“I will never lie to you, Jodi. You have my word.”
Yeah, she knew that. “Sorry. Hang on.” She covered the phone and turned her face up to Hunter. Before she could explain, he took her mouth in a firm, warm kiss that both incited and comforted. Against his lips, she murmured, “Parrish wants to talk to you.”
Curving his hand around her cheek, he used his thumb to brush away a remaining tear. “Fine by me, as long as you know I’m not giving you up. Not to King, not to Remmy, and not even to Parrish McKenzie.”
How did he always know exactly what to say? “You have a gift.”
“In bed? Yeah, with you.”
Laughing, she leaned into him more. She enjoyed him so much...that maybe it was more than falling in love. Maybe she’d done something really reckless, like already fall. Hard.
Forever.
In love with Hunter Osborn. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t quite as scary as she’d figured. “At this point, you’d probably have to remove me bodily, and I might shoot you if you tried.”
“Good.” With a satisfied grin, Hunter took the phone from her and pressed the speaker button. “Hunter Osborn here.”
Getting right to it, Parrish said, “Jodi has agreed to let me make plans, as long as I take into account a few suggestions she has.”
“Of course she did. She’s shrewd enough to always take the right path.”
“Jodi?” Parrish said.
“Hmm?”
“He’s a keeper.”
She straightened away from Hunter, or at least she tried to, but he held on. “Behave, Parrish.”
With a light laugh, Parrish said, “Both of you will stay away from King until I’ve finalized things.”
“How long?” Jodi asked.
“Within a few hours or less.” His tone became stern. “I don’t want either of you alone.”
Rolling her eyes, Jodi grumbled, “Now you’re pacifying me?” He probably knew she didn’t want to be alone, so this was his way of helping to salvage her pride.
“I’m not one to pacify, you should know that. It’s safer for both of you if you’re together. You will each stay armed at all times. Even within your homes or vehicles.”
Shrugging, Hunter said, “With you so far.”
“The car you were supposed to work on for Worth, have you considered that it would be bugged?”
They looked at each other. It bothered Jodi that she hadn’t thought of it. “No, but you’re right, it’s possible. Could be done even without Worth knowing.” As an aside, she said, “He’s not the sharpest tool.”
Into the quiet, Memphis said, “If you don’t mind me interjecting, I can sweep the car for listening devices, no problem.”
“Ah, Memphis Osborn,” Parrish said. “The somewhat-techie younger brother.”
Instead of being insulted, Memphis grinned and squeezed in next to Turbo, leaning in and speaking into the phone. “Compared to most, there’s no somewhat about it, but I’ll concede I’m not in Madison’s league.”
“Few are,” Parrish agreed. “I appreciate your realistic estimation of your skills. Far more useful than bloated boasting.”
“Parrish,” Jodi complained. “Don’t insult Hunter’s brother either.”
Memphis grinned at her. “I’m not insulted, but thank you.”
Parrish gave a rude clearing of his throat. “As you’ll find out soon enough, I’ve already gotten started on arranging things.”
“Before my agreement?” Jodi asked.
“Your agreement was a foregone conclusion.”
Her mouth dropped open, then snapped shut. “It was not!”
As if to explain to Hunter and Memphis, Parrish said, “She’s always more disagreeable when she’s worried. You’ve been given fair warning.”
They both smiled at her this time. Jodi threw up her hands.
“The firefighters are packing up to go. There will be no investigation.”
There went her jaw again. She knew the leverage he had, and still it astounded her. “Just like that?”
“Of course. I also know where they have your friend. For now, he’s unharmed.”
Shoulders dropping in relief, Jodi said, “Thank you.”
“How do you know?” Hunter asked, and Memphis looked equally curious.
“Once Jodi mentioned everything to Madison last night, she arranged some surveillance. It was easiest to pick up from King’s residence, but also at one of his businesses, and at an office for the rental units where Remmy Gardner was staying. He was escorted out a while ago and taken to a more remote location. No security cameras there, but luckily, she was able to access Remmy’s cell. Even now, she’s connected to them. The problem is that the battery on his phone might run out faster, so we have to move quickly.”
“So, let’s hear the plan,” Jodi said. She was much better at acting than she was at waiting.
“First, there’s something else you need to know. For some reason that I don’t yet understand, they grabbed the car salesman as well.”
Omigod. “Worth? Worth Linlow?” Was he in on it? Or, as Remmy had suggested, did Worth sign his own death warrant by aligning with the wrong person? Fool.
“He was taken forcefully, and at present, I have no idea of his condition, so we don’t want to delay too long.”
“Just long enough,” Hunter said, “to ensure Jodi is safe.”
“That you’re all safe,” Parrish stressed. “And to that end, reinforcements are on the way.”
Hunter and Memphis shared another look, but Jodi knew exactly what that meant. The big guns were headed in. Guess she was in for a family reunion.
“Until then,” Parrish continued, “there’s something important that I want you to do.”
Sitting forward, Jodi nodded. “Go.”
* * *
REMMY WAS STARTING to sweat. Figuratively and literally. There was no air in the shack, and with only two small windows open, every breath filled him with the scent of Worth’s blood. Though King knocked back two mixed drinks, made from a cooler that had been carried in, no one else was offered anything.
Rude prick. He really ought to make a move while the others were equally uncomfortable. Maybe they’d help him to take out King, rather than jump to his defense.