Page 26 of Unexpected Complication

I had to laugh—I expected nothing less from her. Stubborn as hell, this one. She shrieked as I scooped her back up and carried her down the hall. “What are you doing?”

I stood her back on her feet in her room and handed her the comforter from her bed. “Cleaning up your mess. Wrap yourself up and sit down.” She paused, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t make me get my gun. I will if that’s the only way I can get you to cooperate.”

Grudgingly, she sat down, watching me as I cleaned up the mess. She frowned as I shoved the chair back into place. “Your privacy rights just went out the window, Kitten.” I chuckled. “Unlike you, they made it.”

“Ha-ha, fuckwit,” she muttered.

“Gun,” I warned.

“Asshole.”

I hid my smile.

There she was.

Foulmouthed, fuck-you-attitude, MacGyver girl of mine.

Wait.

Girl of mine?

I rolled my eyes at the thought.

She wasn’t very happy when I locked her in the bathroom so I could call Orson. I knew she’d be listening at the door, but I didn’t want to risk her yelling and then having to answer a lot of questions.

Rex answered, only grunting when I demanded to speak with Orson.

“Agent White has been found.” Orson’s cold voice sent a shudder down my spine.

“Yes, he was,” I said, making sure it sounded like I was sneering. “I believe the message was received loud and clear. Especially since his wife has gone missing too.”

His voice was surprised. “I didn’t know that was on the agenda.”

“It was personal.”

“I thought you didn’t include women in your…ah…résumé.”

“I, too, have contacts, Orson. I called in a favor.”

“Excellent,” he breathed.

I shut my eyes at the delight in his voice. Let him think what he wanted. As soon as I knew it was time to “remove” Harper, I’d had Frank arrange for Harper’s wife, Sarah, to disappear. Their house had been torn apart, making it look authentic in case anything was checked. Sarah was safe with Julia. When this was over, both Sean and Harper would join them in a new life. I glanced back to the closed door behind me. Hopefully, they would take Skylar with them. She deserved that chance.

“We need to meet.”

“I’m blocked in with a storm.”

“Ah, it has already hit where you are?”

I smirked, knowing he was trying to figure out where “where” was.

“Yep. I’ll be holed up for a couple days at least.”

“Fine. When it’s passed, I want you here again. I have a proposition for you.”

“I don’t like to be ordered around. You know this, Orson,” I snapped coldly. “I don’t need you.”

There was a pause. “Of course. I only meant I am anxious to discuss something with you.”