Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Lately, yes. The Taggarts were absolutely a predatory clan. “That asshole was working for Julia, and I didn’t kill him. MaeBe did because he was about to kill me.”
“Did she do that before or after she busted your balls?” his mother asked.
He wanted to grab that phone and hang up on his mom, but he was fairly certain Charlotte knew where to kick a dude, too. “After. And they’re not busted.”
He could have used them on her the night before if he hadn’t been an idiot.
“So she saved your life even when she was mad,” his mother mused. “That’s interesting.”
“I thought so, too, Grace,” Charlotte said. “It’s a good sign.”
“Or MaeBe’s simply a nice woman who defends innocent… You’re right,” Ian agreed. “I’ve taught her well. She should be able to let an asshole die, so we have to work on the assumption that this relationship is salvageable.”
It was sad that he kind of clung to the fact that she hadn’t let him die. “Shouldn’t we get back to the debrief?”
Adam waved that off. “Drake’s father turned out to be working with The Consortium for years and years. We figured that out weeks ago. Julia killed him to save you. John Smith is probably back with her, and you’re looking for them both but you can’t involve the Agency because you don’t know who was working with the dad, so you need us. Cool. Let’s get back to how MaeBe took off your balls. What technique did she use? Did you need a doctor?”
“You figured out my father was evil weeks ago?” Drake was suddenly interested. “You could have given me a heads-up.”
“It was a theory,” Adam admitted, his face flushing slightly. Adam was shameable. “And one I wasn’t sure she was right about, so no, I wasn’t going to ruin your relationship with your dad and possibly wreck his reputation on a gamble. Now can we talk about the fact that Kyle managed to make it into MaeBe’s bedroom last night but got himself kicked to the curb.”
Not all that shameable.
“It was the hall not the curb.” Sometimes he understood why his uncle gave Adam such hell. “Did West talk? You know he spent some time in your memorial castle last night.”
Adam shrugged. “Because it’s comfortable. You know it wasn’t my dignity that died in there. It was my lower back pain, and I’m fine with it.”
“Wait,” his mother said over the phone. “Kyle slept with MaeBe?”
“There was no sleeping involved,” he corrected.
“Also, I don’t think there was sex involved,” Drake said. “Can I see the information you’ve collected on my father? We’re actually looking for something of his.”
“Did you talk to her?” Aunt Charlotte asked.
“No, I topped her and then she said we could sleep together and then I told her I was Kraven,” he explained. "I didn’t mean to tell her. It kind of came out.”
There was an audible group sigh.
“Dumbass,” his uncle groaned. “I told you that would get you in trouble. That is the kind of thing you tell her after you’ve saddled her with five kids and she can’t get away.”
“Oh, I could get away if I wanted to,” Charlotte said with a grin.
“Of course. I’ll get you what I have.” Adam was talking to Drake. He leaned over and said something about asking “her” if she was okay sharing the data.
“But she let you get close.” His mom’s tone had gone to that gentle place that let him know she was about to get emotional.
What the hell was he doing? He was supposed to be giving a short debrief and then moving on. He was not supposed to be telling his mother about his love life. He didn’t talk about his love life.
Except he did once. Once it felt normal and natural to talk to his brother about his relationships. Once he would have asked for his mom’s advice.
He was well on his way to finding those pieces of himself again, and Mae was the one who’d led him here.
And he was the one who’d shattered her utterly.
He turned to Adam. “You’re the one who encouraged her to do this.”
“She came to me asking for some advice. I was intrigued so yes, I helped her. She’s excellent. I mean, it was truly superlative work. Chelsea checked her work and we both agree that Mae’s fabulous,” Adam explained. “You know if you two break up, it’s going to be uncomfortable with you working at the same company. Mae can come down to MDWM.”
Ian pointed a finger Adam’s way. “Don’t you poach my employees.”
Kyle sat back and cursed inwardly. How deep had she gone? What had she found out? How much did she know?
How much did she blame him for?
His gut tightened, awash with shame and guilt and a whole bunch of other emotions he’d hoped he’d gotten over.