She started to turn the car around, noticing there were no other cars in the drive. Her dad’s and mom’s were in the garage, but usually there were at least a couple parked out front.
“She doesn’t have a favorite way,” Ben said quickly.
“Kenzie is an afar assassin. She does it the classic way. With a long-range rifle from three-hundred feet away,” her father explained.
Ben harrumphed from the backseat. There was a lot of judgment in that throat clearing.
This was not the way she’d expected the morning to go. She’d kind of thought it would be all sexy and cuddly, with brief respites where they ate muffins and had some coffee.
She hadn’t even gotten a single cup since fucking Sosa had taken the last one claiming no caffeine was in her Black Widow training jail or some shit.
“Does someone want to explain why we’re bringing her to the office?” She’d gotten the call way too early. She should have ignored it or turned off her cell. She could be macking down on Ben right now. “Also, why me? Kala lives closer. Or Seth could have given you a ride.”
They’d decided to not let her dad drive in case someone tried to blow up his car again since there were apparently a whole lot moreSosas out there.
A bright smile hit Sosa’s face. “Your brother is delight. He comes this morning and has the breaking fast with us. We are not allow this in the training house and never have beautiful men around. They all look like pig.”
Kenzie felt her eyes roll completely of their own accord. Because her eyes and her soul were in synch, and her brother was a manwhore. “Tell me he didn’t already sleep with her.” A thought hit her. They wouldn’t. “Please tell me you didn’t set my brother on her to get intel. Did you not hear the whole heart stabbing thing?”
Her dad waved that off. “Your brother doesn’t have a heart. Or a brain, for that matter. That kid is all penis. I was once weirdly proud of that. Careful what you wish for. And no. Seth came by this morning to pick up Travis so they could get what they need for the cabin. His car’s in the shop. Strangely, someone slashed his tires.”
Sosa shrugged. “I did not know how delightful Travis is, too, though not as much fun as Seth since he has child. He should wear the condom. Honest? I thought his car would be yours. It’s not very…uhm…it is not car of young, hot person, so I think it is yours.”
Well, she’d figured out how to deal with Ian Taggart.
Who laughed long and hard. “They taught her all the best insults. I like her.”
Sosa sobered slightly. “They did not, actually. They teach me to always be sweet. I don’t like to be sweet. As to why you have to drive, the other Bratz doll tells Father she’s busy with husband, and he did not wish to hear. She tells him to call you. When she could get words out…”
“I failed on every level as a father,” her dad grumbled.
Had her twin picked up the call mid-bang? Why hadn’t she thought of that? It was brilliant. Completely would throw off…wait… “What did you call me?”
“Oh, I call you…” She seemed to think for a moment. “You see in our business when very nice, attractive man comes on to well, to Bratz doll, we assume he’s trying to get information from her. We call this themedovaya lovushka.”
Honey pot. But that wasn’t the problem.
Kenzie felt her blood begin to simmer. “Bratz doll?”
“Sweetie, I mean…” her dad said with a shrug as though it was all amusing.
She was only wearing the thigh-high leather boots with a mini skirt because they were comfortable. She’d kicked many an ass in this outfit. It did not have to be all camo and athleisure wear.
“I am not a Bratz doll. I’m an intelligent and highly professional Barbie, obviously,” Kenzie argued. Did this woman believe she hadn’t taken every “what doll am I” quiz on the Internet? Also, she was obviously the good twin fromSweet Valley High. Mostly. Elizabeth, but with a violent streak. “I’m Spy Barbie. I don’t think Bratz dolls had careers.”
“Oh, they have work. Lots of work with many men,” Sosa said under her breath.
“What doesmedovaya lovushkamean?” Ben asked. “Sorry. I’m the only one here who doesn’t speak Russian.”
Her dad’s hands clapped together like he was enjoying the chaos. Which he probably was. Her father was often compared to the dude who played Thor inMarvelmovies, but he was actually Loki. He was god of impish chaos. “That’s Russian for honey pot, buddy. I do believe our gentle Sosa is trying to imply you’re fucking my daughter for intel. Or was it the other way around, because I might be able to live with that.”
Ben was not using her.
Except she was kind of worried he was. Or that he was at the very least trying to get her out of his system. The night before had been beautiful and soul moving for her. But there was still a careful distance between them.
He would always pick Huisman. Always.
She wasn’t lowering herself to Sosa’s level. Nope. She knew exactly what Sosa was doing. The Russian was needling her to see what she could get. To control whatever she could. The young Russian had figured out Ian Taggart responded to sarcasm and brutal honesty. She was playing to Ben’s ego with the attractive and nice man comments. She was poking Kenzie to get the higher ground, so Kenzie wasn’t going to…
