Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
“You did what?” Devi pushed back her chair.
“He did nothing.” Lacey’s eyes went steely. “He took the place on the team because he knew Cooper was his brother at that point and he was curious. He wanted to meet his brother, but he was cautious and didn’t want to disrupt his life if he didn’t have to. Zach Reed helped his team.”
“Tris might disagree,” Devi challenged.
“It took two of us to take that man out.” Lacey didn’t back down. “Tristan Dean-Miles was reckless and stubborn, and if he walked in and faced the real Jester himself, he would be dead now. Zach gave him the opportunity to look like the big man and take all the credit. Devi, I wasn’t lying before. I do see your point of view, but you don’t understand this world. You said you were kidnapped because of your cousin. I’m assuming you’re talking about Ms. Magenta.”
“Lacey,” he began.
Devi nodded. “Huisman tortured her.”
“And did she blame Zach?” Lacey asked.
“No. She didn’t. Neither does my mom,” Devi replied.
Lacey pushed back her chair and stood, grabbing the wine bottle. “Look, forgive him, don’t forgive him, but understand he did all this because he thought it was for the greater good. He’s trying to balance saving his mother with being true to the team he came to love, and then you have to throw in the fact that he’s madly in love with you. He’s juggling a lot of dangerous balls.”
Devi’s mouth opened, that stubborn look coming into her eyes.
Lacey was having none of it. “Believe him. Don’t believe him. I honestly don’t see why you think he would be playing you at this point. Your family trusts him. His life and career are on the line, and he risked the entire mission to save you and bring you here and put my mission and Arthur’s on the line. You want to play out some drama in your head that you’re the poor little wallflower he had to choose because your more glamorous cousin was taken, go for it. If your life is so boring you have to make up drama in your head, good on you, but I’m not wasting my time dealing with this. If you stay, you’ll have a list of chores. If you don’t, like I said, you know where the sea is.”
“Hey, I don’t…” Devi began.
Zach put a hand out. “Don’t. She’s done. She’s apparently overstimulated and should probably go read in her room.”
She shot Zach the finger. “I think I’ll do exactly that, and you and the princess here can argue, but we have the problem of your father to deal with, and I’m hoping your mum responds to one of my messages in the next few days. The good news, Devi Taggart, is this might all be over soon and you can go back to your dating apps and girls nights and all the fun things an overly privileged girl like yourself loves. He’ll more than likely be dead or in jail, so he won’t bother you anymore. Marrying a Taggart wasn’t going to keep him from that fate. It would simply make his last days of freedom sweeter. Think about that while you’re in a comfy bed and he’s on that ratty couch. He’s trying to save his mother and the bloody world. You’re trying to spare your pride. Weigh them and see which one is more important.”
With that Lacey marched out like the bitter queen she often was. Followed by a mangy part pit bull and a three-legged terrier.
“She took the wine.” Devi sat back. “I think I needed the wine. That woman is very judgmental.”
He couldn’t argue with that. He passed her his second beer.
She popped the top and drank half of it in one swallow, an impressive display. She sat back with a huff. “So the answer to my question is no, you aren’t hiding some relationship with her.”
“I was absolutely hiding a relationship with her. A working relationship that is sometimes friendly and absolutely never romantic. She’s like that cousin who is helpful because she’s got mob ties and doesn’t mind busting some ass.”
“So she’s Kala.” Devi took another drink. “I’m sorry about telling her Kara is twins.”
“She knows a lot of things she doesn’t tell me. Don’t worry about it. Once we take down Huisman, Lacey wants out,” he told her.
He stared down at his food.
“Zach?”
“Yeah?”
“There’s no reason for you to sleep on the couch. I’m pretty sure one of the cats already claimed it for the night. It’s not like we haven’t slept together before. Though we’re sleeping. Just sleeping.”
She was letting him in bed with her? “I appreciate that.”
“And I’ll do the chores and stuff, but I need to talk to Tasha soon and see if I’m fired.” She picked up her fork again. “I’m supposed to design her wedding dress.”