It’s taken control I didn’t think I had not to beat the shit out of Tex. I watched as he and Allora talked in the reception area, with her growing increasingly more annoyed. Then I nearly pounded his face in when he opened his mouth in the conference room. The idea that she was somehow responsible for what happened doesn’t sit right with me.
Even before this, something about the guy was rubbing me the wrong way.
He’s tall but not as tall as I am, probably around six one, with slicked back dark hair and a goatee that hangs a little too long. His eyes are light but deep-set, making him look annoyed all the time. Or maybe that’s just how he is. And his whole Texas persona is ridiculous. This is California and from what Allora told me, he moved away from Texas when he was thirteen.
I don’t understand the longhorns tattooed on his arms or the cowboy boots he wears, even though everyone else in the club wears boots. Like he’s trying too hard to hang on to rootsthat he left as a child. Or maybe I’m just jealous of his previous relationship with Allora.
Either way, I don’t get a good feeling about him and intend to do a deep dive on him the first chance I get.
In the meantime, I have to sit here, waiting for Silver to get back and wondering if Allora is okay. I know Luna is out there and though she’s not a bodyguard, she’s a security expert who wouldn’t hesitate to let us know there was a problem. She should’ve been in the meeting with us, but Daniil said she’s working on something important so she’s out there instead.
Silver comes in a minute later, and Allora follows after a few seconds.
Our eyes meet across the room, and I know she’s been crying.
I’m going to hurt the next person who makes her cry. I don’t even care if it’s her dad. And to my surprise and delight, she sinks down next to me this time, instead of next to her father like before. I want to lift my middle finger in Tex’s direction but figure that’ll only make things harder on her, so I restrain myself.
I do, however, spread my legs just enough so that the side of one of my thighs presses against hers. She doesn’t look at me, but I note the faint smile playing on her lips. I hope she knows I have her back. And any other parts she wants to share.
The meeting goes long, with Silver and Daniil going back and forth about the intel they’ve collected. The truth is, when it’s all said and done, no one knows anything concrete. Most of what we know is conjecture. We have a good idea what they’re doing, and some semblance of an idea of how they’re doing it and to whom, but we don’t know who’s in charge, where they’re based, or what happens to the victims. We can only guess.
And I don’t like guessing.
The trouble starts again when Daniil mentions the security plan for the trip to Denver. Despite not planning to tell him,someone must have mentioned it and now it’s turning into a big deal.
“She is not going to Denver!” Tex jumps to his feet, slamming both hands down on the table.
“Sit down.” Silver gives him a look that brooks no argument, and Tex does as he’s told, but it obviously costs him.
“We are no closer to catching these guys than we were a week ago,” Daniil continues patiently. “And Allora can’t just stay in hiding for the rest of her life. If nothing else, this portrays the illusion that she’s gone back to her life. Assuming they’re still watching, they’re going to think she’s an easy target. It might draw them out. And the goal is to take at least one of them alive.”
“Guys like that will never talk,” Tex mutters.
“Oh, they’ll talk,” Silver says, a gleam in his eyes. “They chose the wrong guy’s daughter.”
“I’m sending Grim and Chaos with her to Denver,” Daniil continues like they didn’t interrupt. “I’m also going to have my wife fly them there in our helicopter instead of flying commercial.”
“Helicopter?” Silver looks impressed.
“Your wife is a pilot?” Tex demands at the same time.
Daniil chuckles. “Don’t let her pregnant belly fool you. She was a badass marine who did two tours in the Middle East, and she can still kick ass and take names in retirement.”
“You’re going to let your pregnant wife fly a helicopter?” Tex continues, like he can’t believe it.
Daniil just laughs. “Well, first of all, I don’tletmy wife do anything—she has a mind of her own. And this was her idea. We just bought the helicopter and she’s been dying to try it out on a longer trip, so why not now?”
Tex looks like he’s going to say something but Silver gives him a look meant to shut him up and it seems to work.
I didn’t know Courtney was going to fly us to Denver, but that’s pretty cool.
“Isn’t it better if she stays in hiding for now?” Tex asks, looking at Silver.
“I’mnotgoing to stay in hiding,” Allora interjects firmly.
“Isn’t it better than not living at all?” he counters.
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know, but there’s no point in being alive if you’re not actually enjoying life. And I have to work. This kidnapping already cost me a lot of money and that doesn’t even include what it’s going to take to fix up the damage to my condo. No, I’m going back to work. I’ll be as safe as possible, but those assholes who took me don’t get to control anything else.”
