Page 83 of Cruel Ice

“Great.” A tiger’s smile. “And, Hunter, good buddy, how about you move that gun so it doesn’t keep pointing at me? Not that I think you’ll get twitchy with the trigger, but friends don’t point guns at friends.”

Declan inclined his head.

Hunter holstered his weapon. “Nothing personal.”

“Oh, I am sure it wasn’t,” Cade agreed. “Not personal at all.”

“Just couldn’t have you killing the boss. I like my paycheck.”

Cade grunted. “You think I don’t know he saved your ass? Try that shit with someone else. I know Declan was on the ground with your unit. Taking care of classified tech and drones and who the hell knows what else. He should have been a million miles away.” Cade’s brows rose as he studied Declan. “But you like to get your hands dirty, don’t you? I know all about how you picked up chatter about the attack on Hunter. How you took a damn Jeep, hauled ass, and got him to safety. I also know that he’d probably murder in cold blood for you without hesitation because you saved his life. You can’t buy loyalty like that. That’s just not how it works.” He flicked his fingers toward Marley. “And don’t even get me started on her…”

Declan stiffened. “Yes, don’t eventhinkof getting started on her.”

But Cade was studying Marley. A Marley who had gone uncharacteristically quiet. “Declan would murder foryouwith no hesitation,” Cade told her. “What would you do for him?”

Declan opened his mouth.

“Whatever needed doing,” Marley replied coolly. “And if you betray him, I’ll make sure you regret that unfortunate life choice.”

“Seriously, I can like you so much sometimes.” He flashed a smile toward her. Then grabbed for the limo’s door. “Come on, Hunter. Let’s go track down that sketchy detective.”

Cade and Hunter exited the vehicle. When they were clear, Andy ducked his head inside. “Are you ready to leave? Or do you need to speak with the investigators more?”

“Get us the hell out of here,” Declan said.

A curt nod. Andy shut the door with a soft click.

“Marley, I—” he began.

His phone rang.

She quirked a dark brow. “Better get that. The way your life isexploding,it could be life or death.”

He’d already yanked out the phone to peer at the screen. Royal. Hell. He put the phone to his ear. “I suspect the coverage is far worse than it looks.”

“You sure about that?” Came his brother’s dry reply. “Because where I’m standing—about ten feet from your limo, by the way—it looks like a clusterfuck. The sky is black, and I’m pretty sure someone just tried to blow you straight to hell.”

Royal would not be wrong about that situation.

“No injuries?” Royal queried. “You and your PI good?”

Declan turned his head and found Marley’s dark eyes on him.

I love you, Declan.

He swallowed. “We got out in time.”

“How near of a thing was it?” Royal pushed. Tension bit through the words.

“You sound like you care. Touching. Really.”

“How. Damn. Near. Was it?”

His grip tightened on the phone. “Pretty much as close as you can get.”And if I’d tried to flee via the stairwell, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“Heard there was a dead body inside the building.” Low. Careful. More controlled. “Glad to know it wasn’t you.”

“Again, there you go—sounding like you care.”