Page 39 of Puck

I wasn’t sure what to say to Layla, though, because it was obvious he hadn’t told her what he’d told me.

Layla’s expression brightened, and she poked me in the ribs. “He shared with you, didn’t he?”

I shrugged uncomfortably. “We talked.”

“He did!” She muffled a squeal. “He totally shared with you.”

I eyed her. “Why are you getting so worked up about this?”

She grabbed my arm and shook it. “Because Puck doesn’t share. I’ve killed people with the man, and he hasn’t told me dick about himself. All of the guys are like that—they only share with someone they feel is different, someone that means something. We’re all family, but we tend to keep our own counsel when it comes to heavy personal shit.”

“So what are you saying?”

She let go of me and folded her hands on her lap. “Nothing.”

“Layla.”

She shrugged. “I’m not saying anything. I’m just pointing out a pattern. Make of it what you will.” She was suddenly subdued.

I noticed Puck was watching us in the rearview mirror.

“Stop interrogating the woman, Layla,” Puck growled.

“I’m not interrogating,” Layla said. “We’re just talking.”

Puck just snorted. “You were pumping her for information.”

“Girl talk.”

“Gossip.”

“Idle backseat chitchat.”

“Puck, it’s fine.” I met his eyes in the mirror. “For real.”

Ivar cut in from the driver’s seat. “There is trouble.”

“Company?” Puck asked, leaning forward to check the side-view mirror.

“Ja. We are still some ways from the airfield yet, and I would like to dispose of them before we get there.”

Puck checked the magazine of his pistol, then set another one in the cup holder, handle facing up. “Let ’em get closer. I can handle them.”

“Better yet,” Layla said, “if Temple switches places with me, we can both handle them.”

“How many people does this Cain guy have on call to send after us?” I asked.

“A lot,” Layla, Puck, and Ivar all answered in unison.

“Oh.”

“He has a lot of resources,” Puck said, clarifying. “He can put the word out that he needs someone killed or captured, and anyone from the criminal element in the area will respond in droves, because Cain can and will pay out big. Plus, he has operational cells all over the world.”

“He sounds like a problem,” I said.

Puck snorted. “That’s an understatement.”

Layla had traded places with Temple and ejected the magazine of her pistol, then replaced it. “Only got a few rounds left in here, and no spare.”