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“Shouldn’t you be in there?” I motioned with my head toward the house “Since you’re security”

Jake snorted, hiding a smile “Raize doesn’t need uy and the driver But between you and et antsy, want my hands free in case we need to shoot, you know?”

I’d have liked to say I didn’t know because needing to shoot a gun at a second’s notice wasn’t normal But it was for us

So I nodded, settling back in the seat “What’s he doing in there, anyway?”

I wasn’t looking at him, but I could feel Jake’s look sharpen “You never ask questions This because I asked about your family?”

I met his eyes, and no words were needed It was the reason, or ht have had a small trace of worry about Raize, since I noas the reason I wasn’t with Bronski again It would suck if I had to go back to him I’d probably have to kill him, and then who the fuck kneould happen

I had an agenda There was a reason I was sitting on my ass in the cold car, or at least I hoped there still was I wanted in with the Russians—just not through Bronski—and if ent to Texas, there were no Russians down there

“You got faht’ve been some attitude with that question

He grinned “Nah My parents divorced Moot a new fa out the front, his head bobbing “And good for her, you know? My old man and mewe ain’t close”

I narrowedme this?”

“You asked”

I shifted again It was getting hot in this damn car “You knohat I mean”

He didn’t answer right away

I started to think he wouldn’t

Then, still facing forward, he spoke “I’ve been here a bit Youto Texas, and it’s obvious we’ve all hitched our wagons to Raize, and he’s hitched his to you, so I figure what’s the har to know each other a bit? It’s not like any of us are leaving any time soon, you know?”

Yeah… I knew

Still, I didn’t like talking about fahter “No family”

“Yeah” He sounded tired and sad at the saot a new man”

I looked

Raize was headed our way, a big guy right behind hiuy looked uncomfortable in an oversized suit But his face was bland—no tattoos, no scars He hite, with so He had dark-blond hair that was flapping all over the place in the wind He was a good five inches taller than Raize, as over six feet, so the dude was big He had a slight sto clothesinto thinking he was chunky and not big and h his neck was just huge