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Neither Summer’s smile nor her expression indicated the fact that she could no doubt tell Alyssa wasn’t pleased to see her there. “I saw Gia and Falcone at the airport in D.C., actually, and just invited myself along.” Summer’s gaze narrowed on her. “And here I thought we were friends.” Pretty, intense violet eyes, though warm and watching Alyssa fondly, flashed with her own displeasure. “I was headin’ here anyway, though, so no biggie. Shame on you, not lettin’ a friend know you’re in all this kind of danger. I had to find out from Falcone. You know how much I love just shootin’ people, and you didn’t offer me the chance? For shame.”
Pursing her lips in a pretense of thoughtfulness, Alyssa gave Summer a mocking look. “And you’re not getting the chance now.”
Summer merely rolled her eyes. “Not an acceptable apology, but you can try again whenever you pull that stick outta your ass and give me a hug. It’s been forever.”
“It’s been six months,” Alyssa reminded her.
“Well, like I said, forevah.” Summer didn’t give her a chance to refuse a hug. She moved far too quickly for the four-inch heels she was wearing with the white and floral print sundress with its fragile straps and snug bodice.
“I missed you, sugah,” Summer whispered as she embraced her. “And you shoulda called me.”
“I’ll remember that,” Alyssa assured her, and they both knew she was lying. “And you have some explanations to make when all this is over.” She stepped back as Summer released her. “Now, all of you go home until you’re invited to return.”
Hurt flashed in Summer’s eyes, followed by narrow-eyed displeasure.
“Alyssa.” Falcone drew her attention. His expression had hardened, his gaze turning to ice. “Gia and Summer are both part of my team. They go no place unless I give them the order to do so. And I’m not giving it. But you can discuss it with Shane and Sebastian if you wish.”
Discuss it with Shane and Sebastian, if she wished?
Alyssa shot Summer an accusing look.
“What sort of team, Falcone?” she asked sweetly, giving him a smile that she made certain was all teeth. “Or is that information privileged? Top secret perhaps?”
“That smile isn’t a good thing, Falcone,” Summer sighed. “She’s not above throwin’ us out.”
“You were already told to leave,” Alyssa reminded her calmly. “The rest of you can join her. Maybe you’ll get lucky and she’ll give you a ride back to wherever on her daddy’s private plane.”
“Now, Alyssa, sugah.” Summer propped a hand on her shapely hip. “You know we’re not going anywhere. So you can just stop with all the angry orders.” Direct violet eyes met Alyssa’s as Summer batted her lashes in an attempt to be charming.
Alyssa wasn’t charmed.
She could see the stubbornness in that gaze as well, and she knew how irritating Summer could get when she was in one of those stubborn moods.
“And I don’t care much for her daddy’s plane. I prefer my own. Not that I’ll be using it to leave this job. Now, where are Shane and Sebastian?” Falcone was running out of patience and wasn’t that just too damned bad, Alyssa thought.
At that moment Raeg stepped from the family room on the other side of the foyer.
“Probably hiding,” Raeg drawled with chilling disapproval as he turned to Alyssa. “Thank you, dear, for informing me that Miss Peach here was arriving.”
“Raeg, what part of ‘I wasn’t invited’ didn’t y’all eavesdrop on? And I declare I’ve never heard of a Bartlett peach in the whole of my life. Why, y’all are just getting your fruits all kinds of confused, aren’t you, darlin’? Rather like you do your women,” Summer drawled with such southern ice that Alyssa was a bit surprised.
Raeg appeared pissed. Not just angry but also personally pissed.
“Or like you confuse your employers?” he snapped. “Who is it today? DHS? FBI? CIA? Or some other alphabet agency willing to overlook your lack of loyalty?”
Summer turned her startling eyes on Raeg with a pout. “Friends help busybodies, ya know? Employers give severance pay for the aggravation of having to kill. Multiple employers mean multiple benefits.” Her smile was all innocent charm.
Falcone appeared bored by the theatrics, while Gia’s smile was filled with amusement. Alyssa had just had enough.
“Raeg, have security escort them from the property while I track down Shane and Sebastian and let them know how much I appreciate warnings and so forth.”
“Are y’all sellin’ tickets to that little shindig, sugah? I’m buyin’ if you are.” Summer laughed.
“No, Summer, you are leaving. Now,” Alyssa stated. “But don’t worry, you and I will talk when everything here is settled. You can bet on it.”
Refusing to argue further, Alyssa strode quickly through the foyer to the doorway at the end of the entryway. Striding quickly to her father’s office, she decided it was time to inform her lovers of exactly what she thought of this latest development.
*
