Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Tasha waggled her fingers. “I didn’t get a message from you, but Jeremy managed to send me a funny video of Owen at the airport demanding that he turn off his phone and stop texting me. I haven’t heard from him since so I guessed they went on vacation. Was I right?”
Everyone at the table turned to Seamus, whose quick glance toward the living room made it clear he felt like swearing. “I was sure I sent a text. And Tasha’s right. They left a few days ago. Owen said they’d be gone for two weeks and to tell everyone not to worry if they couldn’t get ahold of them.”
Brady shared a look with Ken. That must have been the romantic idea Owen had had when he’d purchased plane tickets instead of pizza. “Good for them,” he said.
Was Owen actually going to propose? He hoped so. Jeremy was truly one of the good ones.
Seamus snorted at Brady, obviously thinking along the same lines. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t come back blaming you because it all blew up in his face.”
Determined not to have his drunken lecture become the focus of a family interrogation, Brady rushed to fill the silence. “I don’t see James either. He always seems to work a double on the nights we get together. Why is his boss such a…” he paused, remembering the children. “Jerk?” he finished proudly.
Solomon—James’ boss—glared at his younger brother. “He’s busy. Police work doesn’t leave a lot of time for extracurricular activities. I’m sure you remember what it was like to work for a living. All those criminals to catch.”
“Which is why I like fighting fires,” Noah chimed in, distracting Solomon from talking about Brady’s old job. “Short bursts of daring heroics framed by weeks of childish pranks and drinking.”
“Plus, we’re the most popular months in this year’s calendar.” Wyatt toasted him again and Solomon shook his head.
“Settle down boys or I’ll send you to the kids’ table.” He focused on Ken and Brady instantly tensed. “We may be missing a few family members, but I’m glad you’re here, Tanaka. I don’t think I got a chance to tell you how much I appreciated what you did to help the feds catch Burke and get my cousins out of the corner he’d put them in.”
There was too much of Solomon the Elder in his brother’s tone for Brady to relax, despite the praise.
Ken, too, seemed prepared for an attack. “I’d like to think anyone in my position would have done the same for a friend,” he said carefully.
Solomon set down his fork and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You do a lot for your friends. Make scandalous pictures disappear as if they never existed, give someone a roof and a job exactly when they need it. Stephen tells me you’ve even sent his old friend Trick one or two clients in the last few months.”
Brady hadn’t missed Jen’s quiet inhalation at the mention of Trick’s name. Damn it. He was definitely going to have a talk with Dunham.
Ken shrugged. “He was the right man for it, and Stephen trusts him. I didn’t see any reason not to.”
Solomon didn’t react. “I suppose I’m wondering why a self-confessed hacker—even one who does freelance work for the feds—would take such a benevolent interest in this family.”
The table was silent. Stephen put his hand on Solomon’s arm, giving him a look of disapproval, but Brady knew his brother wouldn’t respond. He was too busy staring Ken down. Daring him to react.
Brady beat him to it. “I suppose I’m wondering why my big brother is acting like such a prick at the dinner table. Can anyone explain it? I know we didn’t learn the finer points of table manners from Sol, but I think I still remember his favorite rule—shut up and eat. Why don’t we do that?”
Rory chuckled, but Ken’s hand gripped Brady’s thigh under the table and squeezed gently, either to hold him back or as a show of gratitude. Brady wasn’t sure which, but he responded to the touch instantly and held his tongue.
“I completely understand your concern, Chief Finn. One thing about this family that’s always consistent is how protective you are of each other. I admire that.”
Ken waited until Solomon nodded in acknowledgment before continuing, “I also admire the proficient officer who accessed my personal records and ran my fingerprints from a terminal in your police station four days ago. Since you know what he found, I’m not sure what else you would need to ease your mind.”
Ken hadn’t said a word about Solomon’s intrusions, but knowing his overprotective brother, Brady wasn’t surprised. “Solomon, you’re an assh—”
“How the hell could you know who looked what up and where they did it?” Solomon asked as if Brady hadn’t spoken.
Ken shrugged. “Your precinct’s computers are secure and virus free, if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m alerted anytime someone searches my information. It’s a simple program that gives me the time and location of the search. I could help you incorporate it into your systems, if you’d like.”