Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Actually, Rez running his mouth was a given.
My nanny. Who wasn’t really a nanny but Rez didn’t need to know the details of their arrangement right now. Maybe never.
You finally got one? Damn. She charge extra to change your diaper? Or rock you to sleep? Give you a warm bottle? Making me jealous, you dick!
He didn’t have time for Rez’s ball-busting.
His fingers flew across the screen. Val’s nanny. Don’t got time for your shit. Will you do it or do I need to ask someone more reliable? Like Crew.
He knew the last part would get under Rez’s skin.
Got it covered. Face to face or by phone? The man was nothing if not predictable.
Don’t care how you do it, just that it gets done. I’ll text you her number next chance I get.
10-4.
Just then, the driver’s door swung open and Chewie hauled his ass up and into the driver’s seat. Immediately his eyes fell to the phone in Decker’s hand.
“Who you callin’?” He grabbed a pouch of chewing tobacco from the dashboard and shoved a big wad between his bottom lip and gum.
“Just checkin’ on my kid. Got any?”
“Prolly.” Chewie shifted the semi into gear. The rig began to slowly roll from their parking spot. “Better get some shut-eye. You’re gonna take over after the next piss break.”
“Take over what?”
“Drivin’. Jesus fuck. Did Screw stick me with someone who can’t fuckin’ drive a semi?”
“I don’t got my CDL and never drove a damn eighteen-wheeler before.”
“Guess you’re gonna learn.”
Like a crash course? Because that might end up happening. “Can’t be that hard, right?”
“Long as you stick to the highway. Off it, I’ll take over.”
Well, thank fuck for that. “Did Two-Toes normally swap out with you?”
“Yeah.”
“That how he lost his damn toes?”
“Nah. They were shot off for askin’ too many stupid fuckin’ questions.”
Point well taken.
Chapter Seventeen
The obnoxious, drawn-out tone of the doorbell had Sloane jumping out of her damn skin. Slapping a hand to her chest to keep her heart from breaking free, she popped up from the office chair and hurried through the house, wondering who was at the front door.
It could be Decker’s mother. Only, Ophelia had a key, so unless she lost or forgot it, she had no reason to ring the doorbell. Even so, she doubted the woman would be leaning on the doorbell impatiently like that.
With a quick glance toward Val and Decker’s side of the house, she threatened bodily harm under her breath if whoever it was woke Val from her nap.
When the door came into view, so did a person who was clearly not Decker’s mother. Sloane could make out the silhouette of a man with broad shoulders through the frosted glass.
Luckily the house had a camera security system that, with a push of a button, she could check the front door, back door, and driveway. She checked the small screen installed next to the door since it didn’t have a peephole.
After confirming it was someone she didn’t know, she called out, “Can I help you?”
“Actually, I’m here to help you. Sort of, anyway. Name’s Antonio Alvarez. Work with Decker. He asked me to check on you and Val since he’s going to be out of town for a few days.”
“Umm…” Decker didn’t say a word about sending someone over to check on them. If it was true, a heads up would’ve been nice.
“Can you open the door?” came the deep voice.
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Look in the camera.”
A badge filled the screen. “I’m an officer with the Southern Allegheny Regional PD. And here’s my ID for the federal task force we’re working on together.”
Sloane leaned in closer to the screen to make out some of the words on the identification card. Yep, it looked similar to the one Decker had shown her.
She turned off the alarm and flipped the deadbolt. As she opened the door and Antonio Alvarez came into full view, she blinked and took him in slowly.
A Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap sat backwards on his head, he wore a black leather jacket, open enough to show off the fitted black ribbed tank he wore underneath. Worn denim encased his thick thighs and a black leather belt hugged him just above his trim hips.
Unlike Decker’s, this guy’s dark facial hair was neatly trimmed. But like Decker, the man was devastatingly handsome, despite his strong nose being slightly crooked. The rest of his features were chiseled, but not harsh.
With the last name Alvarez, it made sense his complexion was a bit darker than Decker’s. His dark eyes—she couldn’t quite tell if they were deep brown or black—were piercing, but friendly, and his full lips curved into a smirk.
Sloane shook herself when she realized the man simply stood there, waiting for her to finish her inspection. During that wait, his smirk had turned into a full-blown grin.