Page 68 of Spy With Me
Damn, she really had been a way to be inside the family hewanted. It had been more about who her parents were. He loved Devi’s parents,but she was far more important.
All that fucking mattered was Devi. If her dad was here, hewould tell Theo Taggart that he would die for his daughter, but he wouldn’tpretend he didn’t want his hands on her all the time. He wouldn’t pretend likehaving her this close didn’t calm and soothe him. Brought him a peace he wassurprised to have. “She’s fine right where she is.”
Like TJ and Lou should care.
“I’m fine,” Devi said with a smile to her brother. “Also, Ifigured out that the vet is actually Henry Flanders. Look at me. I can be aspy, too.”
TJ’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t think you should changecareers, although I would like to point out that for a fashion designer, youcould wear more clothes. Like underwear. Underwear is a great thing to weararound your brother.”
She crossed her legs demurely but didn’t move to fix thesituation. She was comfortable in her own skin, and he supported that. If herbrother didn’t want to catch her half naked and tied down in a barn with a plugup her backside, well then he should have called.
“So no one knows why they hate each other?” Zach asked.
They should be dealing with the whole Lacey isn’t Lacey andwhat the hell is going on that he had an additional Agency team checking on himthing. But this was more fun, and all the gossip made Devi’s eyes light up.
“No idea,” TJ admitted as the two women in questioncontinued to hurl insults at each other. “I stay out of that situation rightthere. I’ve worked with Henry and Luce a couple of times as support. They’vebrought in some scary assholes. They took down this cult leader who was aboutto Kool-Aid his whole congregation. Fun days. But I don’t talk about that withKala. I know better than to mention what she calls the unholiest name.”
“I think they’re both territorial assholes who rub eachother the wrong way and don’t like it when they get in each other’s business.”Cooper moved in beside TJ, arms crossed over his big chest. “From what I cantell, Lucy loves her big sister, Poppy, and Kala kind of got to be good friendswith her and Lucy was young and acted out and Kala refuses to forgive her.There might have been a prank involved. I don’t know. She kind of foams at themouth when I ask her about Lucy.” He sighed. “Is it weird that I find it hot?”
“It’s likeGhostbustersbut Kala and Lucy are thestreams you’re never supposed to cross,” Lou added as she shook her head. “Thefunny thing is she loves Kenz. Like Kala loves Poppy and their parents. Shegenuinely adores Nell and Henry.”
“Henry, who is Arthur.” He was catching up.
“We don’t know that,” Cooper hedged.
His brother was careful. “Nah, I think Devi’s right.” TJ hadfinished the muffin, and Zach could practically hear his gut whining like themastiff named Sawyer’s did right before dinner. Such a big dog and such apathetic cry for food. “There’s beef jerky in my go bag. Second door to theright. Watch out for the cats. There’s also some MREs.”
The look of relief on TJ’s face was nearly comical. “Thanks,man. Kala made us skip lunch when we got confirmation Devi was here.”
He practically ran up the stairs.
“I’d like to know how you managed to confirm that.” He had asuspicion. It was time everyone laid all their cards on the table and he got afull picture of what was going on. “I’m betting Lacey didn’t tell you.Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so shocked. Unless this is all a play for mybenefit. I’ve seen Kala act pretty brilliantly.”
“Oh, you’re going to see her act, and I’m not lookingforward to it,” Cooper said with a frown. “No. We did not know you were withLucy and her dad. How long has this been going on?”
“I found out she had something of a relationship with mymother a year and a half ago.” He thought he was the ultimate spy, but they’dall been playing him. He was still that dumbass kid in the trailer park. Stilla bit of trash his mother forgot to sweep away because everyone knew she likedto make a mess. “She actually got me to reach out to her.”
Devi’s head nuzzled his neck. Like she could sense how upsethe was. His sweetness.
“She’s excellent undercover. Like she was born for it,” Louadmitted and then stepped forward. “Hey, you will not go for each other’s eyes.Come on, guys.”
“They’ll just grow back,” Kala said, words laced with venom.
“I’ll string yours up and decorate my cabin with them,” Lucypromised.
“Or we could figure out what’s going on,” Cooper offered.
But they were off again. Kala got Lucy in a headlock, butLucy flipped her, narrowly missing the end table and its fussy doily.
“You’re surprisingly calm for a man who recently realizedthe Agency has been watching him all along,” Cooper pointed out. “Shouldn’t yoube grabbing that go bag rather than letting TJ pilfer it? I was a littleworried I would have to stop you once I realized Lucy was here. You didn’tknow.”
“Nope.” He should feel worse about looking like a fool infront of his brother, but Devi was practically purring in his arms. She rubbedher cheek against his. “And I would run but I would have to carry her out withme, and I’ve already had to replace her clothes once this month.”
She snorted. “You did not replace my clothes. You bought mesome new ones. Trust me. Your wallet would feel it if you replaced my clothes.”
“It’s time,” Lou said. “They’re going for soft spots now. Ido not want to be the reason Kenz has to give her sister a kidney. Besides,they’ll be here soon, and we have to deal with that. It would be better to putan end to it before the knives come out.”
“Who is they?” Zach asked. “Am I about to be arrested?”
