Page 57 of Unchained

I’ve completely lost my mind.

* * *

Brooks opened his hand on Cam’s back. As irritated as he was about her change of direction, he couldn’t not touch her when she was so close. Then her words punched through his senses.

“No.” He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

She pinched her lips, and annoyance flared in her eyes. “What, you don’t think I’m capable of going on a mission with a group of guys?”

He slapped his palm to his forehead and fought the grumble in his throat. He didn’t have time for antics or bickering. “No, it’s not that. I don’t want you going on a murder mission with anyone.”

She removed her hands from his chest and folded her arms under her breasts. The action tightened the material over her nipples, and his cock responded without a care in the world about the irritation going on upstairs.

She stomped her foot, just missing his toes. “And what am I supposed to do if you don’t come back, hmm? I can’t call the police. I can’t call Nash or his brothers because they could be dead along with you. I’ll call your sister, but I’m sure she won’t sit around and wait either.”

He gripped her shoulders. “It’s dangerous, you’re right. But you coming along isn’t going to make it any less so. Actually, I’ll be even more distracted worrying about you.”

The blaze in her eyes diminished. Her shoulders relaxed under the weight of his palms. She lifted her knuckle and massaged the space between her eyes. “Fine.”

He caught her chin. “You that worried about me?” He didn’t hide the amusement that raised his tone a full octave.

She shoved at his waist and he grunted. “Of course I am.”

He brushed his lips over hers. If he lingered another second, Nash and his brothers would be waiting a long time. “Good. Then you’ll be happy to see me when I get home.”

“Can we get the show on the road?” Nash called from behind the closed door.

He grinned. “You heard him.”

Moving away from Cam, he went to the door. And damn if it didn’t feel like he’d severed his arm.

* * *

“What’s taking so long?” Two hours after they’d left the house, Brooks dropped his head to the back seat of Nash’s truck. With Dare in the front and Cole beside him in the back, the extended cab was tighter than a glove. He shifted back and forth, and his numb ass cheeks ached in protest. They sat parked at the green space that separated Conrad’s back yard from a side street.

“Yeah, I gotta take a leak,” Cole growled.

“Do you guys want to go in there with a sniper on your head or do you want me to find out their routine?” Dare grumbled. “You should know how long surveillance takes, Cole.”

“I don’t do a whole lot of it. I run off instinct.”

Brooks’s attention was piqued. “What do you do?”

The musty air in the vehicle turned cold. Silence ticked by. Brooks swept his gaze from his brother-in-law to Cole. “Is it a secret or something?”

Dare laughed.

Cole leaned forward and swung the back of his hand, but Dare ducked out of the way. “Dummy.”

Nash turned in his seat. “Dare, stay focused. I’d like to get home tonight.” He turned his attention to Brooks. “There’s some things you don’t want to know about us just yet. Cole especially—”

“What’s the matter with you?” Cole muttered. He looked at Brooks. “No offense, but I’ve known you like five minutes.”

“Yeah,” Nash said. “And he’s family. So cut the shit.”

Cole settled in his seat and Nash refocused on Brooks. “Rule number one in any event we’re in on together—consider Cole a ghost. He was never here. You don’t know his name. As far as you know, these are the only brothers I have. Got it?”

Brooks’s throat tightened. He wasn’t a saint. Didn’t give a shit about the law except when it came to not hurting the innocent. The drug had placed that value a little out of reach, but that wasn’t something he could think about right now. Curiosity still tugged at him, but he figured it wasn’t wise to press further at the moment. He raised a hand in surrender. “Fine by me.”

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