Page 80 of Oath

“I love it,” she said, with real warmth. “And I love that you’re paranoid enough to think of it.”

“Not paranoid. Just prepared.” I hesitated, then added quietly, “You get in trouble, you stall. Long enough for us to get to you.”

“I know.”

I nodded, jaw tight. “I still don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to,” she said gently. “You just have to let me do it.”

I looked at her again—really looked. She’d taken a couple of hours and gone to a salon. Voodoo had covered her while she got her hair, cosmetics, and nails done. She’d said something about her eyebrows and lashes, but she was just—stunning.

“Gracie?”

“Hmm?”

“When we get a free night, feel like getting all dressed up and let me take you out? Like for a real date?” I hadn’t really done anything like that with her and… I wanted to know more about what she liked.

Fuck, I just wanted her.

“Yes.” No prevarication, no caveats, and no conditions. Just a simple acceptance.

“You come back in one piece,” I ordered. “I mean it, no scratches or bruises. Hell, I don’t want even one hair out of place.” Damn, I was starting to sound like Bones.

She leaned up on her toes and kissed my cheek. “You’ll all be there to make sure I do.”

Damn right I would.

BONES

NOW

LOCATION: VAN ON THE INTERSTATE

Everything hurt, but a soft hand held mine and it was the first thing that registered as awareness snapped through me. There was a trick to waking without alerting any potential observers, but my last memory was Grace giving me hell, so I just opened my eyes.

Voodoo was right there and he had a hand on my shoulder before I could move. It was dark, we were in a vehicle, and on the road. Voices carried from the front—Alphabet and Lunchbox. Where was…? Voodoo cut his gaze to my left and I turned my head.

She was curled up right next to me and it was her hand in mine. Hair disheveled with wisps tangling everywhere, she was stunning.

“She’s fine. You’re out. That operation is shut down. I’ll brief you on the particulars later.”

“O’Rourke?” I asked in a rough voice, but I kept my gaze on Grace. She’d walked in there to rescue me in a goddamn sexy dress and pair of stiletto heels I wasn’t sure whether to kiss her or spank her. Probably both.

“We dumped him… alive. For the moment. We can change that if we decide otherwise, but we wanted him gone.”

Acceptable. For now.

“I want a full debrief.”

“You’ll get it,” Voodoo said, his tone implacable. “Afteryou rest. We’re heading back to base. We all need the break to retrench and get ready.”

Grace.

Grace needed to get ready for the next part and I lifted her soft hand up to rest it against my chest and held it there. Everything hurt, even my palms. But I wasn’t letting her go.

Wild thing had walked in there like she was badass on a mission.

“Bryant,” I said in a low voice.