Page 100 of The Reluctant Siren
“I could go with you,” Jasper offered. “I know a lot aboutdanger.”
“You know a lot about punching cows and trying to avoidboardrooms,” Harlow quipped. “He’s ex-military. I assure you he can handlehimself.”
Jasper seemed to slip the chopper into light speed. “ThenI’ll hang out until you need a pickup. I think this is going to be fun. Myuncle’s boss is always a hoot, and he’s going to love bailing me out of jailfor buzzing downtown buildings.”
“Uhm, this is illegal?” Niall asked.
“Oh, absolutely. I’m apparently going to be violating theflight plan I filed about twenty minutes ago, but it’s fine,” Jasper assuredhim. “I’ll tell whatever honey they send to yell at me that I got lost. Dallasis a big place, and honestly, it was laid out by a drunk asshole. Everyoneknows that. So it’s perfectly normal for me to mistake one building foranother.”
“A high-rise office building versus a three-story, shittyapartment building?” Niall asked as they raced over ranchland. He noticed oneof the cows looking up with an aggrieved huff, probably because they wereruining a perfectly nice morning. Of course, that’s what Jensen had done. Theyshould still be in bed, all cuddled up and happy. “I assume we’re heading toJensen’s. I only know it’s three stories and crappy because he talked about it.I’ve never been. Do we even have an address?”
“Ruby has it. She’s sending me all the details. She found iton the Dark Web,” Harlow pointed out.
They were coming for Jensen. They knew where he lived. Theywould try to steal his information, and if he was there, they would take himout.
As angry as he was at his best friend, he also couldn’timagine a world without him. He might never be as close to Jensen Wiley as hehad been the last few days, but he didn’t want the man dead.
“It’s going to be okay.” Harlow turned her head so she couldsee him. She gave him a weak smile. “They might not get there before we do. BigTag is sending someone to check it out. Take a deep breath. We’re probablypanicking for nothing, but I would rather be wrong and make the most awkwardscene of all time than be right and late.”
He held her gaze for a moment and nodded. “We’ll do what wehave to.”
“Now wait a minute,” Jasper said. “Who is this other guy?Sweet darling, are you into all that crazy three-way stuff? Because I’ve heardthat can be fun.”
He was going to kill the kid.
Harlow sighed and turned back around. “Pay attention to yourflying. And we are not a threesome.”
Not anymore. Niall knew the words she didn’t say. They hadbeen. They’d been moving toward something so special and right. Nothing wouldever feel as good as knowing his best friend was there.
The betrayal weighed heavy on his heart as they sped towardDallas.
He had no idea what they looked like at the end of this. Heonly knew they would never be the same.
* * * *
Jensen slid out of the SUV and looked at thecraptastic apartment building he’d lived in for the last couple of months. Itwas a dump. It was more motel than upscale downtown condo. Located on the edgeof an industrial district, it was somewhat quiet and cheap, and he was prettysure most of the people who lived here were involved in some kind of crime.
It wasn’t a place for Harlow.
“So the hard drive is in your apartment?” Jack asked,glancing at his watch. He’d spent a lot of the drive on the phone talking tohis boss, and it looked like he didn’t want to be late for the meeting they setup.
“I have it in a hidden compartment,” he replied. “I can goup and get it if you want to stay here.”
Jack’s cell trilled again, and he sighed. “Ruby. I thinkthey know you’re gone.”
It was morning, and they would be awake by now. No question.She would have rolled over and sighed and rubbed up against Niall, who wouldkiss her and call her princess. She wasn’t. Harlow wasn’t a royal princess withhigh-maintenance needs. She was a warrior princess.
Did she reach for him and think he’d gone for a walk or tomake coffee? How long was it before she realized he was gone?
“I think it’s best we don’t talk to them until the deal isdone,” Jensen said. If he heard her voice, he might not be able to do it. IfNiall tried to talk him out of it, he might listen because this was the lastthing he wanted.
Jack refused the call. “She’s going to kick my ass. She’ssent about a hundred texts, but I’m sure it’s all crap about how I’m ruiningeverything. I cannot win with that woman.”
“Do you want to win with her?” Jensen was curious how muchhe’d fucked up Jack’s life.
Jack’s expression shuttered. Like he’d shown too much. Heslid his cell in his pants pocket and then the smooth cowboy lawman was back.“She’s a friend of my cousin’s. I assure you Harlow is going to be pissed atme, so why don’t we go and make sure this whole thing is worth it. I don’t wantto have blown apart my family life for nothing. What floor are you on?”
“The third. I’m the last unit on the left.” It wasn’t likethere was a doorman or anything. There wasn’t a lobby, either. It was allapartments with stairs and open walkways.
