Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Free, secure a location for principal until his detail is stabilized. Morrison will be staying with him for the duration.” He paused, listening to something Cassidy couldn’t hear. “And do something on media suppression. The emergency response must’ve lit up the scanner bands because paparazzi flooded the entrance of his house.”
Ruxs cursed under his breath. “Vultures.”
Green narrowed his eyes toward the windows. “We’ll contain them long enough to move him. Free jam whatever you got to, loop the street cameras, and kill the easiest angles. Ruxs and I will clear a path out the back gate.”
He appreciated the hell out of Green making these decisions for him. Because he wasn’t leaving Xander’s side again…period.
“Let me know when it’s arranged and we’ll move.”
Cassidy frowned.
Green had no phone, visible earpiece, two-way radio…nothing. Yet somehow he was talking to Free.
He filed that mystery away for later.
Steele motioned toward the hallway. “God said to escort you guys in. With your permission, Xander, Ruxs and Green are gonna stay back and image the residence so Tech and Free can begin designing your system.”
Xander nodded without lifting his face.
“Best go put a bag or two together,” Steele said in his rough tenor. “We’ll notify the other responders the scene is secured.”
The three of them left and the room suddenly felt softer—or was it the feel of Xander’s smooth skin under his palms?
He pulled Xander back so he could look at him.
He gently wiped away the dampness beneath his eyes with both thumbs.
“Go pack your stuff,” he whispered. “You’re coming with me.”
“Thank you,” Xander sighed. “I know that’s not your job but—"
“Don’t.” He put one finger against Xander’s lips. “I’m fully aware of what my job is.”
Cassidy’s gaze dropped to where his finger touched those full lips.
Xander parted his mouth a fraction, his breath hot and shallow.
This time he knew for certain he wasn’t imagining it.
He traced a slow path down to Xander’s chin, then caught it gently between his thumb and index finger.
The air shifted and for one reckless second Cassidy almost cast caution to the wind.
Almost.
What the fuck?
He stepped back before he did something stupid.
“I’ll be right outside your door waiting for you,” he murmured.
Xander looked confused, or was that disappointment? But Cassidy had to walk away before he forgot every professional line he’d spent his life respecting.
God
By three forty-five in the morning, God had given up pretending he was going to get any sleep.
He stood near the massive window of his penthouse suite, arms crossed over his chest, staring out over Los Angeles.
The horizon was still black, the streets below almost empty, and the luxury around him was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
Not much impressed him these days—especially not excessive opulence—except the capability of his team, who were now on their way back.
That was all that mattered.
Ruxs, Green, and Steele had reacted at record speed getting to Xander Vale’s residence.
Free and Tech were already doing what they do, and he’d learned long ago not to bother asking them to explain their genius. He only wanted details of the conclusions.
Day stood behind them, leaning over their shoulders with one hand braced on the table, his sharp gaze moving between screens while Free’s fingers flew across his multiple keyboards.
God trusted his enforcers. Still, waiting for them to return safely always prickled underneath his skin.
Luckily, he had his younger brother talking his damn ear off to distract him.
“Come on, Cash. You gotta be kiddin’ me.”
God shifted his phone tighter between his ear and shoulder while taking the printout Free just handed him.
“I already said no.”
Gen groaned loud enough to make God roll his eyes.
It was only six a.m. on the East Coast, but his brother was an early riser.
He was a big shot engineer for Apple who worked from home and made his own hours.
The crack of dawn was his favorite part of the day. His fiancé, Curtis, was still in bed, the house was quiet, and he could watch SportsCenter without interruption.
Right now, apparently, the favorite part of his morning was harassing God.
“You don’t even get how unfair this is,” Gen said. “How the hell do you get so damn lucky all the time? First, you end up workin’ a case with Wes and Law, then your task force gets audited, and somehow instead of sitting at home to wait out your punishment, you get flown first class to Hollywood, put up in a five-star hotel, and asked to protect the hottest superstar in the world.”
God’s mouth twitched.
“No, wait.” Gen’s voice rose. “Let me rephrase that. The hottest gay superstar in the world. Xander-fucking-Vale, Cash. Do you know how much Curtis loves What Breaks in Silence? Do you know how many times I’ve had to sit through that bull rider movie and act like I wasn’t emotionally damaged afterward?”
“Curtis told Green you cried at the end.”
“No, I didn’t! My allergies were acting up,” Gen snapped. “And that’s beside the point. I’m just asking you to let me and Curtis come out there. We’ll stay outta the way, promise. I just want you to get us on Stage 8 one day. You know Wes and Law loved Curtis when he met them in Atlanta after you guys’ bust. They won’t mind a little tour.”