Page 150 of Joker in the Pack

“Zander had a nice chat, and Larry said he just liked to watch the girls. It was difficult to prove otherwise, but you never know how things are going to escalate, so Emmy had a word with a guy she knows. The only girls Larry’s going to be watching for a while are the nurses in the secure hospital we’ve parked him in.”

Nye gave a low groan. “So I owe Emmy another favour now?”

Janelle shrugged. “Larry won’t be getting out until she gives the okay.”

“How is it possible to lock somebody up like that?” I asked. “Aren’t there rules?”

Nye bent to kiss me on the forehead. “Best not to ask. Does it bother you?”

That Larry couldn’t prey on more women, “just watching” or not? “Honestly?” I blew out a breath, thinking over how much I’d changed in the last few weeks. “No, it doesn’t. I’m glad he’s out of the way.”

“Good.” Nye sniffed the air, bloodhound-like. “Is that food? They tried to make me eat cold toast with jelly this morning.” He made a face. “I couldn’t stomach it.”

“This coming from the man who used to live on Pop-Tarts?”

As he swung me into the air, I shrieked and wrapped my legs around his waist.

“What can I say, babe? My tastes have changed.” He leaned in closer and nuzzled my ear. “Do we have any of that cream left?”

“Yes, but Maddie and Mickey are still here.”

“Not for long. Jannie, can you take Liv’s friends out somewhere?”

She stood up straighter and her eyes took on a devious glint. “Lunch at Le Coeur Noir?”

Well, Janelle sure knew her restaurants, because she’d just picked out the most expensive one in West London.

“You’re killing me.”

“Three courses and cocktails.”

“Two courses and wine, and only if you’re out of here in ten minutes.”

“We’ll be gone in five.”

Maddie blew me a kiss as the three of them ran for the lift. “Be bad, Liv.”

Alone at last, and despite Nye’s brave face, I’d seen him wince when he lifted me up.

“How’s your shoulder?” I asked.

“I’ve got painkillers.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“The doctors picked out all the pellets. I might end up with a few scars, and it stings like hell, but there shouldn’t be any lasting damage.” He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against mine. “Fuck, Liv. I’ve never been so scared as when I saw him pointing that gun at you.”

“That’s my line.”

“Let’s agree to share, okay?”

I blew out a long breath, letting the last of Tate’s poison leach out of my body. “It’s over now. Tate’s dead, Fenton’s going to jail, Larry’s out of the way, and we’ve got a whole future to look forward to.”

A slow smile crept over Nye’s face. Slow and devious. “At the moment, I’m only looking ahead to the next couple of hours. You’re wearing far too many clothes.”

“What about the crêpes?”

“Later.”

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