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The couple retreated to the bar.
“OJ?” Harris asked with a wink.
She grinned at him. “Straight up?”
He chuckled and handed her the orange juice. “No ice, though.” He raised a brow at her.
“You are so stingy on the ice. I mean we are in ice, Harris. There’s a shit ton of it just outside the door.”
Snickering at her ranting, he grabbed a bottle of water.
“Just water?”
He nodded and came around to sit next to her.
She reached out to the cut below his eye. “I’m sorry about this morning.”
He looked into her eyes. “I deserved it and more.”
“Harr—”
He grabbed her chin. “I knew what I was doing. I am a bastard you know?”
“You are not!”
“Oh, but I am.”
“You are a beautiful one though,” she whispered.
Laughing, he kissed her lightly on the lips.
Wanting so much more, she grabbed his face to get a real kiss.
He pulled back “Oh, no. Not while big brother is around.”
Riley pouted.
“So adorable.” He grinned.
“I can’t help it if you are too scared.”
He raised a brow at her. “Really? You’re going to go there again?” His voice went low in warning.
Riley giggled. “Oh, hell yeah. Again and again.”
He tilted his head back and laughed.
“Come and get it, guys!” Walker called from the kitchen.
They rose up and got their plates then sat at the breakfast nook counter.
“Wow, omelets, eh?” Harris looked impressed.
“Yeah, in our household, the men cooked.” He laughed.
Riley raised her fork. “Can you tell me about our family?”
Walker sat and looked surprised. “Tell you?”
Harris spoke up, “She doesn’t remember. Remember?”
“Oh. Well, we had great parents.” He took a bite of his food.
“Had?” she asked.
He nodded and took a sip of his milk then swallowed. “They died two years ago in a car crash.”
Gasping, Riley dropped her fork with a clatter.
Harris grasped her hand.
“What kind of crap is that?” She glared at her brother.
“What?” He wiped his mouth with a paper towel.
“No preamble, no easing into it. Just… they’re dead!”
He stared at her. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m used to it by now. And maybe with what I’ve been through, I lost my dammed sensitivity, ok?”
Riley stared at him.
“Besides, no one knew who caused it. Was a hit and run.”
She felt saddened…Cheated somehow.
“Until you poked your nose in it. Tracked the man down and the evidence. Gave it to the cops and the man is in prison.” He took another bite of his food.
Her eyes widened.
“Well, I believe that.” Harris took a forkful of his food too.
Riley stared down at her plate.
“Eat, Ridge.” Harris nodded at her.
“Why do you keep calling her that?” Walker asked.
Harris shrugged. “She didn’t have a name.”
“So, you gave her one?” Walker stared at him.
“Yeah. I mean what? Should I have called her SHE?”
Walker laughed. “I bet she drove you nuts.”
Harris laughed with him. “Absolutely looney.”
“HELLO? I’m sitting right here!” she yelled.
The guys both laughed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Noah and Tanner sat over their plan of attack for a couple of hours. How to get in and how to get out. Faulkner had an estate that was nearly attack proof. It would be gutsy to go after a general and just the two of them too. However, two of their kind was like 20 normal men.
Yet, they had no choice but to kill this man. Their lives would never be safe as long as he lived. Ridge would never be safe. This alone was enough reason to take the fucker out.
Tanner had told him of the trail he’d followed. From the suicide bomber that set himself off that fateful day, all the way to the source of the bomb, then a payment to the bomber’s family. Before he could go further, he’d been captured and got loose after a month. Following his escape, he went to pick up his secret cash. They all had access to immediate funds for getting out of tough spots, bribing officials, paying for access to get through customs and out of different backwater countries. Using it to buy his way to the top of the chain, Tanner found Faulkner was the man who’d ordered it. He had sabotaged their team. Two men dead. Two good men.
Noah didn’t doubt Tanner’s findings. He was as good as Noah was, trained the same way. No, there was no mistake. Tanner told him of the chain of discovery and it all made sense.
Tanner stood up and stretched his body. “Okay, I’m going to get some rest. It was quite the trip up this dammed mountain. Then in the morning, we’ll get our weapons and explosives ready, check the copter over, load it up and be ready.
Noah nodded.
“So where did my kid sister go?”
Noah shrugged. “Said she was taking a nap?” He hid his smile, because in fact knew she was sleeping soundly. He’d worn her out last night, though he certainly wasn’t going to tell this man that.
