Hidden Away (KGI #3)(5)

Sam followed and slouched on the other end of the couch. “Mom is having a party for Rusty, and she’s made it clear the entire family is to attend.”

Garrett sighed. “What’s the party for? Her staying out of trouble for a month?”

Donovan snorted and resumed typing on his keyboard.

“It’s to celebrate the start of her senior year in school. And you have to hand it to the twerp, she’s done well since Mom took her in hand and made her sit her ass in class.”

Garrett grunted. Okay, yeah, the girl their mom had taken in—another of the strays Marlene Kelly was so famous for—had shaped up despite having a piss-poor attitude and a mouth to match. But Garrett wasn’t into being all congratulatory for doing what she should be doing anyway, which was take responsibility and act like an adult.

“Jesus, they’ll probably be buying her a car next,” he muttered.

“Already did,” Donovan called out.

At that Sam’s eyebrows shot up. “They did? When did this happen?”

“I talked to Mom earlier and she said Dad was out car shopping. It’s supposed to be a surprise for this party they’re throwing,” Donovan said.

Sam closed his eyes and Garrett shook his head. “Christ. That’s just what we need. A crazy-ass teenager with her own car. I hope to hell they insure her out the yin yang. She’ll get into a wreck and Mom and Dad will be sued and living on the streets in a month’s time.”

“We can always count on you to find the bright side in everything,” Sam said dryly.

Silence fell and Garrett leaned his head back, closing his eyes. Between the haphazard sleep and two days of extended workouts, he was wiped.

“You sleeping okay?” Sam asked.

Garrett opened his eyes and turned his head to see his brother watching him with a thoughtful expression. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Sophie said you’ve been up a lot.”

Garrett scowled. Definite drawback to living in a damn commune. “If she wasn’t up going to the bathroom fourteen times a night, she wouldn’t know I wasn’t sleeping.”

Sam chuckled but then he sobered. “Stuff bothering you, man?”

Garrett shoved impatiently at his hair, which needed a good clipping. Right now it stuck out on his head like some beach bum-surfer wannabe. “I’m good, okay?”

The last thing he wanted was to rehash the past. It was bad enough his brothers had to pick up the pieces and nurse his ass back to health when his mission had gone to shit six years ago. He didn’t want to be babysat again just because he was having a few bad dreams.

“Sophie said the contractors were breaking ground on the helipad today.”

Sam nodded. “I plan to go over after we meet with Resnick. Take a look around and see how the rest is coming along. I have Sophie studying house plans. She can’t decide how many bedrooms we need because, as much as she wants more children, she swears this one may be an only child.”

Garrett chuckled. “Ethan said Rachel’s already decided on their house.”

“Yeah, and what about you?”

Garrett frowned. A house? Hell, he hadn’t given it much thought. He’d lived with his brothers for so long that the idea of having his own place hadn’t really sunk it. But it would be nice. Yeah, he needed to start giving it some thought.

The beep of the intercom prevented his response.

Donovan rose from his chair at the computer. “Looks like Resnick is here.”

“Don’t get up,” Sam said when Garrett remained on the couch. “I’ll show him in.”

Garrett grinned. “Thanks. I was comfortable.”

Sam shot him a look and went to let their visitor in.

A few moments later, Sam returned with Resnick in tow. Typically, Resnick had one hand in his hair and the other piddling with the cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He took quick, short steps and his gaze constantly moved from side to side. Yep, he was a nervous, high-strung son of a bitch.

Garrett raised an eyebrow in Resnick’s direction. “Nice to see you, Adam. To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?”

Resnick fixed Garrett with his stare and pulled the cigarette from his mouth, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. “Lattimer’s finally f**ked up.”

For a moment Garrett stared at the other man, his mind completely blank. Gunfire echoed through his ears, and the acrid smell of blood filled his nostrils. He was taken back six years. To a place and time when his team had been set-up by the very man they’d been sent to save.

Rage seared through his veins despite his attempt to keep cool and not let the others know just how affected he was by the mere mention of Marcus Lattimer’s name.

“Get to the point,” Sam cut in. “Why are you here and what’s Lattimer f**king up got to do with us?”

Resnick’s gaze never left Garrett. He knew. It pissed Garrett off that Resnick knew just what buttons to push and how to exploit his weakness.

“We’ve got the best opportunity we’re ever likely to get to take Lattimer down. I need you for the job,” he said to Garrett.

Donovan rose from his seat and came to stand to the side of the couch where Garrett sat. “Garrett’s out of commission right now. Find someone else.”

Garrett held up his hand. Donovan meant well, and for that, Garrett couldn’t get pissed. Sam was already frowning, fully prepared to get the corncob wedged farther up his ass.