I glanced back at him, relieved. He was doing his job dutifully. No funny business.
Then, he surprised me. He began running the backsides of his hands directly under my breasts.
They stopped.
I froze.
“Are you fucking joking?” Joe whispered, choking on a laugh.
“Like I knew you were going to be touching my private bits,” I hissed right back at him.
“I would suggest you step the fuck back or we’ll make good on our promise,” Cole stated in a death’s whisper. Brent and Cole hadn’t heard our commentary. All they could see was Joe’s hands directly under my breasts.
Joe wasn’t stupid. He stepped back, turning sideways so he could watch all of us. He raised an eyebrow at me and crossed his arms. He was going to make me tell them.
“Fine!” I huffed and reached under my shirt, and pulled out the switchblade I had hidden in my bra.
“Ember Marie Lerrus! What in the hell do you think you’re doin’ with that?” Brent exclaimed in shock, his twang back in action.
Cole cocked his head and considered the blade. Yep, laundry wasn’t all I had done today.
“Same thing you were,” I answered peevishly and tossed the small blade on the pile-o-goods. I glared at Joe. “I don’t have anything else on me, so do your worst.” I hesitated, glancing at his bulging arms. “Well, maybe not your worst, but I’ve got nothing else to hide.”
He smiled without teeth and it looked guanine. He stepped forward again when I raised my arms and he murmured softly, “There’s nothing wrong with a woman protecting herself.”
He finished up the search of my person with no added surprises. Next, he started digging through my bag. It was embarrassing. I had so much crap in the thing. And he started unloading it all after briefly rifling through it.
I was red faced already when he pulled out a tiny hand gun. I stared at it in shock. What in the heck? He didn’t even blink an eye, but added it to the heap. I was still gawking when he pulled out a knife that wasn’t so unlike my own. I blinked repeatedly.
“Those aren’t mine!” I finally found my voice, pointing at the load. “I swear!”
Joe grunted, throwing everything back inside my purse. “I know.” He tilted his head toward Brent and Cole. “They’re theirs.”
“What?” I asked riled and snapped my head toward the two men who were now staring at Joe baffled.
“How in the hell did he find them in that pit?” Cole mumbled in awe.
“I have no fucking clue.” Brent shook his head in shock. “It’s like the holy grail of hiding spots.” He bowed his head to Joe. “You’re good.”
Bas took that moment to speak up. “Not so good that he turned his back on you when he was searching Ember.” He looked disgusted. “The weapons were even behind him.”
Brent and Cole shot him a heated look.
Brent stated, “Bas, you’re new, but Christ man! Look around!”
Bas glanced around, as did I. We turned back to them, blinking like idiots.What was he talking about?
Joe chuckled as he handed me my purse. Huh. Evidently, we were missing something.
Cole rubbed his temples. “He needs so much work. How did we miss that?”
“I don’t know. But it can be fixed,” Brent griped. “Zane did his training. We’ll have Stash give him a refresher course.”
Cole grinned.
Bas went white.
Hmm. Wonder what that was about.
