Page 138 of Wilde and Deadly

“Isn’t it smote?” Bridger asked.

Liam, voice hoarse, offered, “Smitten?”

“Oh my God,” Tessa said with a nervous laugh.

“Whatever it is, we’re gonna be it soon,” Weston muttered, his attention locked on the final sequence of wires. “This thing has more failsafes than I like.”

“I’d likezerofailsafes,” Liam rasped. “If that’s an option.”

“You and me both,mon ami.” Sabin twisted the last lock, the metal clicking softly as the hasp popped free. A heartbeat later, the final restraint keeping the vest in place loosened. “Well, Liam, good news—you are now free from your fashionable straightjacket of death.” He flicked the now-useless padlock onto the ground with a dramatic flourish. “Bad news—it’s still trying to kill you.”

Bridger shot him a flat look. “You’re not funny.”

Sabin placed a hand over his heart like he was mortally wounded. “Mon ami, that is simply untrue.”

“Sabin, shut up,” Tessa said and looked at Weston. “Can we just take it off him and run?”

Bridger shifted, glancing at the vest like he was considering ripping it off his brother. Weston’s hands never stopped moving, but he didn’t answer immediately.

“What if it has a pressure trigger?” Rowan asked the obvious question since nobody else seemed to want to.

Weston didn’t hesitate. “It doesn’t. I checked.”

“And if you’re wrong?” Sabin asked.

“Then we won’t have to worry about it for long.”

Tessa made a strangled sound. “Oh my God, West.”

Liam huffed out a pained laugh. “Yeah, not comforting, man.”

“Can we take it off him or not?” Rowan asked.

Weston finally looked up, but instead of looking at the rest of them, he met Liam’s exhausted gaze. “I don’t think we should take the time. I only have minutes. If we waste them trying to get it off you, we won’t have time to get clear of the blast zone. But it’s your call, Liam. Either way, I’m here with you until the end.”

Liam swallowed hard. “Diffuse it.”

Weston nodded, his jaw clenched tight as he refocused on the tangle of wires. “The rest of you should leave.”

“Fuck that.” Rowan’s fingers flexed around her weapon. She hated this waiting, but she wasn’t running. “We’re staying.”

“But…” Liam lifted his head sluggishly, his gaze locking onto his brother with quiet determination. “Bridger has to go.”

Bridger crossed his arms. “I think Rowan said it best: Fuck that.”

“Bridge—”

“I’m not leaving.” He signed as he spoke, as if making damn sure his brother understood him. “Stop asking.”

“Stop being stubborn.”

“Stop being an ass.”

Liam exhaled hard, his bloodied face set like stone. “Mom and Dad arenotlosing both of us tonight.”

Bridger flinched. The words had landed like a physical blow, just as Liam had calculated.

Bridger held his ground, shaking his head. “No.”

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