Headhunter (With Me in Seattle Mafia #2) - Kristen Proby Page 0,31
Which makes me happy.”
“I like Carmine for Nadia.”
Nadia is my other best friend. The three of us have been tight for a long time, and I’m so happy for her, that she found love with Carmine—even if he was the last person in the world anyone thought she’d end up with.
“But let’s not talk about them. Let’s talk about you,” Annika suggests. “What else is going on? I miss you. I can’t wait for this whole mess to be resolved so you can come home.”
“Me, too.” I sigh and roll my empty sandwich wrapper into a ball, tossing it into a nearby trash can. “It’s really pretty up here, I have to admit. I can see why Shane likes it. But it’s so far away from everything. So isolated.”
“I assume that was the point of it,” she says.
“A fortress in the mountains. Well, if that’s what he was going for, that’s what he got. The house is really nice. And he has a bunch of other buildings on the property. And a farmhand. Is that what it’s called?”
Annika giggles. “Is the farmhand hot?”
“Actually, yeah. Kinda. He’s the strong, silent type. Doesn’t say much, but he’s nice.”
“Maybe I should make a trip to the ranch,” Annika says, waggling her eyebrows.
“You have no idea how much I would love that.”
“Ivie,” Shane calls through the door. “Who are you talking to?”
I roll my eyes and move to the door, then unlock it to open it just a crack. “None of your business.”
“Are you on your cell phone?” He stares at me like I’ve lost all my marbles.
“Of course, I am. I’m talking to Annika, and—”
“Not anymore, you’re not. Sorry, Annika, I’m hanging up on you.”
He ends the FaceTime call and rounds on me.
“I know you did not just hang up on my best friend.”
“Why would you call her in the first place?”
“Because she’s my best friend, and you’re being a dick, and I needed to vent about you!” I shout in his face. “That’s what girls do, Shane. We vent when the guy we’re sleeping with is being a douche canoe.”
“You can’t call out on your phone,” he says and props his hands on his hips. “Anyone who’s looking for you, who knows your number, can trace it here.”
“You never told me that.”
“You’re a smart woman,” he replies. “I would think you’d just know it.”
I laugh and pace the room. “I’m not into espionage or finding people, Shane. How would I know that? It’s something from movies.”
“No, it’s very real. This isn’t a funny situation.”
“You’re right.” I sober and face him. “There’s nothing funny about it. Your behavior over the past hour has been disrespectful and just shitty all around.”
“My behavior?” he demands. “Mine?”
“Yes, yours.”
“Ivie, you were careless.”
“How do you know?” I prop my hands on my hips. “You just made a split-second decision that I was being careless, but you didn’t ask me anything. You assumed that I was stupid, and you punished me for it.”
“Okay. Tell me what you were doing.”
I just stare at him, still fuming.
“Please.”
“The young boy who was walking those puppies fell. He was being pulled, and he wasn’t strong enough to hold onto them. He fell right next to your car. I surveyed the area, knew that I had my weapon on me, and decided to get out and help him right himself. It took ten seconds. Then you walked outside and threw a fit.”
“I did not—”
“Oh, yes, you did. I’m not a child. I chose to help the boy after I weighed the situation. I didn’t feel like I was in danger. Especially knowing that you’d return any second.”
“I told you to stay in the car.”
“And I’m sure you’re used to people following your orders.”
“To the letter,” he agrees.
“I’m not your subordinate.” I raise my chin. “You’re teaching me to defend myself. I’m not an idiot, and I won’t be treated like one.”
“That’s not—”
Before he can finish the sentence, a loud beeping starts, and he holds up his hand to shush me, then cocks his ear, listening.
“Fuck,” he mutters and runs out of the room. I’m right on his heels as he opens the door of the 007 room downstairs as I’ve come to think of it, and we hurry down the stairs. He flicks a switch, and all of the monitors on one wall come to life.
“These are cameras showing the whole property,” I mutter.
“Someone breached the perimeter,” he says grimly and presses his phone to his ear. “Yeah, I hear it. I’m looking at