Ryan quickly explains Cruz’s background and why he’s killing so many people. Is it bad I’ve become so jaded that I just shrug and agree he’s doing the right thing? When this is done, I might need to rethink my job with the FBI. Maybe Ryan has a job opening I can apply for.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back.
I wait for Dutch just inside the garage doors. I admit it, I miss her. When you’re the kid whose sister was murdered, you don’t end up with a lot of friends in school. I was a freshman when it happened, and friends I’d had since kindergarten jumped ship.
Over the years, I’ve managed a few friendships here and there, but not like the kind I have with Dutch. It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to be completely honest with someone about my past, Rebecca, and my job.
The roar of a bike rumbling into the garage has me craning my neck, and I wave when they come into sight. Cruz parks a few feet from me, and Dutch jumps off, a wide grin splitting her face. She crushes me with a bear hug, and I can feel the excitement pouring off her. She’s practically buzzing.
Cruz pulls off his helmet, setting it on the seat, then removes his leather jacket, showing off what looks like a full-sleeve tribal tattoo on his right arm. Aww, that’s so cute. They’re like mirror twins.
As he prowls forward—because that’s what he does, prowls, not walks—my eyes widen. Fuck. No wonder Dutch could never forget this guy. He’s built and hot as fuck. His eyes are on her, almost burning in their intensity, and the chemistry between them is practically igniting the air.
I’ve only been standing next to them for about a minute, and I think I need a cold shower.
“Hi, I’m Susannah, the best friend,” I announce, sticking my hand out. Cruz’s hand swallows mine, and I almost want to ask Dutch if the old “check the thumb to determine the size” saying is true. I think better of it and firm my lips.
“Cruz,” he replies, dropping his hand and returning his gaze to Dutch.
Alrighty then. A man of few words. Gotcha.
“Ryan’s got us set up at their place for the movie,” I tell Dutch as we head inside. “I’ve been curious since you mentioned it.” I lean closer and whisper, “Please don’t tell me you made a sex tape and are making us watch it. Your brother will be there. That’s just wrong.”
Dutch cackles and slides her hand into Cruz’s. “Nah. We made a snuff film.”
Oh shit.
Chapter 34
Dutch
Asweascendinthe elevator, I can feel Cruz growing stiff beside me. It can’t be easy for him to go into something he doesn’t know, with people he doesn’t trust. I squeeze his hand, and he looks down at me, some of the hardness in his eyes softening.
“It’ll be fine,” I murmur to him. “There are a lot of men here, but their women are here too. Well, except for Ryan, but that’s another story.”
“You never did tell me who you’re working with.”
Susannah side-eyes me but stays silent, listening to our conversation. I lean toward her. “I refused to tell him anything until he decided he was here to stay and would help us with Vincenzo.”
Her eyes widen and she nods, giving me a small smile.
Turning back to Cruz, I admit, “Susannah’s in the FBI. She has her twin lovers with her.”
“Hey!” Susannah elbows me in the side, and I laugh back at her.
“The Charon Group, which you already know. Ryan, Jase, and Kian.” Cruz grows even stiffer. “Then there’s Trey, a hacker, and his wife, the Retribution Killer.”
“I like her work,” he says begrudgingly.
“There’s my brother, Nate, his wife Tessa, and husband Eric. Eric is a hacker, and both he and Nate are assassins. And finally, The Duke.”
“Jesus, I thought she was a myth.”
“Nope, she’s as real as I am. She and another of the Charon Group’s teams are staying elsewhere, they’re infiltrating my father’s businesses to help us gain intel.”
“You really do have some powerful friends, don’t you?”
I tilt my head back, grinning up at him. “Yep.” He chuckles and places a kiss on my forehead just as the elevator stops on Ryan’s floor.
