Page 4 of The Lasso Master

“Didn’t look like she minded.”

“She didn’t. That’s what worries me.”

Jesse blew out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, alright. I should’ve given you a heads-up. I didn’t think it’d go sideways. And hell, I thought you’d appreciate the challenge."

Reed gave a slow shake of his head but didn’t push it. “Just next time, don’t hand me a lit match and walk away.”

“That a yes to forgiveness?”

“It’s a maybe to not kicking your ass.”

Jesse grinned. “Close enough.”

Reed cut him a sidelong look. “Now go find my sister before she wanders into another negotiation scene uninvited. I swear, Keely’s got zero radar for protocol.”

“She’s got perfect radar for causing chaos. It’s her gift.”

“And you’re the poor bastard who keeps encouraging her.”

Jesse gave a mock salute. “Someone’s gotta keep her entertained.”

“I don’t want to know what that means.”

“You really don’t.”

Reed huffed a low laugh. “Get out.”

Jesse was still chuckling when he left the room.

Reed narrowed his eyes at the screen, instincts buzzing low and steady in his gut. No one hid that well unless they were dangerous—or had something powerful to run from.

A quiet knock sounded at the door—too light to be cautious, too confident to be deferential. The kind that came from someone who belonged there but knew better than to barge in unannounced. Reed didn’t look up, just let the moment hang long enough to make the knocker squirm.

“Yeah,” he said without looking.

Gavin Briggs stepped inside—his best friend, business partner, and co-founder of Silver Spur. “So. That was… entertaining.”

Reed didn’t glance up. “She’s lying.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“She’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous tends to come in thigh-high heels and sarcasm these days. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

Reed’s jaw flexed. He tapped the screen. “You ever seen anyone bluff their way past Jesse Bryant’s blacklist?”

“Only once.” Gavin’s eyebrows lifted. “You still got someone on her tail, or did she land in your guest room?”

Reed shot him a warning look—flat and full of promise. The kind that had once made a cartel enforcer forget how to breathe.

"I don’t need you narrating my personal life," he said coolly.

"That wasn’t narration, that was speculation. You’re the one making it interesting," Gavin replied, unbothered. "All I’m saying is, I haven’t seen you look that curious about anything since someone tried to smuggle a listening device into the dungeon concealed in a flogger."

Reed just grunted. "And you wonder why I don’t invite you to security briefings."

Gavin held up his hands and grinned. "Hey, I live for the drama. But fine, I’ll keep my observations to myself. For now.So… what’s the plan?”

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