Wicked Ever After (Wicked & Devoted #2) - Shayla Black Page 0,87
glance through the window to see if Daddy was barreling down on them. Thankfully, Jennifer seemed to be keeping him occupied.
“Pierce,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“You know what I want, pretty girl. I’m here for you. And when I come back, I won’t take no for an answer.”
She shivered at the hot determination in his tone. “All right. But can you tell me where you’re going already?”
“A meeting. In town. I don’t know how long I’ll be until I assess the situation.”
“Situation?”
“The colonel—Hunter and Logan’s father—needs me. It’s urgent. I owe him so many favors… I know this is really shi—I mean, lousy timing. But I am coming back. I’ll always come back to you.”
“Maybe tonight?” She looked over her shoulder again to see several of the older ladies staring at them out the window and fanning themselves with their hands. She tried not to laugh. “We won’t have the seniors’ Bible study here then.”
He looked up and finally seemed to comprehend the attention they were getting. “Gotcha. Tonight. I’ll, um, text first. But you know why I’m coming.”
She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “Yes.”
“Good. That’s the answer I want to hear when I come back.” He winked. “Got a time in mind?”
“Seven?”
“Perfect. See you then.” Clearly not caring what anyone saw or anyone thought, Pierce leaned in to kiss her. He lingered as if he wanted to press for more, but he pulled away reluctantly. Then, with a little salute, he headed down the street and hopped into his Jeep.
Jennifer rushed outside. “Isn’t he the man who fixed the church van when it was broken?”
“Yes,” Brea breathed. “He did that for me.”
“He cleans up awfully nice.”
“He does.” She sighed. He dirtied up awfully nice, too. But she kept that to herself.
“You’re in love.”
She smiled. “Definitely.”
Mrs. Lloyd bustled out next. “That is one fine, strutting rooster you’ve got there.”
Mrs. Rogers was right behind her. “Indeed. You’re a lucky lady, Ms. Bell.”
“Believe me, I know.” Brea grinned.
And hopefully by this time tomorrow, everyone would know that she would soon be Mrs. Walker.
Chapter Ten
Son of a bitch.
One-Mile parked his Jeep in front of the address Caleb Edgington had given him and scowled. What the hell was this place?
The colonel stepped outside, face grim. “You’re late.”
“I didn’t know you were way the fuck out here. I was up in Sunset.”
The older man grunted. “Thanks for coming. You clean up good. What’s with the suit? You go to church?”
“No. I was supposed to be proposing to my girl right now.”
Caleb had the good grace to wince. “Shit. Sorry. I wouldn’t have called—”
“If it wasn’t an emergency, I know. What’s up?”
He nodded. “Come on in.”
One-Mile stepped inside a building that looked like part of a light industrial complex circa 1977. But inside, everything was modern as fuck. Banks of computers lined two walls. A tall metal table scattered with folders and papers dominated the space in the middle. Clustered around one monitor stood two men, one with dark hair that held a little bit of salt, the other with short blond stubble. He didn’t immediately recognize either. They both turned.
“This is Jack Cole.”
Co-founder of their sister firm, Oracle, former Army Ranger, and all-around badass. One-Mile had heard a lot about this tough son of a bitch. He’d met the man in passing, along with his pretty redheaded wife, Morgan. He didn’t know much more about Jack, but if the man was here, too, whatever shit was going down was serious.
One-Mile stuck out his hand. “It’s an honor.”
Jack cocked his head. “The honor is mine. You’re amazing, from what I hear.”
“Thank you.”
“And this is Trevor Forsythe. He’s new to Jack’s team. Former FBI. Hell of an investigator.”
Well, that explained the pale haircut that was between boot camp and banker. But there was something familiar about him besides the name…
The other guy stared and nodded, a little frown deepening between his brows that seemed to hold recognition, too.
“Jock Strap?” One-Mile asked.
Instantly, the guy started laughing. “Serial Killer?”
“Yeah.”
The colonel scowled in confusion. “You know each other?”
He let Trevor answer since the guy had always liked hearing himself talk. “We, um…went to the same high school.”
Jack smirked. “I’m guessing you didn’t like each other much, based on your nicknames.”
One-Mile looked at Forsythe and shrugged. “We didn’t actually know each other well. It was more that I didn’t appreciate arrogant jocks like him plowing through all the best pussy at school.”
“And Walker seemed like an antisocial loner fixated on guns. I worried he’d pull a Columbine.