Page 94 of The Bronze Garza

“No.” Jo shakes her head. “Fate and Madame Universe are at war over you. And let’s just say, my money’s on Fate.”

ChapterTwenty-Four

“But you’ve already fallen, haven’t you?”

Torin

I rest the heel of mypalm on the horn and don’t let up until the front door of the European-style home opens and Reuben jogs out.

He’s halfway down the steps when his pregnant wife shadows the door and calls after him. He pivots to collect the cellphone she’s holding out for him, stealing a quick kiss from her before jogging off again.

Jules looks ahead of him to the waiting vehicle and waves. “Hey, Torin!”

I honk in response.

Reuben yanks open the passenger door and jumps in, grousing, “You said ten.”

I hit the gas. “I saidnine.”

He curses under his breath. “You understand I’m on vacation, right?”

“You rest when I rest.”

“Jules thinks I should ask for a demotion.”

“What, she won’t miss the comfortable life you can afford her?”

“We’ve got more than enough saved.”

“Wait ‘til the baby’s born before you ask for that demotion,” I say dryly. “Something tells me Jules isn’t the type to stop at one, and those little shits aren’t cheap.”

“You’re an assfuck.”

“I know.”

Reuben Wright is the closest living thing to me aside from my brothers, and I don’t trust them half as much as I do him. Bastard son of a New York senator, we fought side-by-side in Afghanistan together. Survived together. And have had each other’s backs ever since.

He knows more than my brothers know, and is probably even more capable than I am, which is why he’s the one I take with me on every mission. He’s patient where I’m not. A soother where I’m an abrasive dick. But underneath, he’s wickedly calculated, cold, and deadly in the way one’ll never see it coming.

He could bitch until the cows come home, he’s never getting demoted from being my right hand. Fucker’s stuck with me.

“Are we driving out or taking the copter?” he asks.

“You wanna spend two hours in a car with me?” I rib. “Aw, didn’t know you craved my attention that much.”

“Copter it is.”

“Trent’s flying.”

He chuckles. “Training him to be you, huh?”

“Someone’s gotta take over when I’m inevitably taken out.”

Reuben snorts. “If you think that person’s Trent then you really haven’t been paying attention like you used to.”

“You don’t think it’s him?”

“Let’s put it this way, in a year or two,he’sgonna be asking for a demotion,” he says. “Trent’s not in it for the long haul, trust me.”