Page 70 of Her Intense Protector

She saw Brody and Zsa Zsa watching. “I told you, you’re not my car. I don’t want to give my fare to someone else, that’s not right.”

He bent down closer to her. “Miss Brooks, if you want Kevin Warner to stay alive, you’ll get into the car.”

The blood rushed from her head and she wobbled on her heels. He caught her elbow. She had an opportunity to resist. She could call for help. Brody was right there, but this guy knew Kevin’s name. She’d screwed up. She’d driven her car to the apartment, and now they had Kevin. She had to save him, she had to.

She got into the car.

20

“I can’t get a hold of Samantha, that’s strange,” Ezio remarked to whoever would listen.

Nic rolled his eyes. “All of you guys with your women problems. You should take a page out of my book, footloose and fancy-free.”

Water burst out of Leo’s mouth. “What did you just say, kid?”

Nic scowled at Leo. “You heard me.”

Ezio suppressed a smile. He knew what was coming. Nic, even though he was the youngest by four years to the next one on the team, hated being called a kid. He worked even harder to get rid of that moniker since his dad was a Naval captain and commanded hundreds of SEALs.

“Boy, I tasted your mother’s berry cobbler the other night. You are so tied to your mother’s apron strings, that—”

“Can it, Perez.” Lieutenant Max Hogan cut through whatever else was going to come out of Leo’s mouth.

“It’s okay, Lieutenant, I can handle it,” Nic protested.

“Never doubted it. He was getting on my nerves, and we need to plan for tomorrow.”

Nic flipped Leo the bird.

“Nic and Asher, you’re with me right now. I have plans for you,” Max said. “The rest of you sit tight.”

Ezio watched as they went off to the other side of the campfire. He checked his phone again. His connection was fine, but still no response to his text.

“Hey Stark. Don’t worry, Sam and Eden are getting together for breakfast tomorrow,” Asher assured him.

“And A.J.,” Kane spoke up.

“God save me,” Leo groaned. “The kid is right, you are the ones who are tied to your little women’s apron strings.”

“You are so full of shit, Perez.” Kane laughed.

“And jealous,” Cullen said as he threw a handful of dirt at him.

“And envious,” Asher said at the same time as Cullen.

“Do you have something to say?” Leo asked Ezio.

“I’m not sure yet,” Ezio admitted.

“What are you talking about?” Cullen asked. “You have Samantha living at your house.”

“Temporarily. She plans to move back to her apartment as soon as the other guy is caught. I haven’t convinced her to stay.”

“Have you asked her to?” Leo wanted to know as he kicked dirt at Cullen.

“After a few days? It’s too soon.”

Asher laughed. “Dude, remember me? I decided that Eden was the one after forty-eight hours. You are on the slow bus.”