Savage Love (Savage Trilogy #3) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,39
the woman he’s fucking like a rabbit. The man really is a priceless turd as my mother used to say. “I’ll see you at the party.”
“Okay. You’re upset?”
“I’m not upset,” I say, and my voice lifts, damn it, why does my voice lift?
“You’re upset.”
“I’m not upset, Gabriel. Go to your meeting. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m bringing you a gift. You’ll forgive me when you see it, I promise. Gotta run. Love you.” He hangs up. I disconnect and slide my phone back into my pocket, glancing at Rick. “He’s sending a car at eight. And he’s leaving right after the party.”
“Thank fuck Eric came through,” Rick grumbles, handing me my coffee. “And I heard. He’s bringing you a gift.”
“He’s not meeting the governor,” Asher interjects, clearly avoiding that bad topic, before he explains to the group. “He told Candace he was headed to a meeting with the governor.”
“As long as he stays away, I don’t care what’s he’s doing,” I say, grabbing my coffee.
Adrian eyes my hand and points. “Don’t forget to wear your engagement ring tonight. He’ll notice that shit is missing.”
My eyes go wide. I threw it on the floor last night. “Oh, crap.” I start to get up.
Rick catches my arm. “I have it.” He doesn’t offer to give it to me. Instead, he hands me a taco. “It’s better for you than that ring.”
I give him a “really?” look and he leans in and kisses me. “Really, baby.”
I purse my lips. His eyes smolder. In turn, I dig into my taco, because really, tacos seem like the only thing that makes sense in this crazy world right now. And Starbucks. Planning recaps begin and I eat and drink, listening to the preparations for the night. All the while, I think tonight will change my life.
That’s all I can think the entire time the Walker team is talking. One way or the other, this night is a new beginning and an ending. I just pray I celebrate my new beginning with my father alive and well.
“One last thing before we leave,” Adrian says as everyone packs up. “I plan to have you in sight at all times, but I’d feel better if you were wired. However, we’re afraid Gabriel will find the microphone.”
Rick grunts with the idea that Gabriel will be that intimately by my side tonight.
“Make a scene if you have to,” Adrian continues. “Scream with a foot cramp or spider bite. Be creative. Just buy time and wait for me if we get separated.”
Nerves explode in my belly just thinking about what situation might make me that desperate. I can’t imagine one at the party, but they can, and that means they foresee trouble. Or maybe that’s just their nature. God, I hope so.
When finally the team heads for the back door to leave, I’m relieved. I need some breathing room to deal with the stress of tonight. I might need a drink. The guys are all filing out when Rick receives a text and grabs his phone only to curse. Adam falls back and both of us ask, “What’s wrong?”
“Kara just sent me a text. Kelly left.” He eyes me. “That’s Max’s wife. Max being my buddy that left Tag’s operation behind and disappeared.”
“I remember,” I say. “I thought she was at a safehouse.”
He scrubs his jaw. “She was. Kara had her but she pulled a gun on Kara and left.” He dials his phone and the call is short but not sweet. He ends with, “I hope like hell that’s true. Do what you can. Thanks, Kara.” He disconnects. “Kelly told Kara she had one last chance to find Max but she had to go alone. She doesn’t trust us or she’d know that’s not true.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Pray Max is alive.”
She’s running.
If Rick doesn’t kill Tag, we’ll be running, just like Kelly. The problem is, that even once Tag is gone, Gabriel will not be gone. Pocher will not be gone. Rick might not be running from me anymore, but it seems we might be running together. I wait for a sense of panic to overcome me but there is none. I’m worried about a lot of things but not this. If I’m running with Rick, I know I’ll be just fine. Adam heads out and Rick locks the door and when he turns back to me, I say as much, “We’ll be hiding in New York, won’t we?”