Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“No fucking loss,” Reynolds said with a shrug and a grin. “At least we don’t reflect the sun when we take off our clothes.”
“Crew, you’re not concerned that the prospects working at the club the night you came to see me dance might recognize Pencil Deck?” Finn thought it was a dumb idea then, but now that move might make Decker going undercover as a Demon prospect even riskier.
“I considered that.”
“I doubt they will,” Decker said, unfazed. “They’ve proven time and time again they’re not the best and brightest. Plus, once I grow out my hair and beard, change my wardrobe and adopt the way they speak, I should have no trouble pulling it off.”
Finn wasn’t so sure of that.
Wilder’s voice came from the speaker phone. “Fletch and I can give you some tips for blending in, if you need them, Decker.”
“I’ll probably take you two up on that.”
“Better stop hitting the gym, too, brother. More beer, less reps.” Rez said exactly what Finn was thinking.
“How’s that going to work out with Val?” Finn asked the single “father.”
“My mother agreed to continue to watch her until I find a live-in nanny. But I need to find one soon. She can’t keep up with an active four-year-old all day, every day. My girl’s too much.”
Rez snorted. “If you weren’t such a fucking cheap-ass, you would’ve had someone full-time from the first day you took custody.”
“You know I don’t trust Val with just anyone. Anyway, this assignment’s a good push for me to finally find one.”
“Will she easily take to someone new?” Crew asked.
“I sure as fuck hope so since she won’t have a choice.”
“Good luck with that, brother,” the task force leader said, smacking Decker on the back. “Kids are both a blessing and a curse.”
“Yeah, just ask Miller,” Rez agreed with a laugh. “No matter how much he bitches about them, he keeps knocking up his wife.”
“All right, let’s get this meeting started,” Crew announced. “I’ve got better things to do than stare at your ugly mugs.”
“Sure you do.” Rez jerked his fist back and forth in the air and grunted.
Crew cocked an eyebrow. “Are you volunteering?”
“Got a magnifying glass and a tweezer?”
“What the hell is she doing there?” Powers’ tone of voice had all of them swallowing their next words and looking over at the only other Black member of the task force.
Ice slid down Finn’s spine since, instead of sitting at the table with the rest of them, the state trooper decided to watch the live camera feed of The Peach Pit while keeping one ear on the meeting. “Who?”
When Powers’ dark eyes found Finn, that sliver of ice quickly became an iceberg wedged in his gut. “Fuck, brother, it’s your girl. She’s in the back parking lot. I thought Saint fired her.”
“He did and even if he didn’t, she would’ve quit.” His heart thumped heavily at the idea of Mel going back to the club by herself. And without telling him. “What’s she doing?”
“You might want to come see.”
Jesus Christ, did he, though? His temper was already spiking at the thought of Mel putting herself in danger. Again.
Crew jumped out of his seat and joined Powers at the desk. “Fucking motherfucker.”
Fuuuuuuck.
Finn quickly followed, shoving Crew out of the way so he could evaluate the situation himself. He leaned in closer and squinted at the monitor.
Even though Powers had expanded the back lot’s camera feed to full screen, the man had a damn good eye. Finn slept with Mel every night and wouldn’t have recognized her right away with the way she was dressed.
For fuck’s sake, she had taken a page right out of his playbook by wearing one of his plain hooded sweatshirts. However, she also wore a long overcoat, that not only hid her womanly curves, it swallowed her whole, making her appear even tinier than she was in reality. A baseball cap pulled low, with the hood pulled over it, hid her blonde mane. Of course she finished off the I’m-about-to-pull-some-shit outfit with dark sunglasses, baggy jeans and sneakers.
Crew crowded behind him, pointing at the monitor. “Do you want to get your woman the fuck out of there? Is she trying to fuck up our investigation?”
He sighed. “I have no fucking clue what she’s doing.”
“Well, find the fuck out,” Crew ordered, “before we have to send Uniontown over there again to rescue her ass.”
Finn ground his teeth together as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and quickly dialed her number.
Everyone on the third floor now hovered behind Finn and Powers. And every damn one of them watched Mel pull her phone out of a coat pocket and glance at the screen.
“Pick up the damn phone!” he yelled, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly they ached as badly as his clenched teeth.
“What the fuck?” Crew shouted as Mel ignored his call and tucked the phone back away.