Page 84 of Gluttony
Her two co-workers shared a knowing smirk.
“Oh, shut it,” she snapped. “Yes, I’m dating Tony Lazarus. You probably saw it splashed all over the tabloids.”
Tomas laughed. “Is there something in the water here? How many Lazaruses are left single?”
“Dibs on Liza,” Damien laughed, scratching his beard in contemplation.
“Who does that leave me with? Parker?” Tomas snorted. “I think I’m a bit little for him.”
It was true, Tomas was under six foot. But what he lacked for in height, he made up for in speed and intimidation. Tattoos covered most of his body, and he had a way of looking at you that made you balk. He was an asset to the team.
Bailey’s brows raised as high as they could go. “He’d crush you between his thighs like a walnut.”
“Yeah. Hate to burst your bubble, mate, but as far as I know, he’s not gay.” Damien added, continuing with his tease.
“That hair, man,” Tomas added. “I’m jealous.”
Damien twisted on his chair to focus on Bailey. “If you’re not here for the meeting, then why are you here?”
“I—” Damn. She didn’t know how much she could tell them about yesterday. She hated lying. “I lost my firearm. I need a new one.”
Fortunately, Max entered from the street, saving her need to defend her rookie mistake. Losing your firearm was a big no-no.
Max’s perceptive brown eyes landed on her, skipped over her uniform, and narrowed. “I thought you wouldn’t be in for a few days.”
“I need something to do.”
“And what does Tony think about that?”
“He doesn’t control me.”
“You know what I mean.” Max slid his jacket off. “After our conversation with the family last night, I don’t think it’s safe for you to be out on jobs. You’re a target now.”
Aw, hell no. She was not going to lock herself away like a princess in a tower.
“You’re a target too,” she pointed out. “Does that mean you’re going to take a back seat on jobs?”
A loud masculine clearing of the throat brought both their attentions to where Damien and Tomas glared with shrewd eyes that missed nothing.
Tomas’s features slackened. “What aren’t you two telling us?”
Damien added to the tension with his own flat lips and clenched jaw. He folded his immense arms and lifted his brows. “What’s going on?”
Max sighed and walked over to their desks. His was at a quarter angle to theirs. He placed his jacket on the back of the wheelie chair and then braced himself on the desk, two hands flexing on the laminate. After a deep exhale, he shot Bailey a glance. “I just came from speaking with Parker. Since they’re low on resources, and two of us know already and are trusted, they want the rest of the team to come on board.”
“Do you think that’s wise? I mean, they’re not protected by another identity.” She tapped her finger on her lip. “I suppose you and I aren’t either.”
“Exactly why Parker’s considering expanding.”
“Ah-hum.” Tomas once again cleared his throat.
“Yeah, dudes. We’restillhere,” Damien added.
“Sorry.” Max gestured for Bailey to stand next to him, then he turned to his crew and said, “The Lazarus family are the Deadly Seven.”
Tomas and Damien stared blankly, blinking. After a full thirty seconds, they shared a confused glance, and then Damien said, “We know.”
“You know?” Max frowned.
