Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Like, what the fuck? Was I not interesting enough?
I blew out a breath and patted my stomach. I’d eaten too much again.
“I’m so fucking full.” Roe leaned back in his seat and popped the top button on his jeans.
“Me too,” I said. “Why didn’t you stop me? Why you gotta order so damn much all the time?”
“Are you a child?” he retorted. “Set your own fucking limits, man.”
That was difficult when the food was so good.
Fuck him.
“You’re unhelpful,” I yawned.
“Are you sure you two aren’t brothers?” Adrien was entertained.
Jake chuckled. “I’ve learned to see the upsides. When the Finlays get together, it’s chaos—but it gets so quiet when they say goodbye. Roe’s gonna be all cuddly and tired when y’all’ve left.”
Relatable. It was possible we liked to rile one another up in my family.
Adrien was about to respond when his phone went off with an incoming call. “Excuse me—I thought I put it on silent.” He furrowed his brow, and I saw Elliott’s name on the display.
“Take it,” I said.
I totally knew what it was about.
“I’ll be right back.” Adrien excused himself and headed inside.
I smiled to myself and reached for my soda.
“Look atchu,” Roe chuckled drowsily. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“’Cause I’ve never felt this way before.” I shrugged. “And it’s been an awesome day full of good news.”
“Care to share?” Jake asked.
“It’s about the son of a bitch Adrien’s been tryna find,” I said. I’d shared the basics with them already, so they knew what was going on with Elliott and Joel’s boys. “This is some Hollywood shit for ya—the guy doesn’t exist.”
Roe raised his brows.
“I mean under that name,” I clarified. “Keith Davis is a fraud whose real name is Kenneth Duncan, and he’s already in prison for two murders. He ain’t getting out.” The fucker had been hella affiliated, which we hadn’t known. He’d been trying to become an official member of more than one cartel, but mostly the Blancos.
Jake let out a low whistle.
“Jesus.” Roe sat up straighter. “No wonder he was hard to find.”
Word. Adrien had vented to Emerson, who’d reached out to Willow. Two days later, the job was done. It was funny, really. Months of frustration for my man and his unit, and then one woman works her hacking magic—possibly breaking a law or two—and that was that.
“It’ll be easier for your boss to adopt the kids now, right?” Roe asked.
“We hope so.” I bobbed my head. “Adrien seems confident. It’s pretty much protocol to avoid foster kids leaving their foster parents if the situation’s good, so…” Yeah. I was happy for Elliott—and Joel, who was just as invested and attached as the boss. He’d shown that today when he’d driven all the way up to our headquarters.
Adrien had stopped by to share the news with us at work, and Elliott had called Joel. An hour later, my man had relayed the news once more to Joel, and he’d been all kinds of sweet. Super relieved. And a little mushy.
“And right now…” I looked over my shoulder, seeing Adrien in the living room. “I think Elliott is offering Adrien a job.”
“Oh yeah?” Roe slipped his hand into Jake’s.
I nodded and planted an ankle across my knee. “Elliott was gonna ask him last week, but he wanted to talk to me first—make sure I was comfortable with it. But I had the worst fucking client for a thankfully temporary gig, just a few work trips up and down the coast. So we talked today instead, and I’m like, working with my man? Sign me the fuck up. We make an awesome team.”
Granted, Adrien would be at the office most of the time, whereas I worked security for clients. But still. We’d see each other all the time for briefings and meetings.
If he accepted—and he’d better.
Roe grinned and glanced at Jake. “How many awful clients has he told us about? I feel like it could be a future Off Topic episode.”
I laughed. “Sign me up for that too.” I loved their podcast. They were funny. “You’ve had plenty of guests on over the years, haven’t you? I’d make an excellent addition.”
Jake smiled, and it was kind of pensive. “The funny thing is, the more we’ve heard about your boss’s partner, the more convinced I am that he’s been one of those guests.”
Who, Joel?
“Oh yeah, what’s Joel’s last name?” Roe asked.
“Hayward,” I answered.
The two exchanged a look and grinned.
“Yup, that’s him,” Jake chuckled. “He joined us once or twice back when we filmed Currahee. He talked about the Coast Guard.”
Oh my God, that was too funny. I had to tell Joel that Roe and I—
“Sorry about that.” Adrien came back, and I could not drop a topic faster. I sat up straighter in my seat and faced him with an expectant Well? expression.
Take the job, take the job, take the job.