Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“They’re dead and I think we’re going to be next. We’ve got to talk. Can you meet me?”
“Yeah,” he said absently and then repeated it in a stronger voice. He jumped to his feet, quickly searching for a pen and a scrap of paper. His brain was scattered. He was afraid he’d forget anything JB told him before he could reach him. “Where are you?”
“You know the Fairmont in Florence, Kentucky? Off…fuck, what highway—”
“I know where you’re at,” Noah quickly said. “What room?”
“247.”
“I’ll be there in twenty-five to thirty minutes.”
There was a soft sigh of relief, and Noah’s worry grew for his friend and former comrade in arms. “Be careful. Watch your six. And come alone.”
JB ended the call and Noah stared at his silent phone for a couple of seconds, his brain utterly confounded by what had just happened. He hadn’t heard from JB since he’d told him he was retiring from the Army. His friend hadn’t taken it well, accused him of abandoning the team, of abandoning him. He’d later apologized in an email and wished him the best, but Noah had never really felt like the friendship had fully mended.
At the time, Noah had needed to get away from the Army. That life had begun to feel empty, and he’d witnessed too many years of death. He’d needed something more. His heart had known at the time that he’d needed Rowe Ward, but his brain had been unwilling to stake too many hopes on what seemed to be a highly unlikely thing.
“Who’s JB?” Rowe asked, drawing his thoughts away from a younger man with a quick and easy smile.
His head snapped up and he stared at his lover’s worried expression. “JB…he was on my final team. Ranger. Or maybe former Ranger now.” He gave his head a hard shake and snatched up the pants that were on the floor. He should probably take a shower, but it sounded critical that he reach JB as soon as possible. “He’s in town. The other two members of our team have turned up dead and he wants to meet. I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to talk to him.”
With his pants on, he grabbed up the T-shirt he’d thrown on the floor. He gave it a quick sniff and jerked back. Okay, that wasn’t good to wear again. Dropping it on the floor, he darted over to the closet and grabbed the first shirt he saw. He wasn’t even sure if it was his or Rowe’s.
Rowe hopped out of the bed and pulled on the pants lying on the floor on his side of the bed. “I’ll make sure the dogs are settled and be right behind you.”
“No.” Noah stood in the center of the room, a pair of folded socks in his hand. “He said to come alone.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? After you were nearly shot? Not a chance,” Rowe said with a snort.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. You just told me that two other members of your team are dead. There’s no fucking way I’m letting you meet this guy alone.”
“JB would never hurt me!” Noah said.
“Don’t give a shit.” The look Rowe gave him reminded him of a bulldog sinking his teeth in and preparing for a fight.
Noah bristled at Rowe’s dictatorial tone. The bastard had a way about him when he tapped his fucking inner alpha and just expected everyone to follow behind him. It was like he was spending too much damn time with Lucas. In the bedroom, it never failed to make Noah hard. Outside the bedroom, he ached to punch Rowe in the mouth.
“You don’t know him.”
“Exactly. I don’t. What I do know is that two men you served with are dead, you’ve been shot at once already, and this guy just suddenly shows up in town. No fucking way you’re leaving this house alone!”
Noah glared at his lover for a couple of seconds. As much as he hated to admit it, Rowe was right. Not about JB. He was positive JB wasn’t behind their friends’ deaths or the recent shooting. If something bigger was going on, then he wanted Rowe right there with him. The man had been through more squirrely and insane situations than he thought possible for a single human being. If anyone could help, it was Rowe.
“We’re out the door in five minutes,” he growled.
If Noah thought he was going to meet this guy alone, he was out of his fucking mind. Rowe was still simmering in the passenger seat as Noah drove them south to the motel where this JB was hiding. His lover had already been shot at. They never got a look at the shooter. It could just as easily have been this asshole. And since he’d failed once, why not just call Noah in and shoot him when his guard was dropped?