Page 89 of Smith

“You sent them in here,” Ivy accused.

“Yup.”

It must be noted Zane didn’t sound remorseful in any way.

“They’re not spies, Zane.”

“Not yet and not ever if they don’t learn to keep their traps shut.”

With a harassed huff Ivy sat back in her chair.

“I should’ve married an accountant and had little number-pusher children.”

“Bet that would’ve been boring as fuck,” Zane shot back, unaffected.

“Bet an accountant wouldn’t call my breast milk, boob juice.”

“Bet an accountant wouldn’t know what to do with your breasts.”

It would be a guess, but a good one, they could go on all day.

“As amusing as this is, I have a spreadsheet to finish,” I cut in.

“This is my conference room,” Zane pointed out.

“Yes, and I’m kicking you out of it so I can work.”

Unfortunately, Zane didn’t move. More unfortunately, he looked like he had something on his mind, and after the morning I’d had I wasn’t in the mood for Zane’s brand of sarcasm.

“Please. I need to finish this. Then I need a ride to my house so I can get clean clothes and a checkbook.”

“I can take you,” Ivy offered.

“Smith is on his way back,” Zane said.

I wasn’t sure if that was a warning or a denial to Ivy’s offer. Whichever it was made my heartrate kick up a notch and my interest piqued.

“Did they find anything?”

“Yeah, the red Tesla. The owner loaned it to Billy. Kira is going over the travel history now. Easton and Jonas helped themselves to Billy’s house. They didn’t find anything. Tonight the team’s going back to apprehend Billy and bring him in for questioning.”

My stomach whooshed, leaving me feeling a little nauseous.

So it was over.

I’d run out of time.

“Whatever’s going on in that head of yours, lock it down. Your mission’s not over.”

My mission.

Pure Zane.

Sadly, I was afraid my mission was going to fail like the boys had.

“Lesson, Aria,” Zane mimicked what he’d told his son. “There’s failure and there’s quitting. There’s no shame in failing. Quitting.” He shook his head. “Weak.”

If Zane was going to say more, feet pounding into the conference room had his attention silently going to the door.

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