Page 22 of Last Man Standing

He pulls away from her and stalks my way, his chest swelling with adrenaline and his bad attitude bubbling to the surface.

Just like I knew it would.

Just like his sister’s does when she’s angry.

Castros have trigger tempers.

“On what fuckin’ planet do you think you get to say where Nova goes?”

“This fuckin’ planet. She’s my code keeper, and I already told you I’m wherever she is until I feel good about her memorizing numbers she had no business memorizing. That makes her my mark, and I know you’re smart enough to understand I’m sticking like Velcro.”

“You don’t decide where she goes!”

“I didn’t. I’m deciding where I go. You wanna put her on a plane to Colorado? My ass is gonna be sitting right beside her. Be sure to book business class, bitch. Those cheap ass seats in the back are way too small for a man of my size.”

“Jameson—”

“But I still say taking Jones’ mark right to his doorstep is rookie shit. Those of us with a brain know not to keep keys and locks together.”

“So what do you propose I do?” he booms. “Tie her to a tree and hope she’s still here when we get back?”

“Naw.” Check. And mate. “You want me to back off of Nova? To trust you while she’s out of my sight?” I bring my eyes around to a terrified Scarlett and counter her fear with a taunting smirk. “I’ll accept a clean trade.”

Her cheeks drain impossibly pale.

“Nova for Scarlett. That’s keeping the key from the lock, she’ll be safe right here with me, and since I know you’ll want her back…” I bring my smiling gaze back to a not smiling Lincoln. “I figure you’ll conduct yourself accordingly with my code keeper over there.”

Yeah.

No.

Castro doesn’t like that.

“Listen here, motherfucker!”

9

SCARLETT

DIVIDE AND…

“Idon’t know about this, Linc.” I grab his door and stumble forward as he slides in and tugs it shut. As he winds the window down and stares out at me, I peek inside and consider puking straight into his lap. “This is a really crappy plan.”

“You know he’s right.” While Nova climbs in on the passenger side, closing her door and exhaling a sad sigh, Linc places his hand atop mine, stroking my wrist with the pad of his thumb. “Keeping the key and the lock separate is 101, Little Girl. Taking you with me is dangerous.”

“No. Making me stay here with him?” I try so hard to ignore a smug Sebastion on the porch, his arms folded and his eyes devilishly arrogant. “That’s dangerous.”

“If I can’t be with you, if I can’t be the one protecting you, then he is the next best person. You know it, Scar. I know it.”

“But—”

“His entire life has been about protecting whoever he was assigned to protect. He’s annoying, but he’s the best damn soldier I could leave you with.”

“But he doesn’t even like me,” I groan. “As soon as you drive away, he’ll probably kill me and bury me in the yard, then he’ll be on the next flight to Colorado, since he’s clearly obsessed with Nova.” Desperate, I look past Linc and stop on her. “He hurt you, Nov. You told me yourself. Even though he was friends with your brother, he still hurt you. Imagine what he’ll do to me.”

“Just stay out of his way.” Linc’s voice crackles with grief. With worry. With nerves. Because we both know my fears are valid. “Put the stick down and hang out in your room. Lock the door and stay put. He has to piss sometime, so when he’s doing that, you sneak into the kitchen and get food.”

“So, prison?” I growl. “Really?”