Jack (Eidolon Black Ops #8) - Maddie Wade Page 0,28
for you.”
Astrid shook her head. “No, he’s been nothing but honest and respectful.”
“So why the change of heart?”
“Honestly, when I thought he had no interest in me, it was safe to flirt, but now it’s serious.”
Bebe threw her head back as she laughed, spilling her wine down her leg. “Oh shit.” She swiped at the mark and sucked her thumb.
“What’s so funny?”
“That you think he wasn’t interested in you. That man has been eye-fucking you for months.”
Astrid sat up straighter, hating that she was so eager to hear this. “No, he hasn’t.”
“Yup. He tried to fight it, and clever man that he is, he’s accepted his fate.”
“Up until now Jack has done nothing but snap his teeth at me.”
“Well duh. That’s because he’s been fighting his attraction to you. You rattle him, Astrid, and a man like Jack doesn’t like to feel rattled. He likes to control the narrative at all times.”
“Hmm, interesting.” The thought that Jack had wanted her for so long and fought it was a bit of a double-edged sword. She liked that he wanted her, but why would he fight it so hard and why give in now? “Either way, he’s made it clear he only wants casual and that he has no room for a relationship.”
“And do you want that?”
“It’s not that I want a relationship with the promise of marriage and two-point four kids, but I can’t shake the feeling that he could hurt me.”
“Hurt you how?”
“Jack is so intense when he’s doing something. With me, he’s so focused on me that he could easily make me forget it wasn’t real and I’d fall for him.”
“Sounds like you know all the pitfalls so you can avoid them. Can you imagine that kind of intensity and focus between the sheets? Jack doesn’t strike me as a man who has trouble finding a woman’s clitoris.”
“Yeah, if he fucks like he kisses, it would be phenomenal.”
Bebe knocked her knee with her hand. “See, so maybe have some fun. Life is short. We know that better than most so enjoy what he’s offering and keep your heart out of it. You can be safe in the knowledge that if he hurts you, Zenobi will cut his bollocks off and put them in a jar.”
Astrid shook her head, laughing. “Not a visual I want, thanks. But maybe you’re right. I should just see what happens and stop overthinking it.”
“Good girl. Now that’s sorted, let’s talk about Ravelino. Do we know how he found you and why?”
“That would be a no to both. Jack had him removed before I could find out.”
“Well, let me start looking into that while you do your thing. I know Eidolon is helping you. Do you want me to run this alone or work with them?”
“What does Roz want?”
“She wants whatever you want. If you trust Jack and his boys, we’ll work with them on this. If you don’t, we’ll work it quiet.”
“Work with them. It makes sense to share information. I need to know how they found me, and if I fucked up when I was searching back channels for Adeline and exposed myself in some way.”
“Okay, I’ll speak with Waggs and Mitch and find out what they know. Do we know where they took the men they captured?”
“No, just that it was off-site.”
“I need that info too in case I want to interrogate them.”
“I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this, Bebe.”
“Hey, none of that. We’re family, and when one of us gets attacked, we all stand and fight.”
“Thank you.”
Astrid leaned her head against Bebe’s shoulder. She still missed Adeline every single day, but these women who had saved her were like sisters to her now too. She’d do anything for them, and they were proving they felt the same way towards her.
An hour later, a knock on her door had her smiling as she swung it open for Jack. He’d changed into grey suit trousers and a white shirt which was open at the collar and a jacket she knew hid his sidearm. Some of the fatigue she’d seen on the plane seemed to have lifted, and she wasn’t sure if it was the few hours’ sleep he’d had, or knowing he had more support on the ground with Fortis there now.
“Ready to go?”
“Yeah, let me just let Bebe know I’m going.” Her friend was in the next room with an adjoining door between them. She’d said it was already booked when she’d arrived and Astrid guessed that was Jack’s doing, wanting to