Page 55 of Unchained

“Yup, and he’s been out since March.”

Brooks muttered a curse. “I hate that he was given any freedom, but at least it’ll make him easier to kill.”

Dare grimaced. “About that.” He wiped his hand on a napkin. “Turns out the bastard has a lot of enemies. He has a private team of bodyguards with him at all times.”

Brooks ground his knuckles into the counter. No way he’d let that stop him. But he also couldn’t ask everyone else to put themselves in jeopardy. Cam covered his hand with hers, but he kept his gaze on the smooth stone under his palms. If he looked at her, he’d lose his nerve. He’d back away from the task that just might kill him. And he couldn’t do that.

CHAPTER 18

Cam blinked at the group of testosterone-filled men then fixed her attention on Brooks. His jaw remained in a hard, unmoving state, and heat pulsated off his body. Part of her hoped he’d give up his pursuit of Conrad. Going against armed guards wasn’t the brightest idea, especially with Brooks’s penchant for vengeance. But she knew it wouldn’t stop him.

“Give me the address,” Brooks said. “I’ll take it from here.”

Nash snorted. “You think I’m scared of a few rent-a-cops? Not a chance. Pretty sure I can speak for everyone.”

Cole sat in one of the chairs. “Piece of cake.”

Dare shrugged. “I’m good, too.”

Cole pinned Dare and Nash with his gaze, his lips tilted in what could pass for either a snarl or amusement. Gosh, he was scary. “Tess and Lexi would tan your asses if they knew what you were planning.”

Dare popped a cherry tomato in his mouth. “You’re just mad ’cause you’re alone all the time.”

Cole’s eyes blazed fire.

“Okay,” Cam said, clapping her hands to change the subject before the guys got heated. “How do you plan to get to Conrad with guards in the way? Dare, did you happen to find out how many men he has on watch at a time?”

Dare swiveled his gaze away from his seething brother. “Yeah. Two during the day and three at night.”

Cam lifted a shoulder. “I know squat about assassinating someone, but four against three sounds like good odds.”

Brooks roared with laughter, Nash threw his head back, Dare chuckled, and even Cole cracked a smile. Butterflies beat in Cam’s stomach. Not that she cared that these guys thought she was funny, but part of her wanted to be accepted by Brooks’s family. She wasn’t going to examine that need right now, but at least they liked the food and she hadn’t made an ass of herself yet.

If someone had told her a week ago that in a matter of days, she’d be discussing how to plan a murder, she would have died laughing. She’d become someone so foreign to herself it made her uneasy. At the same time, she wouldn’t trade knowing Brooks to have her old life back.

“All right.” Nash stood. “We’ve got a few hours to go over the blueprints and drone footage. Better get started.”

Brooks guffawed. “Holy shit. How’d you get all that so soon?”

Nash clapped his brother on the shoulder. “I told you, he’s a whizz with some things. Dumb as a bag of hammers with others.”

Dare shoved his brother. “You’re such a moron.”

“What’s Lexi doing?” Brooks asked, his voice weighty.

Cam lifted her chin to examine his face. Strain lined his eyes, and she was reminded of the hard news he’d received about his parents. God, how she wished she could relieve some of his pain. He’d carried the news well, but assessing someone’s state based on how they were acting was next to impossible. He’d probably buried a lot of feelings that only a great deal of mental work and therapy would uncover. After all of this, she’d make sure he sought help—even if they parted ways.

“She had some work to catch up on, and then Tess is going over to keep her company,” Nash said. He cocked his head. “Sorry. You guys have probably learned so many new names since you got here. Tess is Dare’s fiancée.”

“Is Dallas married?” Cam asked.

Cole dropped his head back, suggesting that the talk of relationships would bore him to death. Ignoring him, she looked pointedly at Nash and Dare.

Nash shook his head. “Nope. Dallas is a free agent. It’s better that way.” He stood and jerked his head at Brooks. “Come help us bring in the stuff.”

Cam furrowed her brow as the brothers got up and left. Brooks swept his hand around her hip and kissed her temple. “Hang in there. We’re almost through this.” His hand fell away, and her skin turned cold without his presence. She watched his back retreat from the room and then headed to the door.

Nash hauled a bag out of the back of his truck and tossed it to Dare. Next, he handed an industrial-looking black briefcase to Cole before passing a duffel bag to Brooks. Finally, he retrieved a backpack and hooked it over his shoulder. Dare climbed the steps, and she backed up as he entered.

---