Page 104 of Unleashed

When what I’ve said registers, I almost drop Trevor’s expensive dishes onto the floor. Because Zara and I don’t live here. We’re just staying here until...

I don’t really know when.

For all I do know, it could take another year to figure out what’s going on at McKinley Security Systems. To discover who hired the Dead Dans and who broke into my trailer.

And what happens at the end of that year? Am I going to pack up and go? Rip Zara away from the first place where she’s been truly safe?

That would just be silly.

The lock on the front door beeps as someone punches in the code, letting themselves in.

“Hello.” Mariah’s voice echoes down the hall. “I’ve got taco stuff.” She comes in carrying a triple-well slow cooker, a giant bag slung over one shoulder. “I hope you guys are hungry, because I made a crap-ton.”

“Oh my gosh, let me help you.” Lindsey quickly goes to Mariah’s side, taking the crockpot so Mariah doesn’t lose her hold on the bag. “This smells fantastic.”

“Mariah’s a chef.” Might as well continue filling Lindsey in on all the details. Especially if she’s going to be part of our friend group. “She’s also married to Titus, the oldest brother. He runs the tech department at McKinley Security Systems.”

Lindsey’s brows pinch together. “I don’t think I’ve met him yet.”

Mariah slings her bag up onto the counter. “He’s only in the office one day a week. Most of the time he works from home.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Because he likes to be up your ass.”

“I like having him up my ass.” Mariah starts unloading containers of chilled taco toppings. “He’s my favorite person.”

I snort. “I can’t imagine Trevor being around me twenty-four seven.”

Mariah stops what she’s doing and grins at me. “Is that your way of admitting he’s your favorite person?”

Goddammit.

“No.” I reach for her giant crockpot so I can move it close to an outlet. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So, Mariah is married to Titus, Ruth is married to Tucker, and you’re married to Trevor.” Lindsey counts off on her fingers as she goes. “Who are Tobias and Walker married to?”

“I am not married to Trevor.” I manage to get the crockpot into place, plugging it in and setting it on low. “We’re just…”

Living together. Fucking. Cuddling all night. Supporting each other when we get stressed and co-juggling my sister’s care.

“They’re just in love,” Mariah says in a singsongy voice, batting her lashes at me. “It’s adorable.”

I shoot her a glare. “If you ever refer to me as adorable again, we are no longer friends.”

Hoping I can move this conversation away from myself, I answer Lindsey’s question. “Tobias is married to Brooke, the woman I work for. She’ll be here soon. And Walker isn’t married.”

“Because finding someone to marry would require him to use more than three words a day,” Mariah adds on.

Lindsey frowns. It’s the first time I’ve seen her do anything besides smile, and it kinda throws me for a fucking loop. “Walker says more than three words a day.” She sounds oddly defensive of him.

Interesting…

But it also makes sense. He’s responsible for her future advancement at McKinley Security Systems. And advancing there is pretty fucking sweet.

“You’re right. I take it back. He does talk.” Mariah starts searching Trevor’s cabinets. “When I first moved here, we actually had a pretty nice conversation.”

“A conversation that led to your husband having a total meltdown.”

And considering Walker did it on purpose, maybe he does have a little bit of the same orneriness in him that the Bradshaw boys do. He might just be better at hiding it.