Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“Makes sense.”
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“Why the hell would I mind?”
“Just, you know, all the shit with Bas.”
“All what shit with Bas?” I asked innocently.
She let out a wry laugh and shook her head. “I wasn’t ever mad at you, Harp. It is what it is, you guys seem to be good for each other, and I’m happy when any of my friends find that.”
“But you were stuck in the middle,” I murmured in understanding.
“Myla was pissed,” Frankie said with a grimace. “Lou was completely silent about all of it—wouldn’t even talk about it. I wasn’t sure what the hell the situation was, and I didn’t want to get in the middle of it. I figured I’d deal with however it shook out.”
“Lou and Bas weren’t ever a thing,” I told her. “I haven’t talked to her about it, but for him—” I shook my head.
“I figured one of them—or both—wasn’t interested,” she said with a shrug. “You don’t spend that long hanging out all the fucking time without realizing if a spark is there.”
“Myla apologized today,” I said. “So, at least you won’t have to deal with that part.”
“Myla can rage all she wants. I listen, and then I go about my day,” Frankie joked. “But you’re my friend, and you’ll be my sister-in-law at some point—I wasn’t going to join in on that bullshit.”
“I thought you were pissed at me.”
“I was honestly just trying to stay as far away from the situation as I could. You’re Gray’s baby sister, and he’s protective of you. Nothing good would’ve come from me wading in.”
“I get it,” I said with a sigh, pulling a pillow onto my lap. “But, you’re going to have to grovel a little.”
Frankie chuckled. “I’m fully prepared to grovel.”
“I mean, you didn’t even get out of the truck when my steering went out…”
“Shit, Harp,” Frankie winced. “I had no idea that was anything more than car trouble. If I thought you’d been hurt or something, I wouldn’t have—”
“I’m just fucking with you,” I assured her, grinning. “As far as we knew, it was just car trouble.”
“Your brother’s been a mess.”
“Gray?”
“Well, you know, his version of mess.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “Barely sleeping. Quieter than normal. Having meetings with God knows who at all hours. He’s been worried.”
I grimaced.
“Girls, we’re watching a movie,” Mom called. “Come down!”
“What movie?” I bellowed back.
“Doesn’t fuckin’ matter,” Dad yelled back. “Move your asses!”
I met Frankie’s eyes. She was grinning.
“You’re smiling now,” I warned as I got off the bed. “But if they chose Lonesome Dove or something, it’s going to be a long night.”
“I’ve got nowhere to be.” She shrugged.
We watched movies. Read books. Spent time in the kitchen with Mom. Played dice at the kitchen table. Frankie and I got to know each other better, and even though we’d hung out plenty in the past, I was glad that we created a bit of a bond that existed outside the group.
My cousins did show up. Meg and Olive decided we needed a spa day, and they came over with Auntie Cecilia while Forrest had guard duty. Brody and Jamo showed up at dinnertime on the second day—not surprising—and also pulled their own guard duty outside. Myla showed up, and I braced to be the odd man out with her and Frankie, but it didn’t happen. Kara even brought the kids over for a while when Draco took his shift. The house was a revolving door of club and family. It barely left any time to miss or worry about Bas, Gray, and Rumi.
But, I still did. Every day they were gone, I sent hope into the universe that they’d be successful and none of them would get hurt. The Aces who showed up didn’t seem worried at all, which helped.
Then, early the third morning, Gram and Gramps showed up.
“Hey, guys,” I called out, getting up from my place on the couch. “I wondered if you’d show up.”
Gram marched straight to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me close.
“Hey, Gram,” I whispered, tears hitting the backs of my eyes.
“Hey, Harpy,” she whispered back.
We stood there holding each other for a long time.
Chapter 17
Sebastian
“You scream, I shoot. You try to fight me, I shoot. You do anything I don’t tell you to do, I shoot,” Gray said, his pistol pressing against the woman’s throat. “Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered, nodding frantically.
“Good. Get up.”
Getting into Paige Brewer’s apartment had been ridiculously easy. The apartment next to hers was being renovated, and because there was a doorman and security, no one had bothered to lock it up.
Paige didn’t lock her balcony doors.
Rumi was pissed he didn’t have the chance to use his lock picks and had been grumbling under his breath for the last five minutes.
“Walk over to the computer,” Gray ordered.
“I have money,” Paige said, stepping carefully across the room. “Jewelry. There’s a Range Rover in the garage. Take it.”