Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Again, my boyfriend’s not a monster.
He’s just not afraid to become one.
“This isn’t over,” Northwood declares at the same time he snatches the document away from Garcia who’s tauntingly displaying it. “We’ll be back.”
“I hope that wasn’t a threat towards me or any of my clients, Detective.” His head tilts in a challenging fashion. “I’m the last person The DA wants to see in a courtroom again this soon.”
He huffs, grumbles, and turns sharply on his heels to finish his trek to his vehicle.
The four of us linger outside in silence, watching them speed off, inevitably giving the entire fucking town something to talk about.
Honestly would be surprised if something about this doesn’t end up in the weekly newsletter.
Once they’ve made what Garcia considers to be a safe distance from us, he turns to Nolan and commands. “I’ve got some equipment in my trunk you can use to scan for listening devices. Do not say a word in the garage, your apartment, or your vehicle until we’ve confirmed they’re clear. We’ll also play music for an additional counter surveillance measure. Understood?”
Fucking…hell.
Is he being roadster real right now?
Was all this shit just a big production to drop a few of those around?
Hear what it is we’re really saying and doing behind closed doors?
And why can’t I ignore the revving in my gut that says this is someway, somehow connected to the woman doing her best to stop trembling beside me?
Am I wrong?
Am I fucked up for hoping that I am?
Post Nolan nodding his comprehension, Garcia whips his attention over to me. “Got a dollar?”
I thoughtlessly tilt my head in confusion. “Huh?”
“Do. You. Have. A. Dollar?” he repeats slower with his eyebrows arched towards the early morning sky.
“Kid,” Nolan calls on his heels forcing me to cut my gaze to him, “give the man a dollar.”
Meeting his firm and unpredicted command is quickly done.
Once it is, Garcia nods. “Good. Now, you’re officially my client, Woods, and whatever is said next falls within the confines of confidentiality.”
It’s impossible not to grin at his cleverness.
I see why Nolan likes the dude.
Wait.
Does he…like this guy?
Is there…something between them?
Did they have…something before us?
Were they ever a…thing?
Is that why he was so fucked up over what he thought was me keeping my sexuality from him?
“Knock that shit off, Kid,” my boyfriend unexpectedly demands as he folds his arms across his chest. “It’s not like that.” Our eyes lock tightly onto one another’s for a moment. “It’s never been like that.”
His reassurance encourages me to sheepishly, nod yet Garcia to chortle. “And here I thought you were the possessive one, Nolan.”
Crimson creeps into my cheeks which only makes my boyfriend chuckle. “Oh, I am.” More redness colors my face prior to him adding, “Of them both.”
Garcia casually nods in acknowledgement. “Noted.”
His proclamation inspires our girl’s shoulders to finally untense.
Fuck, maybe that was the reminder she needed.
That regardless of what cops or anyone else throws at us, she’s still ours.
That we’re still gonna do whatever the fuck we need to do to protect her.
Us.
Our attorney shifts his attention to our girlfriend. “Dollar?”
Bunny’s headshake has Nolan motion his head at me to do exactly what it is I was gonna do anyway.
I extend the dollar to Garcia who simply uses his eyes to indicate she needs to be the one to hand it to him.
Giving the money to our woman leads to her handing it over to him. “And now you’re officially my client as well. I’m sure I’ll get your name in just a moment.” Garcia shoves the cash in one pocket and bluntly asks, “What the fuck is really going on here, Nolan?”
“They think I know where their missing witness is, plus The Kid – whose real name you now finally know – murdered someone in self-defense last night – they probably don’t know about that yet but will soon – and Rabbit – er – Bunny…Bunny Abernathy – although you might hear people call her Miss Ripley – is being stalked back and forth across the country by her mega rich, mega powerful, dickhead of an ex-boyfriend that I’m pretty sure has some sort of hand in all this shit.”
“Ohhhhhh,” Garcia casually nods a second time, “just a run of the mill clusterfuck.”
“Aren’t those your favorite?” my boyfriend lightly teases, sparking both a smirk of amusement and twinge of jealousy.
Is he…flirting?
He’s not fucking flirting.
Why do I feel like he’s flirting?
Bunny drops a hand onto my thigh and delivers a soothing rub of reassurance like she can sense another race of the wrong topic starting.
Right.
This is about us.
He got Garcia here to protect us.
To take care of us.
Jealousy can’t drive.
Probably shouldn’t even be allowed in the fucking vehicle.
Damn sure nowhere near the track.
“Let’s get the equipment out of my trunk and give everything a sweep before we continue, okay?”