Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Do not watch her and him. He can survey Sulli’s surroundings. His eyes don’t have to be on her laughter while a shitbag is flirting with intent to fuck.
But he has a real friendship with Sulli, and they began teasing each other. He stole her witch hat, and she took his whistle. From the outside, it would’ve been hard to decipher who she was actually on a date with: Akara or Will.
It reminds me that if the Alpha and Epsilon lead find out I’ve slept with Jane, they’d start really worrying about other bodyguards on SFO fucking their clients. Especially Akara, who has one of the closest relationships to a client you can have without crossing that line.
“No fractures,” Farrow says, adjusting the ice on her ankle. “Just a sprain. You need to ice for twenty minutes—”
“Ben?!” Maximoff calls, voice firm, and all of our heads swing towards Jane’s youngest brother.
Ben Cobalt is ten meters away and turns to look at Maximoff. He wipes wet hair out of his face, his climate-change-is-real shirt drenched after he just bobbed for apples. Twenty-three of his high school friends surround him, most dressed as baseball players—he got them on the guest list.
He’s allowed to be here, but I already know why Maximoff is concerned.
Xander.
Banks and I share a hard look, and I lift my mic to my mouth. “Thatcher to Tony, what’s your client’s AO?”
Ben jogs over to the hay bale. “Hey, Moffy…Jane?” Concern floods his eyes when he sees his older sister icing her ankle.
“I’m okay,” Jane assures with a soft smile, meeting my gaze for the shortest second.
My muscles tighten.
Maximoff stands up. “Ben, I thought my brother was with you? You said you were looking out for him tonight.”
Ben puts an earnest hand to his chest. “Xander told me he wanted to be alone. He was adamant, and I didn’t want to hassle him—and he seemed okay, like happy. I would’ve called you if I thought he wasn’t.”
Maximoff nods. “I’ll check on my brother. Just have fun.”
Ben clasps his hand, they hug, and then he speaks in French to Jane.
I’m still waiting for Tony to reply to comms. He’s not rogering up. Blood starting to boil, I try again. “What’s your AO, Tony?”
Banks shakes his head, pissed. He scouts our six and whispers, “And Epsilon thinks he’s the Messiah of their force. Yeah right. And I’m the Virgin Mary.”
SFE hates Farrow so much that they’re desperate to tote an Epsilon bodyguard who’s better. But praising Tony is like waving around a gold-foiled candy bar believing it’s solid gold.
I start to think Tony isn’t rogering up because of personal grievances. Fucking shitbag. “If he’s not responding just to fuck with me, I’m going to break his itty-bitty dick in half.”
Banks nods. “Amen.”
Farrow uses comms. “Farrow to security, anyone seen Xander?”
While I listen to comms, I head back to Jane. Seeing that she’s about to rise off the hay, I clasp her hand. Helping her to her feet, and she grips my waist, bracing herself to me.
“Thank you,” she whispers, our eyes meeting more than once.
“Can you put weight on it?” I wrap my arm around her hips.
She tries, and intakes a sharp breath. Negative. Jane looks up at me. “I have a feeling we’re going to need to go on a search for Xander. Maybe I should wait alone and find a crutch so I don’t hold the group back?” She turns her head, noticing Banks grabbing her boot and ice. “Thatcher—”
I already pull her in my arms.
“Oh my God,” she gasps under her breath while I easily cradle her against my chest. Her cheeks flushed, holding on to her black hat. She’s almost panting, and it takes me too long to stop looking at her.
This is where she’s meant to be. In my arms.
In my arms.
But as a bodyguard or a boyfriend? Can’t have both.
I narrow my searing eyes on the perimeter. Doing a quick scan for nearby threats. And for a red Power Ranger. Xander’s costume.
“He’s not answering my calls,” Maximoff says, phone to his ear again.
“We’ll find him,” Jane assures, her arm hooked around my neck. She’s careful not to pull out my earpiece.
Farrow tosses Banks a bandage from the trauma bag, and while I’m cradling Jane, my brother places the ice on her ankle and secures it with the wrap.
Still no word from security.
Maximoff slips his phone in the belt of his Captain America costume. He throws the red and blue shield aside in case he has to run. Ready to be with his brother. We have to find Xander.
I stay rooted to the present moment. To the mission. “Let’s push out,” I say.
“Together,” Jane adds. “I don’t think we should split apart.”
Maximoff nods in agreement, and Farrow clutches the back of his neck in comfort.
As we all head away from the carnival area, concern finally infiltrates me. Don’t think it. But I already am—I’m thinking about how Xander reminds me of the brother I lost.