Page 197 of Wild Card

Rowan’s answer does nothing to help my anxiety.

“Wills, I get you’re nervous. It’s time Rylee Richards faces the music.” Bex swings slowly into a parking spot, then turns to me. “Let me remind you, she poisoned you and your dog with homemade laxatives, she broke in and stole from you, and she slept with that limp-dick ex while you were still dating.”

I don’t remind Bex she technically had a key to our grandparents’ house.

“Not to mention, when she made the scene in Rendezvous, she eyed Talon like she wanted to literally gobble him up.”

The recap from Rowan has the scene flashing in my head and all my nerves turn to anger. Jealousy spikes and blisters through me.

I straighten and glimpse out the window to the restaurant Shayla is strolling into.

“What do we do now?”

Harley shrieks with glee and pulls a black packet out of her purse. “Cover me.”

She hops out and crouches as much as she can.

“I’d better go with her.” Jewls follows and Ember climbs in, taking her seat and holding out her phone.

“Contact made.”

We listen on speaker to Shayla introducing herself as Carrie, the interested buyer who has been searching for this specific bag ‘forever’.

Her saccharine-sweet exhilaration is all too believable. She initiates small talk, getting Rylee to open up about her upcoming wedding as the reason for selling her handbag collection.

My ears perk when Shayla mentions a beautiful diamond pendant around Rylee’s neck. I’d bet my ass it’s my necklace from Joseph.

Jewls raps on my window, motioning for me hurriedly.

“Our turn.” Rowan, Bex, and Ember file out behind me.

We all stoop and wind through the darkened parking lot to where Harley is waiting by Rylee’s car. She points inside the open trunk. “These yours?”

I peek in and nod my confirmation that these are my stolen bags.

Rowan takes pictures right as the area illuminates with blinding headlights.

“Shit, hit the ground!” Jewls whisper-shouts.

“Easy for you to say,” Harley mutters.

“Princess, get your ass away from that car and over here.” I spin to find Talon with a glare so ominous a shiver travels to my toes.

Ace steps up to Harley, taking the black case from her hand. Ford does the same to Rowan, taking her phone.

“How’d you know?” Jewls throws her hands in the air, shouting at her husband.

“Babe, just watched you and your partner in crime pick the lock and pop the trunk of a car. And you want to know how I knew?”

“Yes, we were meticulous in our planning.”

I want to hear how this plays out, but the heat of Talon’s glower is singing my skin. If the situation wasn’t so tense, I’d take the opportunity to salivate over the visual. His MNPD tee stretched across his chest, his duty belt tight on his hips.

Who knew carrying a gun and badge was so erotic?

I cautiously walk to him, squealing when he hauls me the rest of the way.

“What are you doing here?” I stupidly ask, bracing on his shoulders.

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