Kian sputters while Jase does his best to hold back a laugh. “Boom bestie? What the fuck?”
“Well, according to you, you’re the expert in all things that go boom, and you wanted the bestie title, right?”
Kian stops and considers, his eyes narrowed at me. “Ugh, fine. But this is not going to be a thing.” He points a finger, waving it between me and Jase. “I’m not going to be called something as ridiculous as boom bestie. No way.”
Jase chuckles. “I don’t know, Kian, it might just stick. We’ll have to ask Ryan what he thinks.”
“I hate you both,” he replies grumpily, shooting us evil looks. “If we’re coming up with nicknames, it could at least be something good.”
Cackling, I leave the room, determined to go find Ryan and Cruz. If we’re going to do this new idea of mine, we need to get to work planning it. Friday is only three days away.
It takes several attempts, but I finally find Cruz and Ryan in one of the “secret” basement rooms solely used by the Charon Group. I’ll admit it’s impressive. The room is large and windowless and smells like old sweat, testosterone, and wounded male ego.
Snickering to myself, I round a corner and stop short, pressing myself against a wall. Peeking out, I watch, transfixed, as Ryan and Cruz seemingly dance around a corded-off area. Holding wooden swords, they parry and thrust, the only noise the sound of wood crashing against wood and the occasional grunt as one lands a hit on the other. My eyes are glued to Cruz, my core tightening at the sight of his shirtless body covered in a film of sweat. I want to jump him, lick it off, and have him bend me over one of the benches while he fucks me.
Jesus fucking Christ, it’s like watching lady porn. I’m pretty sure that’s blasphemous, but right now, I can’t find a single fuck to give.
Letting out a deep breath, I settle back and watch the show. They’re good. Like really fucking good. I knew Cruz’s weapon of choice was swords or machetes, but I’ve never seen him in action.
Ryan is foremost a sniper, but he told me he had training in other weapons. I just had no idea he was trained in swordplay. Watching them spar is like watching a well-choreographed dance, each move performed with precision, each footstep and arc of an arm both graceful and deadly.
I must make a noise because they both pause and turn my way. I wave and come forward, doing my best to mask the lust I’m feeling. When Cruz’s eyes light up, I know I haven’t been successful. “There’s something we’ve found out, it’s important. Can you meet us in the conference room?”
Ryan nods. “We’ll just grab a shower and change. Would you mind ordering in some food? Chinese maybe? Then we can eat and discuss at the same time.”
“Sure thing, boss,” I quip, saluting him. As I start to walk away, I glance over my shoulder, catching Cruz watching my ass. I wink and mouth,later, enjoying the way his face lights up.
Guy’s so easy to please.
Twenty minutes later and the table is loaded down with food. One thing I’ve quickly learned is that when you live with a bunch of men that resemble small mountains, you have to order enough food for an army.
I bet the restaurants love us.
Filling my plate high with boiled rice, fried asparagus, egg rolls, and Mongolian beef, I ignore the other’s jokes about how much I’m eating. If they knew how many calories I was burning just from sex alone, they’d be green with envy.
Besides, I take the stairs just as often as the elevator. Don’t you fucking touch my food.
I tell the group about the text I got from my uncle and what I think it means. Ryan makes a quick call to Zach, and he confirms he’s heard vague chatter about the harbor. As he didn’t have anything concrete, he hadn’t called it in yet, but at least now we know which one.
“I know it’s dangerous for me to leave the building, but I feel this is something I have to do. I need to make a strike against my father, and I want to free those girls. I’ll keep my helmet on the entire time to keep my identity hidden, and I’ll even drive a different motorcycle if that helps put people’s minds at ease.
“Vincenzo and the rest of the family being at the funeral gives us the perfect opportunity to take out whoever is guarding the shipment. We can free the girls and maybe leave a little surprise for him,” I suggest, popping an eggroll in my mouth with a little moan.
Cruz leans over, places a hand on my thigh, and whispers into my ear, “Noises like that are for my ears only,” his hand trails higher, stopping just short of the v, “not for others to hear.” I nod quickly, my tongue darting out to dampen my lips. He squeezes my leg, then sits back. “Good girl.”
Ryan asks me something, but my brain has gone on hiatus. “Sorry, what was that?”
He clears his throat. “What do you mean by surprise?”
My face breaks out into a wide grin. “Well, after the girls are safe, I thought my boom bestie could light up the shipping containers.”
Boom bestie?Ryan mouths, his brows lowered. Kian grumbles, and Ryan’s frown turns into a laugh as he gets it. He turns back to me, shoulders still chuckling with mirth. “We’ve got a little of everything in the weapon room. Kian and I will take you to check it out, decide what you want to use. Did you have a plan for what you’ll do with the girls?”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t sure about that. I can call Harris, see if he can take them in.”
Ryan sets his fork down, considering that. “That’s not a bad idea. We have a safe house in Delran, a little town in New Jersey that’s not being used right now. It might be a bit of a squeeze, depending on how many women are there, but they’re welcome to use it. If Harris can arrange some agents to collect them and get them back to their families, all the better.”
“Why New Jersey? Can’t we just bring them here?”
