Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
After their pool day, a few Littles had gone home with their partners, and Kit and Noa had disappeared upstairs to shower and change into jammies. With that out of the way, my boy had plastered himself to me on the sofa, much like Noa had with KC. The questions followed. Anything new? Had more bad guys been killed in California? Any messages from River and Reese? Had Greer been contacted? Was his nephew okay?
Crew Finlay was supposedly all right. He’d been MIA in Europe for a few days, but Greer had let us know yesterday that Crew had resurfaced. Apparently with an FBI agent.
And no, no one had reached out to Greer yet, but he appeared to be expecting a message in the next couple of days. Corey clung to him like a Band-Aid, Archie fussed over him more than usual, and Sloan was working the logistics of having Greer gone for a while. They were discussing possibly canceling their upcoming vacation to Denmark.
“Where’s Daddy?” Kit asked, scrolling down a bit on my tablet. He was a fast reader, that one.
“He’ll be back any minute,” I replied. “He and Ty finished their prototype, so they’re gonna give it to Greer.”
That made Noa perk up two sofas over. “Is that the thingamabob that detects movement?”
Ask me anything but that. Ask me about editing software, human behavior, and PR. Ask me how one could create a successful marketing campaign to launch a new product. Don’t ask me about shit happening in the defense industry.
“It’s a scope of some sort,” I answered. “It goes on a rifle.” I racked my brain for the words I’d heard Colt and Ty use. Infrared something, improved night vision, something about measuring vibrations in the damn ground. I…didn’t fucking know.
Ty had been working on this thing for over two years, but it was being developed for home security systems, surveillance or whatever, and then Colt had come up with the brilliant idea of rushing the work and adapting it to Greer’s needs in what might become a combat scenario.
These last few days, they had essentially taken apart an existing scope, and they’d upgraded it with Ty’s invention. I was very impressed—we all were—but I didn’t understand what I was impressed by. As long as they knew what they were doing, I was happy.
Admittedly, I was also turned on when Colt—and Ty—got going. They were so talented and tech-savvy.
There was something about watching people concentrating hard, getting things done, and creating solutions.
Lane had, for very good reasons, given Ty a T-shirt that read, “Of course I’m sexy. I’m an engineer, for fuck’s sake.”
Kit planned on ordering a similar tee for Colt, but he would replace engineer with fighter pilot.
Colt was gonna eat that shit up.
I combed my fingers through Kit’s hair and kissed his temple as he leaned in and clicked on another article on the tablet.
“You need a haircut soon, little one,” I murmured.
“Um-hum… Did we read this one already?” He pointed to the screen.
I opened my mouth to respond, but commotion coming from outside stole my attention. I didn’t see anyone yet, but I heard it based on the number of feet making it across the deck. We’d pulled all the drapes shut to prevent glares from the sun when we were doomscrolling news.
Then I heard Corey and the worry in his voice.
“But when are you leaving? Right now?”
Fuck.
In a matter of two or three seconds, those who were out at the house flooded the club area. It was as if everyone had been on high alert for the slightest indication that Greer was flying out to Los Angeles. Or wherever the Tenleys wanted him.
“Whoa, wait, what?” Kit flew off the sofa.
As did Noa, and Macklin, Tate, and Nora hurried in from the kitchen.
“I heard something,” Macklin stated, searching the room. “Who’s leaving? Greer?”
Lucian and Pen told people to calm down and let Greer speak, right when Colt and Ty returned from MadCo. And I’d thought Jordan had gone home when James had arrived, but I was wrong. They’d stuck around with Nathan.
“Did Reese’s Pieces call?” Noa demanded. “Are they okay?”
The whole scene caused my pulse to skyrocket.
“Oi!” Greer let out a sharp whistle. “Simmer down.”
That worked.
“Look,” Corey whispered, grabbing Greer’s phone out of his hand. Corey showed Kit the screen. Greer started talking, but I wanted to see the message.
“Are you going alone, Sir?” Tate asked.
Remember back in the day, some two weeks ago, when you offered your assistance?
I hate asking, but we could use you, buddy. We’re outside LA, but it’s probably not the ultimate destination.
I swallowed.
The text was from Reese.
“…asking questions I don’t know the answers to,” Greer was saying. “Yes, I’m goin’. That’s all I know. My communications will run through Colt while I’m away. Do not hassle my partners for updates. Whatever I tell them is private.”