Page 38 of Home Run

“What?” Snatching back the laptop, I found the book he’d added—the front cover of which featured a womanwith massive tits and a shirt four sizes too small—and swiftly removed it. “What the fuck was that?”

“What the fuck was what?”

I glanced up to find Parker padding into the kitchen, pajama pants in danger of falling off. Since his accident, he’d been so obsessed with staying game fit, that he’d started wandering around the apartment practically naked. Why? I have no fucking clue.

“We’re shopping for books, but there’s some very interesting literature about some girls who want to get pregnant by their best friend’s dads, and”—as Ace glanced back at the screen, his eyes bulged—“milked…ewww, what the fuck is that? Milked?”

“Now we know why Weston spends so much time in the bookstore.” He barked out a laugh only to be silenced by a shirt being hurled in his face.

“Put some fucking clothes on. You’re not injured anymore, your balls are fine. New house rule,and I can’t believe I have to statethis, no naked breakfasts.”

Parker rolled his eyes. “Someone’s grumpy. Isn’t Millie supposed to be the one with the mood swings? Or are these sympathy mood swings? Do we all have to have them? Because I, for one, am in the best mood ever.”

Ignoring his really annoying grin, I picked up the nearest thing I could find, which happened to be this month’s edition ofCosmo—and threw it at him, only for it to flap in the air and fall to the floor. He picked it up and placed it on the coffee table by the couch, as the intercom rang out from the concierge desk.

“Why don’t you and your cheerful mood make yourself useful and answer that.”

Parker was still grinning when he picked it up, and he listened for a second. “Hang on…Tan, there are two guys downstairs for you.”

“Who?”

He repeated my question to whoever had called up. “They’re from Congressman Field’s office. They showed ID.”

One quick glance at Ace and Lux, and neither of them had the answer I was looking for. “Who the fuck is Congressman Field?”

“I don’t know and I’m not your secretary,” replied Parker.

“Then ask what their names are.”

I watched him, and instead of relaying whatever answer he’d been given, his grin pulled even wider. “Yeah, send them up.”

“Dude, what the fuck? Who have you just let up?”

“One Joshua and Matthew Robinson.” He picked up the shirt Lux had tossed him and pulled it over his head.

“Who the fuck are—” I slammed the laptop shut, Ace whipping his fingers out just in time. “Ohshiiit.”

Lux stopped cracking eggs into a bowl and stared at me. “Isn’t Millie’s last name Robinson?”

“Yes.” It came out in a croaky whisper. I didn’t have time to strangle Parker, I didn’t have time to do anything before the bell to the elevator sounded, and we heard the doors open.

No one moved. Not as we heard the first footstep out, not as two guys walked around the wide pillar that blocked the entrance to the elevator. Two guys the size of linebackers. I wasn’t small by any stretch of the imagination, but Iwasn’t the size of these two. Millie must have taken after her mom.

Parker did the honors. “Gentlemen, how can we help you?”

They didn’t answer as their eyes scanned around the space, narrowing in exactly the same way Millie narrowed hers when she was mad. They were so intent on finding me they didn’t even stop to pause at the incredible view that usually hadeveryonepausing. I mean, it was the whole southwest of Manhattan stretching across the Hudson to Jersey. Stunning. It deserved a pause.

But not these guys. That was my first clue this wasn’t going to go well.

“You.” The taller and wider one who could have doubled as Hulk jabbed a fat finger at me. I was tempted to jump behind the couch, but he’d only follow me. Each one of his large strides seemed to shake the apartment.

Thankfully, Parker, with hisI’m-game-day-ready-and-no-longer-injuredattitude, stepped in front of them. “Um, what do you think you’re doing?”

“We’ve come to have a little chat with Tanner Simpson.”

Lux stepped in next to Parker, adding another block to their path. At six-five, Lux towered over most people but not these guys. “You can chat from here, if it’s all the same to you.”

“What are you? His security?”

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