Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“I need to see the bomb,” Lou said resolutely. “Can I get on a plane? I suspect the Swedish police aren’t going to turn it over any time soon, and getting my hands on it would help enormously. I’ve studied the bombmaker’s work. I can tell you if it’s his.”
Drake nodded and sighed as though happy to have something active to do. “Yes. I’ll inform the Swedish police you’re coming. You and TJ can fly out tomorrow.”
“Tris can go with them,” Big Tag said.
Kala’s hand came up. “I think I should be the one to go.”
Ian’s eyes lit with what Cooper always thought of as his karma’s-about-to-bite-your-ass expression. “Nope. You’ll be hiding because your sister is going to Toronto to update the Canadians.”
Kenzie jumped in her seat, hands clapping. “Really?”
Ian groaned. “Well, now I’m thinking I should send someone else. Tasha could go with Dare.”
“I’ll be good. You know I will,” Kenzie promised. “And I’ll get way more out of Ben Parker than anyone else will. He’s the subject matter expert on Huisman. I’d like to know what he thinks of the attack on Dr. Walsh.”
She managed to sound halfway professional.
“I think it should be me,” Kala argued. “Kenz is way too interested in Parker’s abs.”
Kenzie’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?”
Big Tag shook his head. “We are not fighting about this. Kala, you aren’t going. You have an appointment with Dr. Gallagher and physical therapy you shouldn’t miss. You are not clear to be out in the field yet, and honestly, the last fucking place I would send you to is Toronto. So stand down. I can’t send you to Sweden because there’s only one Ms. Magenta out in the world at a time, and it’s not you.”
A faint flush stained her cheeks, but she let out a deep breath and stared straight ahead. “Understood.”
“All right, then let’s get out of here.” Big Tag stood. “Drake, why don’t you come by our place tomorrow for breakfast and we’ll discuss this situation. I know exactly what Dr. Gallagher is here to do, which is probably why my wife wants to murder her.”
Drake groaned and stood. “All right. Let’s get some sleep.”
The rest of the team made for the door, Kala pushing her chair back and starting to exit. Kenzie followed her, obviously wanting a word. Cooper meant to have one, too. He stood, ready to corner Kala and get to the bottom of whatever had happened in the privacy room.
“Not you.” Big Tag blocked his way.
There weren’t many men who were as tall as Cooper, but Big Tag looked him straight in the eyes. “I need to talk to Kala.”
Big Tag glanced around, making sure they were alone and the door was shut. “You need to tell me what the fuck happened tonight.”
Well, there was a reason the man worked for the Agency. “I should point out that it’s none of your business, but I’m curious as to which of our so-called friends saw you walking in and immediately informed you Kala and I are taking our relationship to another level. Again, not anyone’s business but ours.”
One side of Tag’s mouth curved up. “Impressive. I almost want to honor that because it truly should be your business. If all I’d heard was that you finally got your hands on my daughter after all these years and she seems happy, I wouldn’t be having what is likely going to be a very awkward conversation. But she does not look happy, Cooper.”
“It didn’t go the way we thought it would.” He wanted to walk away, but no one knew Kala like her father did. Not even her twin. Lou might have all the information, but she couldn’t know what it felt like to be Kala. The closest he had was Big Tag. “I wanted to go slow. She wanted fast and then… I think she was reliving something. She went somewhere else for a moment. And I’m a guy so…”
Big Tag slumped back in his chair, a weary sigh coming from his chest. “So your dick didn’t care that she was having a post-traumatic episode and the inevitable happened. Tell me you wore a condom.”
Sometimes it was best to be upfront with the man. He sank back into his seat, too. “Nope. I know my last tests came back healthy, and quite frankly, if she wants to baby trap me, I’ll walk right into it. I’ll happily provide logistics for her ops with one of those baby carriers strapped to my chest.”
“Damn it. I want to hate you,” Ian admitted.
“Because of that night.” They hadn’t talked about it in years. Years where he was completely uncertain how this man, who was such an important part of his life, felt about him. Maybe it was time they all talked about it, stopped pretending it wasn’t a wall between them.