Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
It warms my heart to see Penn interacting with his friends and while I don’t know exactly how frigid the relationships were before, it’s clear he’s striving to be a different type of mate.
I’m tired from the travel, but my limbs seem extra heavy from a relentless tension that started the minute I stepped off the plane. We are now back to reality.
Jackson, Greer and Ladd walk with us to the curb. They’re all officially going off-duty and a new team of agents will pick us up. Waiting out front is another black Suburban with dark windows, engine idling like it’s ready to pounce.
Malik leans against the passenger’s side door in a black leather jacket, expression unreadable under dark sunglasses. When he spots us, he straightens and moves toward us.
He greets his friends first, fist bumps with Ladd and Jackson, a sweet peck on the cheek for Greer.
“Who’s taking over?” Ladd asks Jackson.
“Me, Griff and Cage, but Kynan wants to meet with them at headquarters.” Malik glances at me. “That okay? Got some time to talk?”
“Yeah, sure,” Penn says, squeezing my hand. “Mila too?”
“Mila too,” Malik says with a smile.
We say goodbye to Ladd, Jackson and Greer. Greer wraps me up in a hug. She’s solid, warm and unshakable, and I’m going to miss that.
Ladd follows, giving my shoulder a squeeze and nodding at Penn. “Taking a few days off,” he says. “But you’ve got our numbers.”
“Text us. Anything, anytime,” Jackson adds. He lingers, gaze warm but watchful, like a big brother making sure his sister will be okay without him. “We’re close. Always.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, my throat tight. They’ve been more than bodyguards these past couple weeks. They’ve been my protection, my buffer, my sanity. I’ll never be able to repay what they’ve given me.
There’s no doubt we’ve formed bonds over the last five days, especially with as much time that we’ve spent together. I hope when all of this is said and done, perhaps we can continue friendships on the outside. Of course, that’s assuming I stay in Pittsburgh. The future has yet to be forecast between me and Penn.
Penn puts our luggage in the back and offers me the front seat next to Malik, but I shake my head, taking the rear instead. Penn gives my hand a gentle squeeze before closing the door on me and hopping in front. I manage a smile, even though unease scrapes through me like sandpaper. Whatever’s waiting for us isn’t going to be small. There’s no way Kynan McGrath would want us to meet with him unless he had important news.
The drive is silent. Malik doesn’t elaborate, and I know better than to ask. If it’s urgent, it’ll be explained when it needs to be. Still, the quiet gives my thoughts too much room to wander. Worry, fear, dread—all of it churns together and the sweet memories of the last five days start to fade.
At Jameson Force headquarters, everything moves quickly. We go through the same security checks and then we’re ushered upstairs to a sleek conference room where Kynan waits for us at a long glass and chrome table.
Kynan motions for us to sit and we do, Penn and I side by side opposite him.
“We’ve made big progress,” he says without preamble, sounding almost grave.
My grip tightens around the armrest and Penn places a hand on my thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Bebe tracked several burner phone pings to an apartment building in Long Island.”
“Jace is from Long Island originally,” Penn says. I didn’t know that, but I wasn’t close to all the players. Only Nathan.
Kynan nods. “He’s apparently been renting there since he got out of prison a year ago. Our investigation shows that he’s currently unemployed so we’re not sure how he’s supporting himself. Malik went by to speak with him, but no one answered.”
“He was inside though,” Malik offers as he stands near the door. “He wouldn’t answer our calls either.”
Penn clasps his hands on the table and leans forward. “So, because the texts came from a phone pinging to a location where Jace lives, that’s proof he’s behind all this?”
Malik nods. “At least he’s one of them, we believe. We also followed up with Ryan DeLuca and Colton Briggs.”
“They talked?” I ask.
“Ryan admitted to throwing the bottle at Penn,” Malik says. “Claims that’s as far as he went though. Said he was drunk and it was a one-time thing. He’s not been in touch with Jace.”
“Do you believe him?” Penn asks.
Malik shrugs. “We couldn’t find any electronic communications between Jace and Ryan. Nothing between Jace and Colton either, for that matter, so it seems unlikely they’re involved.”
I shift in my seat. “Did you talk to Colton?”
Malik nods. “Didn’t say much. But he was sweating like a politician at a lie detector test. Body language screamed rage at even being questioned, but again… we got nothing to tie him to Jace.”