Page 54 of Heresy

Tentatively, I bring the phone back to my ear. “You sure?”

“Not really, but I’m up, so tell me why that is exactly before I start yelling again.”

I hate to sound like a broken record, but there really is only one reason I can give him. “Because I need you to get to the shop and call Brinley in.”

More yelling. I pull the phone away in time.

“Why? Why does it have to be this early in the morning?”

Briefly wondering who would win in a screaming match, Tanner or Priest, I bring the phone back to my ear and explain, “For my convenience. And so I can get this shit over with and send her on her way as soon as possible.”

Don’t get me wrong. Brinley is adorable, especially when she’s mad. How I’d forgotten about her completely before seeing her again last night is beyond my comprehension. I’m usually better than that. And keeping her around for a few days, or maybe even a week, wouldn’t be a bad thing. But there are a few problems with that already.

Number one: She’s a target.

Number two: She apparently hates me.

And number three: If things don’t go as smoothly as I want them to today, she’s going to hate me even more.

I’m hoping three won’t be an issue. But there’s always a chance.

It’s difficult to get a woman in bed when she’s as pissed as a spitting cat and is trying to rip your eyes out. And there is always a possibility that’ll happen.

Maybe I’ll just play it by ear. Leave all options open. It would be a dick move, but I’d still be able to sleep well at night regardless.

The thought crosses my mind to have Priest handle the rest of this job since he and Brinley got along when he drove her home last night. At least from what he told me after dropping her off, they had. But involving Priest any deeper than I already have is a risk for him. It would be one more task drawing him into the bullshit with the Inferno … and with our fathers.

I’m not willing to take that risk.

Plus, let’s face it… If Brinley doesn’t act the way I’m hoping she’ll act, new tactics will have to be in play, and I’m not quite sure Priest is enough on the wrong side of what’s acceptable to handle what needs to be done.

He has rules, regardless of how much he’s willing to bend them.

I don’t. And that makes me the best player for this particular match.

“It has to be this early because I’m leaving in the next few minutes to meet Tanner at the office.”

“So fucking what?”

Priest is yelling again.

I pull the phone back to my ear.

“Which means I’ll be on that side of town.”

Phone away. My arm is getting a workout.

“And your point?”

Phone back. “And my point is that if she’s already on her way into the shop, then I can haul ass there from the office, get what I need and this thing is done before noon. Your life returns to normal and so does mine.”

I start pulling the phone away again, only to stop when he lets out a low grumble, curses under his breath, and finally relents to what I’m telling him.

“Fine,” he says, his voice scratchy from lack of sleep and irritation. “What do you want me to explain to her is wrong with her car?”

It occurs to me I never asked him what he did to the car in the first place. “How did you disable it?”

“Disconnected the starter.”

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