Page 5 of Weston’s Treasure

“The only problem I have is you. One I’ll forget all about as soon as I leave here.”

“If you think that, then you’re naïve and haven’t been paying attention.”

Gah. He was annoying.

“Then tell me, Mr. Know-It-All, what am I missing?”

“You sure you didn’t ask any questions today?”

“Positive.”

“You didn’t snoop around? Spook the men moving the drugs? Didn’t look at them funny? Didn’t act weird?”

“No to all of that.”

I seriously wished he’d move this along so I could go home.

“Then you’ve been compromised.”

Say what? Compromised?

“I don’t know what that means.”

“You’ve been burned, sweetheart. The traffickers were tipped off, that you tipped off the authorities. Which means you got problems.”

It took my brain a moment to fully comprehend what Weston was saying. It was impossible. No one knew I’d been talking to the Coast Guard or Homeland Security. I hadn’t taken any time off of work to go to DC, I only went when I was off rotation. I hadn’t kept any documentation of what I’d found and hadn’t written anything down. There was no way anyone knew.

“You’re wrong,” I told Weston. “And stop calling me sweetheart, it’s condescending.”

“Serious as fuck, that’s what you’re gonna bitch about? Someone tried to kill you today and you’re worried about me being condescending?”

Well, when he put it like that, it seemed I did indeed have bigger fish to fry. However, me being me, meaning I was stubborn as all-hell, I was latching on to the part about him being a jerk rather than freak out that someone had tried to off me.

“Yes, that’s what I’m bitchin’ about, sweetheart. And if you don’t like it there’s a way to put an end—”

I didn’t have a chance to finish my hissy fit because Weston moved, and he did it so fast I didn’t have time to prepare before his shoulder hit my stomach and I was airborne. Surprisingly he hadn’t hurt me in his endeavor but it did piss me right the fuck off.

“Put me down.”

He didn’t. He kept walking toward the house and when I lifted my head I saw Holden behind me with a broad smile.

“This isn’t funny, Holden.”

“It sure as fuck is.” He shook his head, still smiling.

“If you think so, then you’re just as much of a jerk as Weston.”

“Right.”

The brick walkway gave way to wooden steps, then a porch, and finally Weston stepped over the threshold but didn’t put me down. He continued into the living room and set me on my feet.

“I don’t even know what to say to you,” I told him once I was steady and staring at his angry face.

“You can start by saying thank you for saving your ass today. Then you can promise me you’ll stop being stupid. After that, you can give me your word you’re not gonna run and get yourself into more trouble.”

“Don’t hold your breath.”

“Fucking stubborn,” he snarled.