Page 26 of Keeping Kasey
“That’s not a good idea,” Moreno says. “There are too many people who would use you as a bargaining chip.”
“You’re one to talk,” she deadpans.
“I’m starting this meeting now,” Logan announces. “Keep your lover’s quarrel to yourself.”
Lovers?
If Elise and Moreno are together, it would explain the sudden alliance. She must have tied the families together. Elise’s past is a thread I should’ve deemed worth pulling before now.
Moreno drags his glare from me to Logan, waving for him to go on.
“Kasey will replace the security systems in each of our families’ bases. This will ensure no more power outages,” Logan tells them, then looks at me. “How long should it take at each location?”
“Depends on the size of each base, but I’d say anywhere between ten and twenty-four hours.”
He nods. “You’ll train Ford and Moreno’s cybersecurity capo on the system as you install it here. The three of you can divide up the bases to make the installation process faster.”
Donovan—Moreno’s right-hand man—pulls out his phone. “I’ll arrange for Kade to fly in tomorrow.”
“Once that’s done, we’ll address the main reason we’ve hired Kasey,” Logan says. “Regardless, as far as anyone outside thisroom is concerned, Kasey was brought in to address the security threat posed by the power outage.”
“Conveniently leaving out the fact that sheisthe threat,” Moreno mutters.
“What I amis good at my job,” I tell him. “Whether or not I’m a threat depends on your choice to make me one.”
Moreno pretends I haven’t spoken and looks at Logan. “I don’t see why we should trust her. She’s a gun for hire. Who’s to say she won’t finish this job, then sell family secrets to the highest bidder?”
The fact that he talks about me like I’m not even here pisses me off, but I don’t get the chance to bite back.
Logan grabs the back of my chair. He doesn’t touch me, but the gesture somehow feels like a hand wrapping around my throat.
“Kasey will be staying at the manor during her time here. She’ll be closely watched. Besides, she’s not stupid,” he says. “She knows that working against us would mean having half the country hunting her down for the rest of her life. Don’t you?”
Logan looks to me expectantly, and I make a show of rolling my eyes and shoving his hand off my chair.
“Trust me, I’m already counting down the days until I can get away from here and pretend none of you exist,” I tell them, then stand and meet the eyes of every person around the table. Most regard me with either amusement or annoyance, but loathing oozes from one person.
Ford.
“I’ll uphold my end of this deal as long as you uphold yours,” I say. “Whether you choose to trust me is up to you, and makes no difference to me. I’m the best at what I do, and you’re lucky to have me.”
Damon raises a hand, wearing a wide grin. “Well, I like her.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Logan
Between Kasey’s incessant disrespect, Ford’s palpable anger, Moreno and Elise’s bickering, and Damon’s visible amusement, I have no patience left.
After Kasey’s role was established, James handled the remainder of the meeting. He covered the plans moving forward to allow Moreno to establish a base in Texas, which was a condition of our families’ alliance. Kasey isn’t needed for this part, but I don’t bother kicking her out since she probably already knows the plans from herresearch.
When the meeting finally ends, all I want to do is retreat to the quiet of my office, drink an entire bottle of whiskey—which is hidden for Damon’s sake—and pretend I haven’t let a banshee into my home.
But there’s something I need to do first.
“Kasey, my office in ten minutes,” I order and turn to follow the others out.
“How am I supposed to know where that is?”
