Page 105 of Silent Comrade
“How is that different than regularwalking?” Red asked.
Rodeo piped up, “Do you want us to run? Ican run.”
“Jesus, take the wheel,” she muttered beforerounding on him. “You two walking a runway is like watchingFrankenstein model thong underwear. You look like this.” With ascowling face, she did a stiff, stomping stagger, complete withpulling out an imaginary wedgie.
Britt and Tachi burst into laughter. Redcould feel his mouth turn up. Rodeo? Not so much.
“Work with me, fellas,” Tachi said. “We haveforty-eight hours to turn you goobers into runway models. There areentire classes on this subject. I need you to learn enough to holdyourselves together so you blend in during the show.”
Rodeo pulled out the yo-yo and sent it downthe string. “Hold ourselves together.” He snorted and puffed outhis chest. “Baby, you should see me hold things together. I’m theking of composure.”
She stood a foot away from him, with herarms folded over her ample chest. “Are you now?”
The yo-yo got stuck at the bottom of thestring. He quietly re-rolled it and stashed it in a pocket.
Red shook his head down and counted thehours until the show. He returned to his compulsive scrollingthrough the security cameras. He needed to forget inseammeasurements and avoid tracking Britt’s every movement, every sigh,each quick deft movement of her fingers.
Because down that path lay literalmadness.
Chapter Forty-Six
“Hi, sis.” Britt gripped the phone Gonzohanded her Tuesday evening before he disappeared with a soft clickof the apartment’s front door closing.
Tachi and Rodeo were driving over to see Kimand Damaris and inventory what accessories they could add to theproject. Red sat in Tachi’s bedroom, twenty-some odd feet away,with his extra special hearing.
There was nothing such as privacy thesedays. Britt sighed. “How are you, Reagan?” She leaned against alove seat cushion, a shaking hand pressed against her cheek.
“Better now, knowing you’re safe.”
Okaymight be a stretch. Britt’ssafety remained in question and her heart was battered, but shewould survive. “This situation is a lot to deal with.” Tearspricked her eyelids as she changed the subject to one she coulddiscuss without going to pieces. “Hey, what happened to you lastweek?”
Reagan sighed. “A little hypothermia, a longtrail run without enough food or water, bad people shooting at me.The adventure ended with a Samoan falling on me.”
“What?”
She laughed, warm and spontaneous. ClassicReagan. “It’s a long story.”
“You’re okay now?”
“Arm’s broken, but it’ll mend.”
“Wow.” She chewed a thumbnail. “How’s Kiera?They said she had a baby. I had no idea!”
“Me neither, she kept all of us in the dark.Both Kiera and Mattie—that’s what she’scalling her little girl—are bothfabulous.”
“Gonzo said Mattie was the world’s cutestbaby.”
Her sister’s chuckle came right through thephone like a big hug. “He’s not wrong. She’s beautiful!”
Britt needed to get to the point of thecall. She hauled in a big breath. “Sis, I need you to stay awaythis Friday.”
“No way! I wouldn’t miss your senior projectfor anything!”
“Listen to me. I think you might get hurt ifyou come here.”
“Have you met the rest of the team?”
“No. Just Rodeo and Gonzo.” Air got stuck inher chest. “And Red,” she stammered.
