Page 52 of Wilde Nights in Paradise

“One of my informants,” Cam said and bit into something with a loud crunch. Probably one of the carrot sticks he’d taken to eating like candy after he quit smoking last year. “Soup’s reliable. Strung out, but his info’s always solid. He says K-Bar wouldn’t skip because Mama K-Bar put up her house for bond and her son wouldn’t want her ending up homeless. I believe him.”

“So where does that leave us?”

“I spent my day casting a net. If he shows anywhere in the city, we’ll be the first to know.”

“He may not be in the city,” Jude said and told Cam about the car that had been tailing them tonight. His brother reacted about like expected, with a litany of ear-blistering and creative curses.

He waited until Cam took a breath and added, “Which is why I need Reece to work his computer magic and lay a virtual trail to anywhere other than Key West.”

“Not happening. Reece is out,” Camden said. A tab popped on a can in the background. A beer, no doubt. Man, Jude could use one himself.

“What do you mean, out?”

“He took a home security contract that came in yesterday.”

“Fuck.” He dragged his hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. Sighed. Really, he didn’t know why he was surprised. “The last time we spoke, he wasn’t happy with me.”

“So what else is new?”

“But I never thought he’d actually leave me hanging.”

“You did almost blow the mission wide open. You endangered Libby Pruitt’s life.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Cam said, sounding not the least bit apologetic. Actually, there was a thick undercurrent of pissed off in his voice. “I have to side with Reece on this one. You were careless.”

“C’mon! There was no real threat in anyone seeing that Internet video and linking me to Libby. Not unless they wanted to dig back eight years and even then, it would be a difficult connection to make. I already told you I was careful about who saw us together.”

Camden made a sound full of disgust. “Man, you know I love you, but you are a complete asshole. Mom would be ashamed, the way you go through women like other men go through socks.”

Jude hissed softly as the barb struck home. Okay, that hurt, especially coming from Cam. He expected—hell, even looked forward to—those kind of remarks from Reece. But not Cam, the Wilde family’s glue, the peacemaker, the only one of his brothers that understood him. Or so he thought.

“Well,” he finally managed. At least his voice didn’t sound as raw as his emotions felt. “Everyone has flaws.”

“Some people more than others. You’re thirty fucking years old, Jude. When are you gonna straighten up your life?” Before he could formulate a response, Cam muttered a curse. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I’m exhausted, and my mouth’s working faster than my brain. I’m starting to sound like Reece.”

“No. You’re right. You’re both right. When this is over…” He trailed off. He didn’t know what would happen, but something had to change. He was tired of pretending. Tired of wearing a smile while everything else stayed locked up in his chest, slowly clawing him into shreds from the inside out.

“It is over,” Cam said. “Greer wants to pull you both out and relocate Libby to her father’s cabin in Vermont.”

So Pruitt had talked Greer into the cabin idea. If Jude thought that would do any good, he’d be in packing their bags now—wait. Cam only mentioned Libby’s name. RelocateLibby. “What about me?”

Cam stayed silent for a moment. “You’re coming home. Pruitt wants me to stay with her.”

“No.”

“Jude—”

“No fucking way.”

A pause. “Goddammit. Are you sleeping with her again?”

Okay, he hadn’t meant to give himself away like that. “So what?”

“So you’re seriously going to risk her life for a few more nights of fun?”

Jude’s teeth ground together so hard he felt his jaw pop from the pressure. “I’dneverrisk her life. For anything.”

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