I’m actually better at it alone because then I don’t have you distracting me with your smoldering look of supreme sexiness,” he says, and I can tell he’s trying to distract me. Leland doesn’t handle it well when I’m upset. “What if I get you more dogs? Would that make you feel better? We could do fifteen this time instead of ten!”
Oh dear god no. “Not in the slightest, and I’m fine. I promise. I’m just… unsure what’s happening. Aidan joined the army the same year I did, so we kind of grew up together. He was always a bit cocky and full of himself, but never really a bad guy. After a while he was pulled into another position and our paths separated until the night I was overseas and I lost the people I was traveling with. Aidan and his group found me and pulled me in. After I helped them take over a watch point, they moved me into their group, which I didn’t actually want. I thought they were a bit… ruthless, especially the superior Hutson. He was the kind of guy who was more into talking with his fists and guns than with his mouth. And then when people would end up hurt, I swear he got enjoyment out of it. He was a real dick.”
“You think he’s part of this too?” Cassel asks.
I shrug. “It’s been years since I’ve seen any of them. At least ten, so why now? What happened to cause this? I really don’t get it.”
“There’s always a reason,” Leland says. “And Hansel and Anthony are going to find out.” I glance in the rearview mirror while wondering who Hansel and Anthony are until I see him holding two guns up and giving each a kiss.
“Don’t be jealous, babe,” Leland says as he pops his head into the front and kisses my cheek.
“So you know how limos have those little divider things?” Cassel asks. “They’re all schruump”—he makes a strange noise while pretending his hand is the divider going up—“and close up tight? I want one of those so Leland can be in the back seat fornicating with his guns and you and I can have an intellectual conversation.”
Leland tugs Cassel’s reddish-auburn hair. “Oh fuck off, pretty boy. You’re just jealous because you’re petite and cute and have no one kissing you.”
“No, I’m not… maybe a tiny bit.”
Leland leans between us and kisses Cassel’s cheek. “Do you feel better now?”
“A little,” Cassel says, which makes Leland laugh.
“Okay, Jackson, as you drive, spill everything you know about this Aidan guy. Height, age, penis size, the whole shebang.”
I hold up my thumb and finger about an inch apart. “Penis size. Do you think you’ll be able to find him from this?”
Leland nods. “I might. I’ll just probably have to ask everyone to drop their pants. Okay, okay. I get it. Penis size is not important or relevant. But the other stuff is, so hit me.”
Cassel’s lightning fast as he tries to hit Leland, but Leland’s a damn mind reader and snatches up his arm. “You said to hit you,” Cassel says in defense.
“With information,” he growls.
“Ahhh…” Cassel quickly turns back to his computer as Leland holds his wrist captive. “Aidan Scott, forty-one years old, dark brown hair, one hundred and ninety pounds, five foot ten. There’s not much on him. Jackson, what do you remember?”
“He was a scrawny guy when I knew him, and I haven’t seen him in a while. He wasn’t married and came from a family who was very military oriented. I think he grew up on a base with a dad and mom in the army. It was what was expected of him, but he didn’t necessarily enjoy it. We got along alright. We weren’t best buds, but we liked each other. I could always tell he wanted something else or something more then. He was good at what he did and soon left for another position.
“I only ran into him again after my vehicle hit a land mine or bomb or something. Because I was in the back, I was the only one who made it out. When Aidan and the others caught up with me, they told me they were part of a special ops team, but I never heard anyone else call it that.”
“So… what questionable shit did you do with them?” Leland asks.
“I felt as if everything we did was fucking questionable, but not really because of Aidan. My superior, his name was Benjamin Hutson,