Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption (Road to Redemption #1)(84)

My mind whirls with thoughts of what they might’ve heard through the muffled shit. We could use this to our advantage.

A silent moment passes between Green and me. I give her a wink and a smile.

“So you really think I should take Walker up on his offer?”

It might not be him listening in, but I figure whomever it is knows him. Or maybe he’s just another piece to whatever puzzle is being manipulated lately.

If they want me to play, I may as well play. Right?

Win-win, as far as I’m concerned.

Green’s thrown off by the question, at first, but it doesn’t take her long to catch up.

“I do.”

“I wish I had your f*cking confidence.”

“It makes sense.”

“Give me a reason, Green. Any reason why I should trust that guy.”

Her lips form a thin line. I’ve stumped her.

“Your brother trusts him.”

Damn. She’s unstumpable.

“You got me there.”

Nice touch covering Nick’s ass, but more than that, Walker’s.

Why would she wanna cover Walker’s ass?

Her mood lightens after that.

“Plus, you’d get benefits and stability, and─”

“I’m my own boss right now, though. Don’t forget that.” I can’t help but point out the one major flaw in giving in to this idea.

“No offense, Stiles,” she says. “But you’re kind of a shitty boss.”

“What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?”

I should be offended. Right?

“You work too many hours. You have no social life. You’re beat up, you drink too much, and that cigarette in your pocket makes me” —she pulls her eyes closed and makes fists with her hands— "crazy.”

“It’s a metaphor.” How does she not get that?

“Bullshit.” She’s serious, yet she laughs.

This woman.

She also might be getting to know me a little too well if you know what the f*ck I’m saying here.

I drag a hand through my hair and land at the back of my neck, trying to stretch out the kinks that have formed. I blow some air out and stare down the small piece of machinery I’m holding.

Who are you?

I want to talk into it, like Liam Neeson from that f*cked up movie Taken. I want to tell the person on the other end that I’ll find them then I’ll kill them.

The truth is, I’m less pissed off about the fact they’ve been listening in than I am over the assumption that I’m stupid enough to take Walker’s bait.

“Yeah,” I finally breathe out, ready to get down and dirty with this flimsy as f*ck, barely put together plan I’m concocting. “Maybe it’s time to give the guy a second chance.”

I peek over at Green. She looks worried and not at all excited about the whole idea of someone listening to us. Or me pretending to take Walker up on his lame offer. But a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do to take down the asshats who like to shoot kids while they’re not looking. Even if that group might consist of parties belonging to the Redemption motherf*cking Police Department.

I need to get some actual conversation in with Green, so I push the bug into a paper towel and then another, just in case. I put the whole kit and caboodle somewhere I know they aren’t gonna hear anything else they shouldn’t hear. Unless I f*cking want them to hear it, that is.

I open the hall closet door and find a jacket I haven’t worn in years. I slip the silver mic into the front pocket and gently close the door.

Breathing never felt so good.

“Fucking A.” Green looks flushed and relieved as she falls back onto the couch. “I thought I was getting hives there for a minute.”

She’s pretty badass sometimes. Geeky, but badass. And damn, when the curse words come out of her mouth. Anything I was about to start planning is thrown out the window with one dirty word.

“Jesus, Green. Say that again.”

“I was getting─”

“Not that.” A slow grin forms across her expression.

“I don’t understand.”

I crawl up onto the couch next to her. I’m face-to-face with her when I say it. “Bullshit.”

Her lips pucker. Her brow forms a look of curious wonder as to where I’m going with this. But it’s all fake. The wonder, that is. She knows where I’m going with this.

“You mean f*ck?”

See?

My head bobs in a slow nod. “Yes.”

She whispers it into my ear this time.

“Fuck.”

Every hair on my body and every nerve under my skin stands at attention. Not to mention, my dick. He’s got a great salute.

With a deliberate motion, I lay her flat on her back and hover over her, hungry for that same intensity we created last night.

Green’s got other plans, though.

“Don’t you think we should─”

“Not now, Green.” I tell her. We can deal with Walker and the bug later. “Now, I want to do what I’m told by the woman with the dirty mouth.”

“You w─” her breath catches when I dip down to kiss her neck, then the back of her ear, before repeating her own words to her.

“Fuck.”

Green hums and it sends me into overdrive. But it doesn’t last. Her iPhone alarm goes off, and her focus is shattered into a million tiny pieces.