AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sasha released me and turned toward Jarrod, setting her hands on her hips and facing him down the same way I had. He could make almost any man cower, yet he kept getting run around by the women in his life. It was almost adorable.
“It had been twenty minutes. I know you—if there weren’t any gunshots yet, it was fine.”
“That’s not how this works and you know it.”
Sasha offered a dazzling smile, the sort of look that made it clear just how she’d gotten him to fall for her. “I also knew that even if there was something wrong, you’d protect me.”
Jarrod narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you try to play me like that, Sasha. I don’t make exceptions when it comes to your safety.” His words had a line of threat in them, a warning.
And Sasha entirely ignored it as she headed over to the fridge and opened it. “Let’s see what we have here. Perfect, there’s enough for me to make a stir-fry. Kenz, would you start the rice?”
Char, Hayden, Vance and Tor said nothing, looking around as though they weren’t sure how we’d gotten here, how the day had changed so much. Instead of a lazy day at home, they now had a stranger making food in their kitchen and a man with a gun on the counter.
Yet they recovered fast when Hayden shrugged. “Seems like we’re having lunch together. Vance, can you get extra dishes from the pantry?”
Sasha closed the fridge, veggies in her arms, before she gave one more pointed look at Jarrod. “Go set the table and remember my rule.”
“No guns at the table,” Jarrod muttered and hopped off the counter as though a child scolded for bad behavior.
Sasha pulled the knife from the block where it had been and pointed the end at my men. “That goes for you all.”
Hayden chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
And just like that, Sasha had managed to disarm a room full of dangerous men.Talk about impressive.
An hour later, I sat at the weirdest dinner I’d ever attended.
And that was saying something for me, since I’d eaten with Mafia bosses and famous celebrities and hitmen and politicians. None of those had quite this level of tension, though.
We all sat at the large table, with one empty seat since the table could seat eight. Sasha sat between Jarrod and me—probably because he wouldn’t allow her to sit beside men he didn’t know. The three of us were on one side of the table, with Hayden at the head of the table to my other side, then Char, Vance and Tor across from us. It left the other head of the table empty.
Keep the one who’s the most likely to shoot people away from others.
It felt like putting a reactive dog alone to prevent fights.
I glanced at Jarrod, who ate while never taking his gaze off the men across from him.
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably rude.” He didn’t so much as look my way even though I knew he’d intended his words for me. It seemed even if he didn’t look at anyone else, he knew what was going on.
“Well, this is incredibly awkward,” Sasha said with a laugh. “I’m sorry for Jarrod—he doesn’t have much socialization. We’re working on it.”
Jarrod snorted but didn’t argue.
Vance chuckled. “I’m pretty sure I like you. My name is Vance Moore.”
Sasha smiled in return. “My name is Sasha. I’m a nurse by trade, but I stopped doing it professionally. Now I work sort of on contract, helping out where I can.”
By which she meant that Nem and Jarrod would have her take care of injuries that would raise too many questions at the hospital.
Just like my bullet wound.
Sasha kept going, showing no signs of unease in the situation. “And I know exactly who you are. There was a showing of your work at an exhibit in California and I waited in line for an hour to get in. It was amazing.”
A bittersweet look crossed Vance’s face. “Thanks.”
Sasha seemed to pick up on the hesitation there, moving on, her gaze shifting to Hayden.
He picked up on her point. “My name is Hayden. I have a personal security business and I do bodyguard work as well.”
