Page 58 of The Hardest Hit

“Mm,” said Jackson, nodding. Riley shot him an annoyed glare.

“That’s it? That’s a bombshell and all you’re going to say ismm?”

“No,” said Jackson. “You’re a bombshell.Thatis information that explains what the hell a Southern Neo-Nazi group was doing on Evan’s train.”

She looked pleased with his compliment.

“Has he said who hired him?”

“I really shouldn’t discuss it,” she said, getting up and pulling open her lingerie drawer.

“Aren’t you just going to put your underwear back on?” he asked as she pulled out a new set of panties.

“Of course not! Those are now floor panties. I know how often I scrub my floor. I’m not putting those back on.”

“I’m now feeling less than confident about my boxers. Thanks for that. Meanwhile, seriously, just tell me. You know I’m going to find out anyway.”

“J.P. Granger,” she said as she strapped into a new industrial-strength brassiere. Big breasts, as far as Jackson could tell, required engineering and structural support.

“Mm,” said Jackson again.

“God, we really can never date,” said Riley.

“Mm,” said Jackson for a third time. He’d formed that opinion a year ago, but he didn’t want his fucking pass rescinded.

“I’d end up arrested for your murder after you saidmmat me for the fiftieth time.”

“Sounds like that’s my cue to vacate,” said Jackson, getting up.

“Thanks for coming,” she called after him as he went down the hall, collecting his clothes. Jackson didn’t respond that the pleasure was all his, but he thought about it.

“Thanks for calling!” he said, zipping up his pants. “I’ll talk to Aiden.”

“Great! Can you toss me my dress?”

He chucked her dress into the bedroom and then left, dialing Pete as he went down the stairs.

“Already?” asked Pete.

“She has to get back to work,” said Jackson. “Meanwhile, you can start targeting your digging. The lead asshole, Redneck Drew, is flipping and claiming they were hired by J.P. Granger.”

“Damn,” said Pete. “All right. What do you want to do now?”

“I want to find Granger and punch him in the fucking face until he gets the message that messing with my family is a bad idea.”

“Not your best plan,” said Pete.

“Just find out where he is,” said Jackson. “I’ll work on a better plan.”

21

Olivia – Meet Nika

Olivia poured herself the last of the bottle of wine and dutifully stirred the stir fry thing Evan was making. She was standing well back, because it was still Tuesday night, damn it, and she was naked. Evan had disappeared into the pantry to get something and once he came back out she was going to abdicate all of her responsibilities and lounge about and watch her boyfriend cook in his underwear. Because: Tuesday, damn it.

“Hey, Ev,” called a female voice from the foyer. “You home? I brought that suitcase—”

A tall, slender blonde came around the corner, and Olivia shrieked and grabbed for the first things that came to hand, which were oven mitts. She slapped them over herself and stared in horror at the girl on the other side of the breakfast bar.