Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 114492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 572(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“You up for a little celebration tonight?” Jonas asks.
I hold my breath. How could she possibly resist him? He’s clearly at least trying to turn on the charm. But Sarah shrugs and looks away.
“Why doesn’t he just walk over to her and kiss her?” Kat whispers to me.
“Maybe she’s told him kissing is off limits—maybe she’s a fucking terrorist on a jihad,” I whisper back.
Kat scoffs. “Or maybe she’s just a frickin’ genius.”
“Or maybe she’s painted herself into a corner she doesn’t know how to get herself out of,” I say.
Kat grunts.
“I think we should celebrate,” Jonas says.
Sarah shrugs again. Oh man, she’s holding firm.
“She definitely learned that stonewalling thing from her best friend,” I whisper.
“Hmmph.”
“Aw, come on, baby,” Jonas says, grinning at Sarah. “You wanna have a little fun?”
“There it is,” I whisper. “Game, set, match.”
“Not so fast,” Kat whispers. “Not gonna be that easy.”
“Twenty bucks says she lays down her weapon right here.”
“You’re on. She’ll hold out for at least two more asks. Trust me.”
“Maybe,” Sarah says.
“See?” I whisper. “He’s got her.”
Kat puts up a finger, as if to say, “Wait for it.”
“And maybe not,” Sarah adds, pursing her lips.
Kat puts out her hand. “Pay up.”
Jonas mocks Sarah’s pout. “What if I said please?”
“Double or nothing?” I whisper. “Next ask.”
“You’re on, fool,” Kat replies.
Sarah’s trying to suppress a smile. “Then I’d say possibly.”
“Ha!” I whisper. “Pay up.”
Kat puts up her finger.
“But not probably,” Sarah says.
“Fuck,” I say.
Kat puts out her palm again and I lay forty bucks in it, rolling my eyes.
“What if I said pretty please?” Jonas asks, smiling broadly.
“Double or nothing again?” Kat whispers.
I shake my head and Kat giggles.
Sarah shrugs again.
“Jesus. Glad I didn’t make another bet,” I whisper. “She’s as stubborn as you.”
“What if I said pretty please and that we can do whatever you want, anything at all, you name it?” Jonas asks.
“Okay, whoa. I think he’s overdoing it,” I whisper to Kat.
She giggles. “No, he’s doing the bare minimum.”
“Anything at all?” Sarah asks.
“Don’t do it,” I whisper to Kat.
“He will,” Kat says.
“Anything at all,” Jonas confirms.
Kat giggles. “Sucker.”
“Pussy,” I say.
“But sweet,” she responds.
Sarah touches the platinum bracelet on her wrist. “You’ll be at my mercy completely?”
Jonas squints and bites his lip, considering.
“Don’t do it,” I whisper.
“He will.”
Jonas still hasn’t replied.
“Hang tough, man,” I whisper. “Fight the good fight.”
“He’s toast,” Kat replies.
“Stand strong,” I whisper.
“He’s a goner.”
“Well? Will you be at my mercy or not?” Sarah prods him. “What do you say?”
“He says yes,” Kat says.
“Definitely,” I agree.
“Hmm.” Jonas walks slowly toward Sarah like she’s pulling him on a string. “What do I say?” he says softly. When he reaches Sarah, he takes her face in his hands and whispers to her, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. Clearly, whatever it is, he’s saying it with passion.
“Really, you should owe me at least a hundred bucks,” Kat whispers. “Are you always this stupid, or just when it comes to women?”
“How was I supposed to know Sarah’s a terrorist like you?”
“Who do you think taught her all her tricks?” Kat says.
We both giggle.
Jonas and Sarah are whispering to each other and kissing like they’re the only two people in the room.
“Hey, PG,” I say, leaning into Kat. “Why’d you look like you were gonna have a stroke when Henn said it might take five days before he’s able to crack The Club’s system?”
She waves me off. “Oh nothing.”
“Tell me. You looked like you were gonna throw up right then.”
“Which isn’t an unusual look for me, unfortunately.” She shoots me an adorable smile. “Sorry about your shoes again.”
I chuckle. “No worries. What’s going on?”
She rolls her eyes. “I just, you know, I’ve got a job. Bills to pay. I don’t have enough vacation days to cover me staying in Vegas that much longer. If it takes five days for us to complete this ‘mission,’ whatever the heck it is, I’ll probably have to quit my job. Or maybe take an unpaid leave, if they’ll let me, I dunno. But it’s okay. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away if Sarah needs me here. It’s a no-brainer. Don’t worry about it.”
Twenty-Four
Kat
By the time the second round of room service arrives at Josh’s suite, Henn, Josh, and I have been extracting and analyzing information off the bad guys’ computers and phone for almost five hours straight.
“Woot!” I squeal when the room service guy spreads the plates of goodies on a glass table in the middle of the suite. “Now this is my idea of heaven on earth.”
We all gather around the table, drooling at the decadent food in front of us.
“Yummalicious,” I say, rubbing my hands together with glee. “Everything looks so tantalizing, it’s hard to decide where to start.”
“That’s exactly what women say when they throw themselves at me,” Henn says. “Where. To. Start?”
I laugh.
Henn considers the various plates of dessert in front of him. “It’s a no-brainer—chocolate cake is the clear entry-point.”