Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Nah,” casually slips out of me as he shuts the door behind him with all of us inside. “I don’t drink at the office.”
“Really?” Harvey asks, genuine intrigue planting itself on his face. “Never?”
Slater grips my hand tighter upon my answering. “Nope.”
“And why not?” His hands find their way to his pants pockets. “It’s not against protocol for certain positions.” A small head bounce is slid between statements. “It’s actually expected and at other times encouraged.”
“I think it’s time to switch departments,” Blu good naturedly goads and rests his back against the blockade.
“Much like not being able to whip up dessert around evaluating data, I can’t exactly sip a glass of Torrez and type out a coherent explanation for why an operative with a pattern of authoritative issues isn’t the best fit for an assignment that requires him to infiltrate an operation by playing a subservient role.”
“You don’t sip Torrez,” my boyfriend jovially argues. “You take shots of it. Every. Time.”
“Okay, but I could sip it.”
“Can’t.”
“Can.”
“Fine then. Won’t.”
“Exactly.” I smugly smirk. “Won’t and can’t are too very different things, Cowboy.”
“And Torrez is…?” Our boss cautiously asks.
“Tequila,” we reply in tandem.
“Ah,” Harvey slowly nods his comprehension, “I should’ve known after our bad tequila conversation earlier.”
“There’s no such thing as bad tequila,” Slater swiftly states in such a way I can’t help but smile. “Only cheap tequila.”
See.
Meant for each other.
Harvey presses his lips tightly together, briefly meets my gaze, and delivers me a small shrug as if wordlessly echoing the silent statement I just made.
Maybe it’s easy for him to see that now.
Hell, maybe it’s easier for me too.
The individual we are all responsible for answering to redirects his focus to the man who is gently stroking my thumb with his. “Status report?”
“Each of the floors previously mentioned have been swept and are secure. Pairs are still in position at all of the entry and exit points.”
“Excellent.”
“Yi’s condition is stable with no surgery required; however, he has to wear a brace for what the doctor is predictin’ to be months and is advised to be severely medicated to withstand the amount of pain he’s currently going through. His wife arrived about twenty minutes ago and should be able to take him home in the next couple of hours accordin’ to Medical.”
“I’ll stop by there next,” Harvey professionally declares. “I’ll extend my condolences to the situation, express our gratitude for his service, and inform them that all medical expenses are covered by the company as well as three months of his temporary leave under the hazard pay clause.”
“Six,” Slater smoothly corrects from beside me.
There’s no reluctance for our boss to scoff. “Pardon?”
“It’s six months for those that are injured durin’ an active assignment.”
“Which he wasn’t.”
“Technically, he was,” I meekly remind. “Him being assigned to my security detail by my security detail while my security detail was executing a different leg of the mission transfers him from daytime floor security to active security thereby moving his hazard pay allowance.”
“You know I don’t think you said security enough,” Blu verbally jabs, bouncy light words immediately receiving an eye roll.
Rather than pull rank or counter that he’ll find a way around that, Harvey simply surrenders. “Six months it is then.” Holding Slater’s stare occurs while further investigating, “And the prisoner?”
“Successfully interrogated.”
“Disposed of?”
“Affirmative.”
Context clues are screaming like Linkin Park that that’s how he got those new bruises.
Swallowing down the urge to verify is followed by me asking, “Does this mean I need to stop digging for answers? That you now know who wants me dead?”
“Negative.” His grip noticeably tightens. “You should continue as is for the time bein’, and unfortunately, due to the extensive amount of information the attacker had regardin’ who to watch out for, who to avoid, when to strike, going forward we will no longer inform others of your mandatory comings and goings. Not security. Not your secretary.” He swings his glare to the man he has no reason to ever be jealous of. “Not even you, Seventeen.”
“Agreed.”
Surprise for the second time in such a short period of time, has my jaw falling to the ground in tandem with Slater’s eyebrows soaring to the sky. “No argument?”
“No.” In spite of the rigid edges of his words, they land sturdily at his own feet. “You have repeatedly demonstrated not only your knowledge and understanding of protocols, but your willingness and devotion to doing whatever’s best for the client. That you are more than capable of putting them and their safety first.” It’s his turn to choke down the apprehension in his throat. “There’s no need for me to further question your calls on this assignment.”
Logically, I know my mouth can’t drop any lower, yet I swear it does.
“Yup,” Blu quietly interjects, “you two were definitely day drinking in here.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, sir, because for the next step of this operation we’ll be usin’ Arley as bait.”