When Jack swiveled in his seat to give her thelook, she simply met his glare with one of her own. I hadn’t been looking forward to seeing Jack or his ex, but anyone who could give the fierce Jack Randone shit and not flinch was okay in my book. They’d dated right after we split up when they were assigned as partners.
Rule number two in bounty hunting: never date your partner.
They’d broken up since then but were stuck hunting together. Sucked for Kenzie, I was sure.
I backed out and eased behind Tianna, who didn’t seem to understand the meaning of slow driving as she whipped around the corner onto the long drive out going twice too fast. Tires squealed and Haru whistled from the back seat. “At least she knows how to handle that beauty.”
I flicked my eyes to the rearview mirror. “I didn’t peg you for a car enthusiast.”
“I’m not,” he said, “but that’s no ‘car.’ That’s a thing of pure magnificence.”
Reo nodded his head in agreement. Well, the brothers never ceased to surprise.
“Who the hell are those two, anyway?” Jack asked. He’d never had much use for finesse.
Apparently he hadn’t changed much in the couple of years since we dated. I still remembered the night I called it quits and walked away, swearing to never get involved with a werewolf again. I’d finally had enough of Jack’s shit. Jack always put Jack first and Gran taught me better than to accept a man that did that.
I tossed an uncertain glance toward the Japanese warriors flanking Kenzie. There hadn’t been a chance to confer before we left. Either Jack or Kenzie had been around at all times, and the last thing I’d wanted was to make Jack suspicious. Behind the gruff don’t-give-a-shit appearance was one of the better bounty hunters the Agency had. He didn’t miss much, and I wasn’t ready to unload my kitsune shit on him yet.
Haru and Reo met my gaze but didn’t offer any guidance. How I handled this was entirely on me.
“They’re my protectors,” I finally said, because Jack could sniff out a lie with the best of them. I had to offer him at least some of the truth or he wouldn’t buy it. Besides, he knew me. We’d been together long enough for him to learn all my tells.
“And what are they supposed to protect you from?” he asked, eyes sweeping all over me, making me jumpy.
From ex-boyfriend werewolves like you who obviously aren’t as over things as I’d hoped. Why was he all up in my business?
I pinned my eyes on Tianna’s taillights and feigned nonchalance. “Funny story. It turns out that my dad is actually alive. He sent them to watch out for me after hearing about the siren attack.” I shrugged, hoping the shock factor of my news would be enough to distract Jack. “He probably feels guilty for having been a no-show in my life for so long.”
Jack whistled. “Damn, Evie. That’s some serious shit right there. He’s alive? After all this time?”
My shoulders softened a bit. Jack and I had been good friends before we’d let it go further, messing up everything. “Yeah, can you believe it? I only just found out. I haven’t even met him yet.”
Jack turned to stare ahead. “Wow. That’s really nuts.”
I nodded. “Sure as hell is. So Haru and Reo are here to watch my back while we track down this siren. They know what they’re doing. They won’t get in the way.”
Jack turned in his seat and checked them out. Finally, he gave them an appreciative nod.
“So what’s the deal with Cass?” Jack said. “His girl called him a snickerdoodle. Has he gone soft or something?”
“Actually, she called him hershnookum, and hell no he hasn’t gone soft. Would you like me to tell him you asked about him, though?” I said with a wicked smile.
Cass would kick his ass for even asking the question.
“You can’t entirely blame me for asking,” Jack said. “I show up and here you are playing house with the local alpha. And Cass has some giant roller-derby looking chick fawning all over him. It’s ... weird.”
I noticed Kenzie’s attention on me from the back and flicked my gaze toward her. When I smiled a bit at her, she shook her head and rolled her eyes as if to say, “Jack hasn’t changed a bit.”
What did I ever see in this asshole? Oh yeah, he was hot as fuck, and the sheets sizzled when we rolled in them.
“I mean, you’re knocked up,” Jack said. “How’d that happen?”
“You need me to explain the birds and the bees to you?” I said, because his serious questions were making me want to slam on the brakes, jump out of the car, and run away.
“Nah, I remember the steps to getting you there pretty damn well.” He winked.
Dick.
