Page 194 of Back in the Saddle

I couldn’t keep it at bay anymore, because Eric was right.

“So Javi needs you guys,” I said quietly.

“If he was any other man, we would have put pressure on him to get them both in one of our safe houses. We know enough that’d be a wasted effort. But the man is far from dumb. He knows they’re vulnerable, and he knows Joaquim made them a target.”

“Do you think that means he’ll lay low?” I asked hopefully.

I couldn’t describe my relief when he nodded.

“Montoya was destroyed at the loss of his brothers. He’s not gonna risk losing more. And if he’s out of the picture, his mother will be exposed. If his bio dad doesn’t have the pressure exerted, no doubt he’ll tap out and fuck knows what’ll happen to Javi’s mom. What Javi does, he definitely takes risks. But what he said today proves this guy doesn’t have a hot head that guides him to do stupid shit for the sake of his calling. I believe he takes a great deal of time to calculate the risks and knows, unless something entirely unexpected happens, he’ll best them before he tackles them. He doesn’t do this because he has an issue with failure. He does it because he’s not about to lose a brother. He’s not going to expose a man he’s pulled into his mission to an undue threat. And he’s not gonna stop being the buffer between his mom and the world.”

“So it’s the perfect time for your team to make their move to fold him in,” I surmised.

“It’s that, but mostly, he’s exactly what we need on our team.”

He totally was.

“Are you sure you’re okay with me pitching this to Mace?” he asked.

Javi, who I’d come to like a lot, and my brother, who I loved, being welcomed to a team who made great money, garnered enormous respect, and did cool stuff to feed their hero complexes?

“Yes, I’m sure I’m okay with it.”

Eric smiled, ordered, “Mouth,” I gave it to him, and after I pulled back, he said, “So the Spicy Bacon Wrap?”

“Sure,” I confirmed.

I could eat another slice of icebox cake after I shocked my system with veggies and grilled chicken and such.

He sent the order off and straightened from the counter.

“Are you going into work?” he asked.

I looked at the clock on the microwave. It was half past noon.

I really should go.

But since they had it covered…

“No,” I answered.

“I’m glad,” he said quietly.

I was too.

“Are you gonna be late tonight?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“I feel like mastering frying a burger,” I stated.I’ll need it after a healthy lunch, I did not add.

“Works for me.”

“So lunch, fuck, you go to work, I go to the grocery store, you come home, I make us burgers. Then more fucking, pass out, get up and do our stakeout, and this time, I take first watch. Is that a plan?”

“Absolutely. And I like how much fucking you wedged into our schedule.”

I smirked at him.

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