Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Only one pair.
She had to work him if she was going to get Tasha out of this alive. “Because she’s a kid. Give her a break. You’ve been working her over for how long now?”
“Eighteen months. Ever since I realized I was going to have to change plans and marry that cypher I found. She was dumb as dirt but well connected, and her father owed me. I had to make sure Beck didn’t know where you were. I had to make sure there wasn’t any way we could still be together. And as for Tasha, we were all kids once.” Levi moved in. “It’s better to understand the world is shit now and that Mommy and Daddy only love you while you’re perfect. Tasha gets that. She knows the world is shit and she can’t trust anyone now.”
“My dad is going to kill you,” Tasha said with a quavering breath.
Levi sneered her way. “Your dad is dead. Taggart isn’t your father. All you are to Ian Taggart is an obligation. He took you in because he fucked up and got your real dad killed. He was a prick, too. The stories I could tell you about Sasha, the traitor.”
She took a deep breath. It made her sick, but she had to do it. She had to convince him she wanted to go with him. “Levi, let Tasha go and I’ll be a good girl.”
He studied her for a moment, his eyes going up and down her body. “I don’t think you have a weapon on you. You’re out of practice.”
“I haven’t run an op in years, but I know when to quit, and you were right about Beck. He’s never going to care about me.” She glanced over to the two men edging closer and closer and really wished a little of the old Solo had come back. He was right. She wasn’t carrying a weapon. “He hasn’t forgiven me. All he cares about is his son.”
A brow cocked over Levi’s eyes. “I’m supposed to believe you don’t care about your son.”
She prayed Roman never had to know what she was about to say. “He’s a good kid, but do you honestly think I’m cut out to be a mommy? Do you have any idea how boring the last seven years have been?”
They hadn’t. She’d needed them to prove to her what she wanted. A quiet life filled with love and family and people who did the right thing because the world was good for them. Because they worked hard to make it good. People who didn’t hide behind patriotism to fuel the greed of a few. There were good people working in intelligence, but she couldn’t do it anymore because they always had to fight the faction the Levis of the world aligned themselves with.
“I don’t know if I believe you.” But there was a hesitation in his tone. He wanted to believe her. His sick mind wanted to believe he would get everything he desired.
“Let Tasha go and I’ll prove it to you.” She used her husky voice, the one she dragged out when she needed to pretend she wanted some dumbass so he would give her information.
Yeah, she hated that part, too.
“So I’m supposed to believe that you want me now.”
“I want out, Levi. Beck has it in his head that I should be his housewife. I’m supposed to take some desk job at McKay-Taggart and hand over everything to him. So if getting out of that means going with you, then I’ll give it a try. He’s holding Ezra over my head.”
“Yes, that wasn’t well done of you.” Levi nodded. “Boys, take the kid out.”
“No!”
She tried to shield Tasha but the man on the left was a good shot. He managed to avoid Kim altogether. He struck Tasha in the right thigh.
With a dart.
Tasha slumped to the ground. God, she hoped they had the dosage right.
“I’m not stupid. Killing Tag’s daughter would irritate him. She’ll take a nap and maybe she’ll learn a lesson,” Levi said, looking down at the teen. “Maybe Tag will be too busy dealing with his fucked-up adopted mess to look for me. Now, I believe you said something about wanting to come along.”
Could she get close enough to fight him for the gun?
“Come on. We’ve got a car waiting about half a mile from here. I want to get on the road before they find the girl. She’ll cost them some time.” Levi gripped her elbow and pulled her close.
“Where are we going?” She forced herself to stumble a bit to slow them down.
Levi merely pulled her along. “I’ve got a safe house in the Philippines no one knows about. And luckily, now I have your money. We’re going to clear your accounts out so we have some working capital. I have to pay these guys. I don’t get to call up a Special Ops teams anymore. You know I’m really going to miss the perks.”