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)
He slowly turned to look at the quiet and vacant interior before focusing back on her. “I just did.”
“Don’t you ever do that again.”
Something broke through his impassive eyes. Something that glittered with darkness. “Then don’t drive yourself so hard you look like you’re ready to pass out.”
What a nice description of how she looked. She threw up both hands. “Just leave, okay? I don’t need you bossing me around.” Even if she kind of, very deep down, liked it. Liked the feeling of being protected. “Got it?”
“How you getting home? And if you tell me you borrowed Smitty’s piece of shit second rig that’s all of a sudden parked right outside, you’re not going to be happy with my response.”
“I’m already not happy with you,” she spat. Her SUV was currently at the bottom of the river, so she’d borrowed the only vehicle in town she could get in trade for two bowls of soup. She figured Dutch would follow her home, anyway. That so wasn’t true. She knew that Christian would be covering her since Dutch had all evening. Ace had taken his turn after lunch through dinnertime. She probably had the best trained bodyguards in all of Alaska, and she hadn’t hired one of them. “I know we take care of our own in Knife’s Edge, which is why I’ve not only accepted around-the-clock protection but truly appreciate it. However, I’m drawing the line when it comes to everything else. Stop bossing me around.”
He planted both hands on the bar. “Then you’re going to hate my next statement.”
What if he said she was staying with him? She didn’t want him taking over her life. Her body desperately wanted to stay with him. “What’s your statement?”
“I want you to go out and stay at EVE until we figure out who’s after you and why.”
If he had said he wanted her to grow tusks and become an elephant, she would’ve been less surprised. Knife’s Edge and the EVE facility existed peacefully with very little interaction. Once in a while, the people who worked and lived there came into town, but it didn’t happen that often. Nobody from town, as far as she knew, had ever stayed the night out there. “Are you insane?” It’d take hours to drive into work every day.
“No. Damian has already okayed it. Your pass will cover your living quarters and the cafeteria, but you won’t have access to the facility.”
Part of her was intrigued by the idea of staying at EVE, but not within those parameters. “So what exactly am I supposed to do all day hiding out there?”
“I don’t know. Knit?” Whatever flared in her eyes must’ve given him a warning. “Or plan your world domination with Ace? You must have a lot to do to prepare for your businesses. I’m sure the internet connectivity is phenomenal out there.”
She didn’t want to run and hide. Sure, she understood that Christian and everyone protecting her were well-trained and had skills she probably couldn’t imagine. She always thought she was a practical woman, and the rational avenue to take would be to hide out. But for how long? “If I leave, we’ll never find this guy. You know that.” She couldn’t think of one person who wanted her dead—especially since Jarod was now gone. Not that she had truly believed he wanted her dead. It didn’t make sense. “We can’t let him go into hiding, too.”
“Are you saying you want to be bait?” How could Christian sound so threatening without the inflection changing in his deep tone?
A shocking desire to appease him rocked through her. What the heck? She was learning all sorts of unimpressive characteristics about herself tonight. “I’m the guy’s target. We all agree on that at this point. So why go into hiding? So will he until I return.”
“We’ll find him first.” Christian turned toward the doorway, revealing the weapon tucked into the back of his waist. “Our best theory is that Jarod got into something dangerous, resulting in attacks on you before his death. The shooter might be done, or he might think you have information from Jarod. Either way, we’re conducting a deep dive on Jarod’s life. Did you know he flew to Anchorage at least once a week last year when the planes were operating? He’s done the same this spring.”
“No. I didn’t pay any attention to him last year, and this spring, I was just happy when he was gone.” She hadn’t cared one whit what he was doing outside of town.
Christian’s eyelids dropped to half-mast. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
Why would she have? “Jarod has an accomplice, and there wasn’t anything you could do about that.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I would’ve taken care of it.”
She shivered. “Nobody can fix that situation.” Especially when there was no solution, no matter what Christian said. Plus, what if he had just gone and tortured Jarod to get her off the hook? She wouldn’t have wanted that on his shoulders when he was still dealing with his time in the service. “I try not to burden my friends with my problems.”