When he catches me staring at him, he shows me his damn dimple. “What are you thinking?”
Face heated, I discard the image of his talented tongue bringing me to record-breaking highs and lie. “Uh… Do you always carry around that much cash?”
He chuckles. “Only recently. By the way, you did well back there.”
In my experience, Axel seldom doles out praise, which makes it all the more extraordinary.
My insides turn all warm and fuzzy. “All I did was tag along but thank you for saying so.”
“You can show your appreciation by confessing.” The about-face causes my brain to short-circuit, and I struggle for a plausible response.
“I-I knew H-Henry was up to something, and I should’ve told C-Callie.”
While I congratulate myself on telling the truth, Beyoncé huffs in my ear.Giiirrl, you damn well need to start talkin’. You are under a mile-high pile ofshit.
Unaware I have a smartass shoulder angel rooting for him, Wulf glances across the cup holder. “Can you be a little bit more specific?”
“Well… for some time now, Henry has avoided the office. When he does come in, he won’t let me look over his shoulder. Also, coders are supposed to check in their work nightly, and he hasn’t done so for weeks.” I pray my friend will forgive me for ratting him out. My Abigail’s life is at stake. Once she’s safe, I promise myself to make everything right.
“That’s it?” Mouth tight, he stops at a red light and uses the opportunity to glare at me.
Perhaps he’s angry or disappointed, or stressed or… Fuck. Having lost Doctor Jones’ emotional reader, I can’t be sure.
While I curse my disability, Axel senses my frustration and softens his tone. “Tell me about your work.”
Back in my comfort zone, I yak all about the hardware, the software, and the power supplies. “That’s our biggest obstacle.We can store enough energy for one jolt, but it takes hours to recharge. It’s not practical.”This part is a lie, but Callie has insisted we use the story.
Wulf, more astute than most, fires off more questions. “What about the RF rifles? They can shoot continuously for ten minutes.”
“Their jamming signals barely resemble our prototypes. We use multiple frequencies at various levels. Microwaves heat, while others damage the nervous system.”
By the time we pull up to my ex’s rental house, I’m hoarse from talking nonstop. Eager to see my daughter, I jump from the car and almost collapse on my foot, which has fallen asleep.
While I hobble to the front door, Axel points down the sidewalk toward the beach. “There they are.”
My little girl skips along in her bathing suit, her perfect hand holding a pink pail. My ex, walking beside her in his designer swim trunks and shades, wears a bored expression.
It changes to a scowl the moment Abbie races into my arms. “Mommy!”
Squatting on my heels, I hug her and count her chubby fingers. I know it’s stupid, but the video rang too true for me.
A sudden pain in my upper arm makes me flinch. Using a vice-like grip, Farid pulls me to my feet. Tomorrow, I will no doubt have five distinct purple bruises.
Now, face to face, the abusive asshat hisses. “What are you doing here?”
Before I can answer, Axel shoves a badge in Farid’s face. “FBI. Sir, please step away from Doctor McGee.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me in front of my kid?” His sneer gives me the freakin' willies. What I wouldn’t give to slap it off his face.
“I could arrest you for assault. Take your hands off her.” When Wulf’s blue eyes narrow toward my bruised bicep, Farid chuckles nervously and lets go.
Not wanting Abbie to see me cry, I kneel near her bucket. “Did you find shells, honey?”
“Uh-huh.” Two top teeth missing, she smiles and holds forth blue mussel wings. “They’re not broken.”
“They’re beautiful, sweetie.” It breaks my heart to have missed these precious moments at the beach.
Unaware of my tears, my kid scratches her bikini bottom. “I have sand up my butt crack.”
