Street Game (GhostWalkers, #8)(65)

Kane nodded. “But he’s hungry. He said to eat fast and relieve him. I didn’t tell him Jaimie didn’t make the lasagna.” He grinned. “I didn’t want to destroy his good mood.”

“I made the sauce. You couldn’t have messed it up,” Jaimie pointed out.

“Don’t count on it, little sister. Javier had ideas.”

“You didn’t let that man touch the sauce, did you?”

“I tried to stop him,” Kane said piously. “I did, Jaimie. He whipped out that big knife of his and started cleaning his fingernails. I had to let him do whatever he wanted.”

“He wasn’t in my kitchen when he was cleaning his fingernails, was he?”

Kane leaned close, lowering his voice. “I don’t think sex works for either of you. You should be relaxed and feeling great, not hostile and tense. Maybe you need to have a little talk with me, boss. I could give you a couple of pointers.”

Mack snorted. “You’re going to give me pointers on sex.”

“I’m willing, boss. Just to help you out.”

Mack made a suggestion that was anatomically impossible, accompanied by sign language.

Jaimie put her foot on the stairs again. This time it was Kane stopping her. “You forgot your underwear, honey. I think your thong is under the desk there and your bra is on the floor next to the chair.”

Jaimie kicked him in the shins. “If we’re all going to be childish, I’m joining right in,” she snapped and stomped back across the room to sweep her undergarments up.

She couldn’t remember how they came off. Mack was good at that, getting her out of her panties and bra. Half the time when she lived with him, at home, she hadn’t worn any. He was prone to throwing her up against a wall or on a table, or bending her over a chair. The flashes of memories made her wet and her nipples hard. She could feel his eyes on her, and heat swept through her body. It was impossible not to think about the multiple climaxes he’d given her, when he was looking at her with that smug, male look on his face. Just for good measure she kicked him too as she swept by, her head up, her haughtiest look on her face.

“What was that for?” Mack demanded.

“We really need to talk, boss,” Kane said.

The two men followed Jaimie up the stairs. Jaimie hesitated at the top of the stairs and Mack dropped a casual arm around her, sweeping her beneath his shoulder as he walked her to the bathroom. He kept her close, his body between her and the others, wanting to make certain she was comfortable. These men were her family, ones she’d grown up with, but she was younger by several years and at a distinct disadvantage, unlike Rhianna, who was a rough-and-tumble tomboy. Jaimie lived in her brain and often felt separated from everyone.

Mack turned back to the others. They were already digging into the food, good-naturedly shoving at one another and jostling for position around the lasagna and salad. Javier stood to one side, eyeing a small laptop.

Bring him up, Brian, Mack ordered.

The room fell silent as Paul was brought into the room. Mack could almost feel sorry for the kid—almost. His skin was so pale he looked luminous, his freckles standing out. He was twenty-four, but looked fifteen. Like Javier, he had a boyish face. He was crack shot with his rifle and not bad in hand-to-hand. He’d completed all the required training to become a GhostWalker, which meant he had to have earned his tattoo. Mack knew no one would have gone easy on him, not with his looks. Javier had been driven pretty hard until his trainers began to look over their shoulders at night.

The boy looked scared, but he didn’t break. He didn’t drop his eyes or look away from Mack’s intimidating stare. Mack pointed to the spot in front of him. Paul walked reluctantly through the others to stop in front of Mack.

“I’m going to give you a chance to tell me what you were up to, Paul. Then Javier and Jaimie are going to take your laptop apart and get to the truth.”

“Permission to speak freely, Top,” Paul said.

“By all means.”

“If you’re going to tear my laptop apart, I’d rather see how good they really are.”

A slow, humorless smile added a mean twist to Mack’s mouth. “I think he’s just challenged you, Javier.”

The kid didn’t flinch, not even when Javier walked right up to him, nose to nose, dark eyes smoldering.

“Back off, Javier,” Mack ordered. “Just get the information I need.”

What am I looking for, boss?

You’ll know when you find it. He’s guilty over something. Could be nothing, could be treason.

“I’m on it, boss,” Javier said. He gave Paul another hard stare, turned, and took the laptop down the stairs to Jaimie’s workspace.

She emerged from the bathroom looking fresh. She’d changed her clothes. Mack studied her carefully. He knew her every mood and right now, she was very hesitant. He eased the situation immediately.

“I could use your help, honey,” he said. “Javier’s trying to get information off a computer for me. Would you give him a hand?” This is important, or I wouldn’t ask.

Her gaze flicked to his face, then to Paul, who stood stiffly at attention. “Of course. No problem.” Javier know what we’re looking for?

He sent her a negative shake of his head mentally. “Paul seems to think he might have something in his computer to keep you out.”