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)
“It’s like Ghostbusters but Kala and Lucy are the streams you’re never supposed to cross,” Lou added as she shook her head. “The funny thing is she loves Kenz. Like Kala loves Poppy and their parents. She genuinely adores Nell and Henry.”
“Henry, who is Arthur.” He was catching up.
“We don’t know that,” Cooper hedged.
His brother was careful. “Nah, I think Devi’s right.” TJ had finished the muffin, and Zach could practically hear his gut whining like the mastiff named Sawyer’s did right before dinner. Such a big dog and such a pathetic cry for food. “There’s beef jerky in my go bag. Second door to the right. Watch out for the cats. There’s also some MREs.”
The look of relief on TJ’s face was nearly comical. “Thanks, man. Kala made us skip lunch when we got confirmation Devi was here.”
He practically ran up the stairs.
“I’d like to know how you managed to confirm that.” He had a suspicion. It was time everyone laid all their cards on the table and he got a full picture of what was going on. “I’m betting Lacey didn’t tell you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so shocked. Unless this is all a play for my benefit. I’ve seen Kala act pretty brilliantly.”
“Oh, you’re going to see her act, and I’m not looking forward to it,” Cooper said with a frown. “No. We did not know you were with Lucy and her dad. How long has this been going on?”
“I found out she had something of a relationship with my mother a year and a half ago.” He thought he was the ultimate spy, but they’d all been playing him. He was still that dumbass kid in the trailer park. Still a bit of trash his mother forgot to sweep away because everyone knew she liked to make a mess. “She actually got me to reach out to her.”
Devi’s head nuzzled his neck. Like she could sense how upset he was. His sweetness.
“She’s excellent undercover. Like she was born for it,” Lou admitted and then stepped forward. “Hey, you will not go for each other’s eyes. Come on, guys.”
“They’ll just grow back,” Kala said, words laced with venom.
“I’ll string yours up and decorate my cabin with them,” Lucy promised.
“Or we could figure out what’s going on,” Cooper offered.
But they were off again. Kala got Lucy in a headlock, but Lucy flipped her, narrowly missing the end table and its fussy doily.
“You’re surprisingly calm for a man who recently realized the Agency has been watching him all along,” Cooper pointed out. “Shouldn’t you be grabbing that go bag rather than letting TJ pilfer it? I was a little worried I would have to stop you once I realized Lucy was here. You didn’t know.”
“Nope.” He should feel worse about looking like a fool in front of his brother, but Devi was practically purring in his arms. She rubbed her cheek against his. “And I would run but I would have to carry her out with me, and I’ve already had to replace her clothes once this month.”
She snorted. “You did not replace my clothes. You bought me some new ones. Trust me. Your wallet would feel it if you replaced my clothes.”
“It’s time,” Lou said. “They’re going for soft spots now. I do not want to be the reason Kenz has to give her sister a kidney. Besides, they’ll be here soon, and we have to deal with that. It would be better to put an end to it before the knives come out.”
“Who is they?” Zach asked. “Am I about to be arrested?”
Devi sat up and scrambled off his lap. She faced her cousin and looked like a sexy goddess in her robe and nothing else. Her hair was wild and eyes slightly wicked. “Kala, you are not having Zach arrested.”
Kala was currently back on her feet, trying to land a punch.
Lucy was good at evading. “She’s not having Zach arrested. She’ll be too busy in the emergency room. Though you’ll have to find one. I’m planning on feeding your dead body to the pigs. Wait. I wouldn’t want them to ingest all that bile.”
“I’m going in.” Lou reached into her backpack and came out with a water bottle. The spray kind.
“You’re the one who’s about to be in need of socialized medicine,” Kala vowed.
“I’m serious.” Devi wasn’t backing down. “You are not taking him. He has work to do. I don’t care what kind of oppy thing you’re running.”
Kala swiped out with her leg, catching Lucy’s and sending her to the ground. “Oppy thing? I was trying to find you, damn it.” She pounced, pinning Lucy. “I was worried about you, but here you are playing sex games in a barn.”
“In my barn?” Lucy’s gaze turned Devi’s way. “Where the innocent animals are? What is wrong with you? Hey, Coop. Good to see you. Sad you have such awful taste in women.”