Weisser gestured at the stacks of bearer bonds. “She will when I show her the goddamned bribe sitting right here on my desk.”
This is it. Please.
“A bribe that you don’t seem to want to take. I want six percent,” Wren said coolly, despite the fear sweat dripping down her back.
Weisser snorted. He picked up one of the stacks and brandished it at her. “Oh, I will takethismoney, and then I will take the rest of it from you, and you will get nothing.”
“Soup, now, over.” she said calmly. Then she stepped out of the stilettos.
“What’s now over?” Weisser asked. “Besides you?”
“Scrubs, Lion, hit the floor and roll to the wall, over!”
Wren dropped like a stone and rolled.
Weisser’s look of triumph turned to confusion.
“What are you?—”
The door burst open. Uniformed officers flooded the room, guns drawn.
“Police! Step away from her! Hands where I can see them!”
Wren watched as Weisser froze. The stack of worthless paper slipped from his fingers as his face drained of color. An officer grabbed him and turned him around to handcuff him.
Then Elias was there, sweeping her up and carrying her out the office and into the hall where she caught a glimpse of Gina standing right outside the door, where she’d had Wren’s back the whole time. Elias sprinted as he carried her down the hall, through the great room, and back out into fresh air as the police took over. He didn’t set her back on her feet until they were at the Watchdog SUV, now parked down the street and out of the way.
Elias cupped her face in his hands, his eyes searching for any injuries.
“I’m fine, Lion. I’m not hurt. I’m okay. You kept me safe.”
He shook his head, dismissing his part. “My God, baby. That was fucking brilliant in there.”
“Told you she was a natural.” Gina, looking like Gina now that she’d removed the prosthetics, seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Must be why they call her Spooky.
“And great teamwork, Lion. Pleasure working with you.” She looked around until she spotted Lachlan, then left them to themselves.
Elias didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the situation. He cupped her face again, and proceeded to kiss her down to her soul.
TWENTY-ONE
Two months later
Elias watchedas April’s son, Kevin dashed around like a mini-tornado, weaving through a sea of adults gathered at Gina and Lachlan’s housewarming party. Poor April was run ragged chasing after him, tossing out apology after apology as guests lifted their drinks and dodged out of the way. No one was upset about it—Kevin was a cute kid, just rambunctious—but that didn’t seem to matter to April, judging by the mortified expression on her face.
“Kevin, stop running!” she pleaded.
“I’m looking for Shane so we can play with the dogs!” he yelled back as he whizzed past Gina.
“Hold this for me, please.” Wren handed him her virgin Bloody Mary. She was working with Chase later so she wasn’t drinking. Another house through the trees a few acres away was about to go on the market and Chase was the sellers’ agent. He’d become the neighborhood’s unofficial Realtor after Gina and Lach paid cash for the house near Bear and Ellie’s place.
Wren cupped her hands around her mouth. “Hey, Kevin!” she shouted. “Come here, I want to show you something.”
Kevin barely acknowledged her.
“I guess you don’t want to see my drone.”
