Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Finally he was asking the right questions. He was seeing through the fog of grief. “Because he was your brother and he died. Because he didn’t call you when he needed help. Because we were all we had. You and me and Tommy. For most of our lives we had to watch out for each other, and he didn’t let you do your job. Of course you’re mad, but throwing your life away, throwing what we could have with that woman away, isn’t going to solve your problem. You want to punch me? I’ll take it.”
A chuckle huffed from Jensen’s chest. “It won’t help.”
“Might make you feel better,” Niall offered. “I’ll take the punch and I won’t hit back. In fact, I might even cry a little.”
That got a slight smile from his best friend. “Planning on getting Harlow to baby you?”
Niall shrugged. “I bet it would work. Or she would punch me too and tell me to take it like a warrior. See, the thing is I don’t know that I want to be a warrior. I was for a while, and I find I prefer being a caretaker. I like making sure the gym is clean and everything is ready for the next day. I like to sit and make plans for clients. I like to think about them. Everyone’s different, you know. Everyone has a place where they’re comfortable. I like the rituals of a quiet life.”
“And I’ve lived on nothing but adrenaline for years.” Jensen sounded tired. “I don’t even know what to do now. If Hamilton doesn’t kill us, what the hell do I do with the rest of my life? Shouldn’t I know? Shouldn’t I have a plan?”
Not if he didn’t expect to live out the year. What his friend needed was something to live for. “We can work on that. You would be a good personal trainer. You could do that part time while you figure it out. Or you could work investigations with Harlow.”
“I seriously doubt she’s bringing me on the team.”
“You would be surprised. She brought me on, and she didn’t want to.” At least he thought she hadn’t. She’d been reluctant because of his inexperience. “She would love to have backup that doesn’t include the McKay-Taggart team. Her dad might feel better if he knows she’s got solid backup. You’re ex-military.”
“And I’ve spent the last couple of years doing criminal shit.”
This was something he had to be careful about, but they needed to discuss. “How bad is it? Legally?”
Jensen suddenly found his plate very interesting. “I’ve managed to stay away from hurting anyone who didn’t deserve it. Anything physical has been in self-defense, but then I never got to the higher levels. So for me it was all dropping off packages I wasn’t supposed to open or ask about. I’ve absolutely aided in laundering their money.”
Niall nodded. “Good. None of this is going to freak out a DA. They’ll give you immunity if you can turn over some good evidence.”
“I can prove the money laundering beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Jensen offered. “I’m sure either Jack’s team has my laptop or Phil managed to get it before Jack got there. The good news is the really damning evidence isn’t on the laptop. I had to keep it pretty clean in case someone from the organization wanted to inspect it. So I would download the real information onto a thumb drive and it’s hidden. They won’t find that. I can give it to Jack when the time comes.”
“After we find a lawyer for you.” He wasn’t about to let Jensen give everything up without a solid offer of immunity. “I’m going to talk to Harlow about that. She knows some people.”
“I don’t have money to pay for a lawyer,” Jensen replied. “They give you a lawyer if they arrest you. Turning myself in is an option we need to talk about.”
“With a lawyer who will talk to you for free since you’re connected to Harlow. Also, our princess is a moneybags. She won’t miss it at all. That’s the hardest thing. Her parents are filthy rich. It’s weird. She doesn’t act that way. It kind of freaks me out.”
“Yeah, I met what I thought was a middle-class, normal woman with an interesting career and then she’s got two billionaire dads, a trust fund that could buy the world, and a mom who’s considered a modern master painter,” Jensen agreed. “And I came from this.” He gestured a hand around the worn kitchen. “I wondered what I could offer her. I worried I was her rebellion.”
Niall shook his head. “Nah, that’s not who she is. Honestly, from what I can tell, it’s not who her family is. And if you think she’s rich, I don’t even know what to call Gigi. Her dad is the oldest of the Dawson kids, and he apparently was a ruthless businessman. Guess who he married? A nurse from rural Colorado. At least that’s where they met. Harlow’s mom was a massage therapist when she met Ben and Chase Dawson. They’re not some elite family who only hangs with other elites. From what I can tell they’re pretty normal with the exception of the money, and she’ll pay for your lawyer even if she hates you. She’ll do it because it’s who she is.”