AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The computer science degree comes in handy sometimes. Now, let’s dig a little deeper on Mr. Carruthers.” She made a humming sound. “I have to say, this machine and the secure connection are excellent. Darcy knows her stuff.”
“Carruthers has legitimate businesses, right?” Boone asked.
“Yes. Manufacturing, refrigeration, and air conditioning.” She frowned. “Probably makes it easy to hide nefarious deals in industrial warehouses.”
“Nefarious?” Boone smiled at her.
“It means evil, Boone.”
“I know. I’ve just never heard someone actually use it.”
She poked her tongue out at him. “Oh, Darcy also sent through some data on Carruthers that she’d collated.” Gemma clicked the keys, then she sucked in a harsh breath.
“Gemma?” He pressed a hand to her shoulder.
“It’s a list of the arms sales he’s allegedly made.God. Missiles. Material for bombs.” She felt sick. “He sells to terrorist groups, Boone.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You don’t look surprised.”
He shrugged. “I unfortunately came across some shitty people over my years with Ghost Ops. The worst were the ones who put on a good-guy front to the world, while they did the complete opposite in the shadows.”
Gemma whirled onto her knees. “Groups like the Taliban. The people who attack our troops, who took you and killed…”
“My friends. Yeah, men like Carruthers are scum.”
She leaned against his leg for a second, offering him comfort, then swiveled back to the laptop. “Do you think we can find what Carruthers is shopping around for? Maybe that’ll help me work out why he’s coming after me? Do arms dealers have a shopping list or a menu?”
“Vander could get that information.”
“I’ll send him an email.” She hunched over the laptop, then sent off the email. “Now, we just wait.”
“Yes.”
“Waiting is no fun.”
“We can agree on that.”
Gemma rose. “I’m going to get started on dinner. I promised Shep an excellent meal and I’m going to deliver. First up, I have a pie to bake.”
Baking and cooking kept her busy, and kept her mind off the arms dealer hunting her. She lost herself in the pleasure of making the apple pie and getting the crust just right. She made meatballs, and prepped her famous garlic bread.
As dinner time neared, she darted around the kitchen. She wanted the meal to be perfect. As a thank you to Boone and Shep for everything they were doing to help her.
The men were currently out on the porch, drinking a beer and throwing a stick to Atlas. The cool afternoon had given way to a cold evening. The temperatures had dropped, and Boone had the fire roaring.
Smiling, she checked on the spaghetti she had boiling on the stove. She’d doubled the portion she usually made—she was pretty sure Boone and Shep would eat a lot more than she was used to.
The apple pie sat on a plate on the counter. She smiled. She was sure Shep would love it.
She wished they were all just friends, sharing a meal.
She wished she wasn’t being hunted.
Gemma sagged against the counter, her mind turning to Carruthers. Who the hell did he think he was? Ordering men to snatch her? And why?
She sighed. Thanks to her father, she’d met lots of powerful, wealthy men who believed they could do whatever the hell they wanted.
