didn’t like that answer, either. “Don’t make me infiltrate that place.”
“I actually wouldn’t mind,” Damian replied. “I just installed new security, and it wouldn’t hurt to see if you could get through it.”
That might actually be fun. “Not right now,” Christian said. “I have too much on my plate. But maybe in a couple weeks.”
“We could even pay you. Even though you’re consulting with the AWT, I don’t think there’s a conflict there,” Damian said.
Dutch leaned his head back against the headrest. “How’d you know that? We haven’t told anyone yet.”
“Practically speaking? It’s Knife’s Edge,” Damian drawled.
The line went dead.
Dutch turned to face Christian. “What do you think your brother’s doing at that facility?”
“I don’t know,” Christian said. But a warning ticked through his brain like a countdown. “I think I’m going to have to find out.”
“Not today,” Dutch muttered. “Today, we take these photos around town and see if anyone recognizes the two victims. Then maybe we grab lunch at the Green Plate.”
Christian slipped the phone back into his pocket. “No, let’s go to Sam’s Tavern. I could use a burger.”
Amusement flickered in Dutch’s eyes. “Whatever you say.”
Damn it. He had to get that woman out of his head.
Mud clung to his boots like glue. Rain lashed his face in sharp little needles. Every breath felt like it might be his last. Cold burned down deep, right into his chest.
Rough marks raked his torso, right through his shirt, through skin. Blood and rain mixed into something tacky and hot on his body. He didn’t stop to check. He couldn’t. Not now.
Branches slapped his cheeks. He didn’t dodge them anymore. Just kept running, stumbling forward on raw instinct. No idea how long he'd been out here. No sense of time. Just pain, terror, and the stupid hope he could still make it.