Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
My ears perk when Shayla mentions a beautiful diamond pendant around Rylee’s neck. I’d bet my ass it’s my necklace from Joseph.
Jewls raps on my window, motioning for me hurriedly.
“Our turn.” Rowan, Bex, and Ember file out behind me.
We all stoop and wind through the darkened parking lot to where Harley is waiting by Rylee’s car. She points inside the open trunk. “These yours?”
I peek in and nod my confirmation that these are my stolen bags.
Rowan takes pictures right as the area illuminates with blinding headlights.
“Shit, hit the ground!” Jewls whisper-shouts.
“Easy for you to say,” Harley mutters.
“Princess, get your ass away from that car and over here.” I spin to find Talon with a glare so ominous a shiver travels to my toes.
Ace steps up to Harley, taking the black case from her hand. Ford does the same to Rowan, taking her phone.
“How’d you know?” Jewls throws her hands in the air, shouting at her husband.
“Babe, just watched you and your partner in crime pick the lock and pop the trunk of a car. And you want to know how I knew?”
“Yes, we were meticulous in our planning.”
I want to hear how this plays out, but the heat of Talon’s glower is singing my skin. If the situation wasn’t so tense, I’d take the opportunity to salivate over the visual. His MNPD tee stretched across his chest, his duty belt tight on his hips.
Who knew carrying a gun and badge was so erotic?
I cautiously walk to him, squealing when he hauls me the rest of the way.
“What are you doing here?” I stupidly ask, bracing on his shoulders.
“Stopping you all from fucking up our chance of arresting your bitch-ass sister.”
“Arresting? You know what she’s doing?”
His gaze slices to the side on a deep exhale. “You think we’re amateurs?”
“Well, no, but…”I quit talking, not willing to piss him off more.
His eyes lock with mine, the blue-green shade of his irises softening until they glint. His lip curls to one side. “Fucking pissed as hell you put yourself out here. Watched you pull up and forced myself to watch this play out. Now, seeing you in this sexy as hell get-up, I’m thinking of new ways of punishment.”
A thrill runs up my spine at the blaze staring back at me. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Oh, I see someone I know. Roberto Hayes.” Shayla emphasizes the name in her perfect French accent.
“Who’s Roberto Hayes?” Rylee’s voice drips with zeal. “Oh my God, is it the dark-headed hottie? You have to introduce me.”
Ember’s face goes red as she clinches her phone. “Robbie’s here? He’s supposed to be at home with our kids!”
“End the call, Ember,” Talon instructs firmly.
She scowls, punching the button and sliding the phone into her back pocket. “He’s in trouble.”
“You girls get back to the truck. We’re taking it from here.”
I unsuccessfully try to squirm out of Talon’s hold.
“Except you, Princess. You wanted to be a badass, you’ll get a front-row seat.”
The thought of facing Rylee makes my blood run cold.
It has nothing to do with confronting her. I don’t want her anywhere near Talon.
My expression gives me away. His eyes go hard as he mistakes my thoughts. “You have to be fucking kidding me.”
“She’s a bare-faced leach with no morals. I don’t want to go to jail for assault when she openly ogles you.”
“Only one person getting arrested. But I can’t promise you won’t end the night in handcuffs.”
Electric desire races through my veins and I lower my lips to his.
“Lovebirds, we need to get into place,” Ace interrupts, passing us to the large black SUV and clicking off the lights.
Talon carries me to the back of the vehicle, positioning us where we can see Rylee’s car. Shayla and Rylee approach with Robbie casually strolling behind them.
His gait may be easy, but there is no doubt he’s in charge.
They stop at the trunk where he instructs her to open it.
Rylee refuses, threatening to call the police.
Right then, Ace, Major, and Ford materialize beside Robbie. It’s the first time I notice, except for Robbie, they’re all dressed alike.
They exchange a few more words, and by the looks of it, she continues to throw attitude. Her finger goes to Ace’s face. She leans up closer, her complexion heating to a deep red with fire blazing in her eyes as she spouts something about her rights and him trapping her.
She recognizes him from their encounter at the salon.
He stares down his nose at her, his dark pupils piercing into her with disgust so thick, it fills the distance.
Shayla stands by, upholding her role but watching her cousin’s husband with caution.
Finally, after a minute of his scary silence, Rylee opens the trunk.
“Your call. You want to confront her, now’s the time,” Talon gently prods.
I think about the past year and how much damage her deceit did to my self-confidence. The way our once close-knit family is now in tatters. I slunk into a shell of a person, pushing myself for the better but not really living.