Page 7 of Keeping Kasey (Love and Blood #3)

“You have my word, asshole ,” she bites out.

Her breathing deepens, and she holds out a hand, which surprisingly doesn’t shake.

I pull the vial back just before she can grab it. “I don’t tolerate disrespect.”

“I gave you my word—disrespect or not—now keep yours.”

My smile is wide as I screw off the cap of the vial to reveal the small needle and the button to inject it.

She takes it from me and stabs it into her thigh. She swallows back her wince as the antidote releases into her body.

“Feeling better?”

She tosses the vial onto the table. “I don’t work for free.”

“Name your price.”

“Depends on how long the project takes.”

“Three months, tops.”

She mulls it over before planting her feet on the ground and leaning forward in her chair to match my offensive posture. “Five million. Half up front, half when the job is done, and an extra million for each month if this takes longer than three.”

Her ability to snap into negotiation mode so quickly is impressive. Her delicate features harden into a stony poker face, and she squares her shoulders. Just a moment ago, she looked on the verge of passing out. Now, she’s ready to go to war.

This is going to be fun.

“Done. Be ready to leave by Monday.”

“Excuse me?”

It’s my brother who answers her now. “It’s last minute, but we don’t have time to waste.”

She inspects James momentarily, like she’d forgotten he was a person and not just a fixture. Whatever she sees there makes her lift her chin defiantly.

I’m starting to think defiant is Kasey’s default setting.

“That’s not how this works. I’m not going anywhere.”

“A six-hour round-trip commute is hardly sensible,” I say.

“I work remote.”

“How are you supposed to get the job done from here ?”

“Need I remind you what I was able to do to your base from over a hundred miles away? I work remote. No exceptions.”

My fascination with this girl is quickly warping into the need to wring her neck.

“ Make an exception.”

“Why should I?” she snaps.

Any signs of Kasey’s panic are long gone. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she already forgot who she was dealing with. But Kasey isn’t stupid—just unwilling to show that I’ve rattled her.

It’s an admirable quality and one I’m tempted to push.

But for now, I need her cooperation.

I lean back in my chair, and James leans forward.

“We keep all working staff close to the base,” James explains. “We have a monthly meeting that we require anyone associated with our base to attend. Besides, the work you’ll be doing is sensitive, so we’ll want to keep an eye on it.”

She tilts her head to one side, a sardonic grin spreading across her lips. I know before she opens her mouth that she’s going to argue.

It’s her favorite thing to do.

“You mean, keep an eye on me .” She leans back with arms crossed over her chest, and I can hardly be blamed for following the movement with my eyes just a little too long.

“You’ll have to excuse our hesitation to trust you,” I tell her.

“You asked for my word, and I gave it.”

“And now I’m going to hold you to it.”

She meets my stare head-on, lifting her chin once again. When my lip turns up, her eyes narrow even more. Our silent stand-off lasts several seconds. When Kasey finally relents, it’s with an exasperated sigh.

“I’m not going anywhere without Kane.”

“You’re not bringing your boyfriend.”

She rolls her eyes, and I try to remember the last time anyone aside from my siblings showed me such blatant disrespect.

“Kane is my dog,” she deadpans. “And he’ll need room to run around.”

James and I share a look, and I know he, too, is imagining the stretch of rubble, abandoned buildings, and railroads that surround the base. It’s an easily defendable location, but it’s hardly pet-friendly.

“That’s not going to work,” I tell her.

“Then neither will I,” she answers with a shrug.

“There are plenty of kennels that can accommodate his long-term stay. I’ll foot the bill.”

I’m already paying her an arm and a leg. What’s another few thousand dollars?

“I’m not going anywhere without Kane. It’s both of us, or neither. Your choice.”

“You really want to give me an ultimatum?”

“What I want is to work from home, but since that isn’t an option, I’m bringing Kane.”

Heat hits my chest again at her metaphorical cornering.

One deep breath. Two. Three.

“Stay at the manor,” I offer and feel—rather than see—James staring a hole into the side of my head.

“What?” she asks, looking caught off guard for the first time, which almost makes the idea of living under the same roof as this headache-in-human form worth it.

Enduring Kasey’s persistent snark will be worth it if it means having the opportunity to monitor her behavior. It’ll also make it easier to gain leverage on her—should the need for it arise.

“We have plenty of spare rooms and land for the dog,” James supplies, jumping on board with the idea likely for no other reason than maintaining our united front. “You’ll be more comfortable there than at the base anyway.”

It’s a long, tense moment while we wait for her objections, so when the single nod comes, it feels like a victory.

“Fine,” she says, pushing to stand so she can look down on me. “But if you ever drug me again, I will destroy your entire family with a keystroke.”

I stand, an easy smile on my lips, as I grab her cup and take a long sip.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say and shoot her a wink.

“ Five million dollars minimum ?” James says as soon as the car door shuts behind him. “Are you out of your mind?”

I had a feeling he wouldn’t be particularly fond of that part.

“And staying at the manor? What kind of message does that send to our soldiers? To her ?”

Or that part.

“If she can get the traitors out of our family for good, it’ll be worth it,” I tell him, pulling onto the road.

“And if she can’t?”

“You know what she’s capable of. If she can’t do this, I’m not sure it can be done.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t believe you actually trust her.”

I glance out the rearview mirror at the McDonald’s fading behind us.

“I don’t trust anyone who can be bought,” I answer. “She’s got an ego and a need to prove herself, but she isn’t out to get us. I think it’s worth the risk.”

“And if it doesn’t work? If we’re out a few million dollars, have a hacker who knows too much, and still have traitors in the family?”

I shrug. “Then we eliminate the threat.”

I can feel my brother studying me, but I have no idea what he’s looking for or whether he finds it. After a long moment, he shakes his head.

“She better be worth it.”

Somehow, I know she will be.