Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“He was totally about to make a joke about him not coming.” Saint removes his hand.
“Aww, it’s like you know me.”
Saint ignores him. “I have a theory. If you want to hear it.”
“Of course I want to hear it,” Trav says. “There are no dumb theories.”
Iris cuts in. “The entire government is after you because of all the shit we’ve done over the years. Maybe they’re not coming after Dylan but after you. Why else would they bug your headquarters?”
Trav sighs. “Okay, I take it back. There are dumb theories.”
Saint bites his lip. “Well, now I don’t want to say mine.”
“Is it the same? The government won’t come after us until we’re of no use to them anymore. We have way too many government contracts to have them on our asses yet.”
“Yet?” I ask. “As in, you do expect one day to be hunted down?”
Trav avoids eye contact but puts a hand on my knee. “You were right when you said not everything we do is aboveboard, but a lot of those times? We are contracted to do it by the very government who makes the laws you so strongly defend.”
I’m beginning to understand why Trav thinks little of the law when the people making them ask him to break them.
“I don’t think it’s the government coming for you,” Saint says. “But I do think Walker’s trying to get dirt on you.”
“You think the bug was to get information on me?”
“He knows you’re protecting Rodriguez. If he gets information on you, he has leverage. If he used the information to find you at Domino’s house, then you’d know there was a bug or a leak and that they illegally planted a bug. This way, they can use what they gain to flush you out of hiding.”
Trav breaks into a smile. “I knew it was a good idea hiring you.”
“Oh sure, give him credit for my theory,” Iris says.
“You said the government was coming for me.” Trav leans closer to me. “He’s really pretty and lethal but not that smart.”
“Hey. I’m supersmart,” Iris complains.
Saint pats Iris’s head. “So smart.”
Iris stands. “On that note, I’ll leave you geniuses to your theories. I’m getting food.”
“Feed us,” Trav calls after him. “Domino’s eating the dinner we ordered.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbles.
Iris turns. “Nuh-uh. If you’re staying here, you get your own food. You’re welcome to use the kitchen, the gym, and stay in our guest bed, but just … you know … wash the sheets before you leave.” He shudders.
“I guess that’s fair. I made you detail my Range Rover after you and Saint fucked in it.”
“Oh, you poor soul.” Iris puts his hand to his heart. “If you think simple frotting is fucking, I feel so sorry for Rodriguez.”
Saint cuts in. “And now I’m done. I don’t really like getting into sex details with my boss, so I’m, uh …” He stands and awkwardly thumbs in the direction of the kitchen. “I’ll get you guys some food.”
Iris shakes his head. “You’re such a pushover. You’re about to become Trav’s maid.”
“At least someone appreciates me,” Trav says.
When Iris and Saint have disappeared into the kitchen, I look at Trav.
He must see the concern in my gaze because he wraps his arm around me and murmurs, “We’ll get some food, rest up, and deal with plans tomorrow.”
“Do you have a plan?” I ask and pray he does.
“If Saint’s theory is true and Walker’s digging for dirt on me to get to you, he’s either seriously underestimating me, or he’s desperate and making all the wrong moves.”
“Wrong moves?”
“Yeah. Rule number one when dealing with Mike Bravo: don’t piss off the boss.” Trav nudges me. “And definitely don’t try to hurt what’s mine.”
Chapter Twenty
Trav
After we finally get something to eat, I decide it’s late enough that I try to convince Dylan to go to sleep. He’s been quiet ever since I called him mine, and I should probably regret putting it out there like that after we agreed to keep this a casual thing while I’m working his case, but surely he feels the shift too?
Something is changing between us. It’s growing and turning into something I’ve always wanted from Dylan but have been too afraid to chase.
Or maybe the last few days are finally catching up to us, and we’re sleep-deprived, stressed, and not thinking clearly. I could be feeling something that’s not really there.
But when I look at Dylan across the dining table, at his weary brown eyes that no longer stare at me in disgust but something softer, I know without a doubt my feelings for him are real.
Maybe I should do what my family has wanted me to do for years. I think it’s time to settle down with someone. And I want that someone to be Dylan. But now is definitely not the time to entertain those ideas.