Jacked Up (Bowen Boys #4)(94)

Jack nodded.

“I heard Exxum had a mishap,” James added. “Had a weird allergic reaction to some exotic berry and kicked the bucket.”

“Yeah, I heard that too.” The police had gotten involved with the kidnapping, but it had looked like he was going to get away with it. After all, he hadn’t been at the club and he’d made sure his bodyguard lawyered up right away.

“I thought you wanted to send him to jail,” James reprimanded him. “Do it the standard way.”

“That was before he dared to go after Elle. I gave the police a shot. It didn’t work.”

“Any news about Nico?”

Jack shook his head. “Last I heard, Mullen had been told by his superior that Nico had interceded for us, showing proof of Maldonado’s involvement in Aalto’s death and the trail of murders after his.” According to his contacts, Nico was running the Cali cartel.

“Who is he working for?”

“I don’t know,” Jack admitted, and then changed the subject, handing his friend an envelope. “Got something for you.”

“What is it?”

“Your sister.”

James froze. “Fuck, man. You found her?”

Jack nodded. Unsealing closed adoption records was a bit tricky, what with having to go to court and all that shit. Not to mention that the judges tended to agree only if the adopted child made the petition; so he’d gone another route and now owed Mullen and his contacts a huge debt, but whatever.

James was still, staring at the envelope.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

“I’ll get Cole and Max first. Thank you,” he said.

“Don’t mention it. Just keep it in mind when I’m being difficult on the job.”

James clapped him on his back, and taking the envelope, headed to where Cole and Max were sitting.

Leaning on the counter, Jack watched as Elle navigated her way through the crowd toward him and was intercepted by a guy who had been looking at her while she was dancing.

He came closer to say something in her ear, placing his hand on her arm. She smiled but took a step back, pulling herself away from his touch, shaking her head, keeping her distance.

Jack felt like rushing to her and flooring the mofo, but he forced himself to remain still.

Soon enough Elle got rid of the * and approached, hooking her finger through his belt loop and pulling. “Come dance with me, Borg.”

The music had changed into a ballad. He didn’t budge and she frowned, turning back to him. Fuck, she was so cute. And he loved her so much. Jack cupped her neck and brought her to him for a long, wet kiss.

“Please?” she whispered against his lips.

This time, when she pulled the belt loop, he trailed after her to the dance floor. There was nothing he could deny her. Absolutely nothing. Whatever she wanted, he’d give it to her. Fucking horrifying, yet he couldn’t stop smiling. Nuts.

He engulfed her in his arms, her body melting into his.

“Having fun?” he asked into her ear as they danced.

“I’ll still party with the girls and go out occasionally.”

He knew. But he could take it.

Elle cupped his face and looked him straight in the eye. “I will always come home to you and I will never cheat on you.”

“I know. I trust you.”

And he did. Totally.

The music stopped and Jack looked at his watch: 00:00

“Happy birthday, pet,” he whispered into her ear. “Enjoy your present.”


THE PLACE WASN’T too full, but she didn’t realize a group of people dressed in long trench coats and covering their faces with hats had appeared until they were all over the place. What the hell?

Suddenly she heard “Well, this car could be systematic.” Boom and the bunch that had situated themselves around the dance floor shucked off their coats.

“Hydromatic,” came from the speakers. Boom and the hats went flying, their faces down.

“Automatic.”

Boom, and the group lifted their arms and their heads.

Oh God, it was her flash mob. Dressed in black and leather. Her breath caught in her throat.

“Why, it could be greased lightning!”

Elle couldn’t stop laughing. That was her song, the one she always wanted to dance to but she always got outvoted.

The one she knew the steps to by heart.

Without thinking twice, she joined them while everyone cheered and sang.

She caught on very fast and in no time she was dancing and laughing, throwing her arm up and pointing from left to right, her only regret that she didn’t have leather pants on.

By the end of the song everyone was applauding and whistling.

Elle hugged the flash mobbers closest to her and then searched for Jack. The moment she spotted him, she threw herself into his arms.

“Thank you so much,” she said, showering him with kisses while he chuckled. “Who would have guessed you actually listen to me when I talk.”

“I always listen, pet.”

“How did you get them to agree to this?”

He shrugged, sheepishly. “I just asked. Believe it or not, people have trouble saying no to me. I intimidate them.”

She burst into laughter. “You don’t say.”