Manaconda (Hammered #1)(42)

There was a pause then a picture came through my phone. My eyebrows shot up. Had a similar look to Hunter only he was all light to Hunter’s dark.



CR: Yeah, so he’s hot as F. Older brother, Noah Jordan, ex-Army Ranger, now turned bodyguard. Works for Roth & Silver.

KM: Didn’t see that one coming.

CR: A Ranger and a Rockstar? Testosterone levels = max. Def can’t let Felicity meet them.



I shook my head, but had to admit that was a little too much manly man in the Jordan family.



KM: Felicity’s get out of jail free card is for Jensen Ackles anyway.

CR: Isn’t he everybody’s?

KM: Damn right.

CR: I expect a full report.

KM: Goodnight Carter.

CR: How am I supposed to live vicariously through you if ur stingy on the deets?

KM: Find a new hobby.

CR: Pft.



I checked the other messages that had come in while talking to Carter and shoved my phone back in my bag. Hunter was definitely the biggest fire I had to put out.

When the Uber pulled up to the station, Bethany’s eyes went wide.

“You’re going here?”

“You’re not my only client.”

“I mean, I knew you were riding the Manaconda, but I didn’t know it was a full-service thing.”

“Excuse me?”

Bethany tucked herself into the far corner of the car. “Nothing.”

My brain was actually going to boil. Honestly. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It’s just that people aren’t sure if he’s your client or boyfriend.”

Dammit. I was supposed to be in girlfriend mode, not PR fix-it stage. And I was definitely not going to discuss that with this little gossip hungry girl. “Right home, Bethany.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

But she was already on her phone. She was raising her phone to take a picture of the precinct. And that would be on Facebook and Twitter in about thirty seconds. Just awesome.

I ran up the steps and followed the signs to booking. It was still early in the night, and a Wednesday. Fairly quiet as far as arrests go. Unfortunately I’d been in this particular police station many times.

“Who’s in trouble this time, Red?”

I turned to the voice behind me. “We have to stop meeting this way.”

“Well, if you’d go out with me, then I wouldn’t have to accost you at the station every time you’re here to clean up one of your delinquent’s messes.”

I laughed and hugged my favorite cop in all the world. “It’s been awhile, Remy.”

Crinkles fanned out at the corners of his chocolate eyes. “Who you here for this time?”

“Me.”

I pulled back and dropped my arms. Hunter.

“That true?” Remy folded his arms over his chest.

I met Hunter’s angry gaze. “I’m still making up my mind.”





19





Hunter





“Don’t do me any favors.” The rage I’d almost put back in the box surged again. Noah dropped a hand onto my shoulder, his grip firm.

“What my little brother means, is we have it handled. Thanks, love, but you can be on your way.”

I fisted my hands.

She looked up at the cop. “Is he free to go?”

The officer inclined his head. “Just processed him out. Evidently he’s got friends in high places.”

“We’re sorry for the disturbance.”

“Don’t apologize for me,” I said tightly.

She curled her fingers tighter around her phone. “Someone should.”

Shame climbed up my gut into my throat. First I had to call my big brother to bail me out, and now Kenny was looking at me like I was chewed gum on hot pavement.

Banner day, Jordan.

She lifted her chin and stepped forward. “I’m here for Indie’s sake. Not yours.”

I cracked my knuckles. They hurt like hell, and the pain cleared my head. “I used my one phone call. I’m good.”

“Everything cool, Red?”

She threw a sweet smile over her shoulder. “Thanks, Remy. We’ll be fine.”

The cop gave me a hard look before he returned to the room that I’d just been booked in. She was clean and fresh. Her hair was a mass of fistable curls that I wanted spread across my damn pillow. Fuck that, I wanted them across my belly again, with her sleeping beside me. I was dying to put my face in her neck. To breathe in her sweet floral scent until the sweat and stench of the jail faded into a memory—but I still had fingerprint ink staining the pads of my fingers and blood in my teeth.

I was a goddamn mess.

And Kennedy’s client had been the one to remind me who I used to be. Kennedy lived and breathed everything I hated about this damn town. In fact, it was her job to perpetuate it.

No matter how much I wanted her, I couldn’t let that back in my life again.

“Go home, Kennedy.”

Her amber eyes glittered before the polite mask fell over her face. “I’m glad you’re all right. I’ll let Indie know you’re out.”

“I already did.”

“Right.” She looked down at her phone, typed in something before dropping it into her purse. “Then if everything’s taken care of here, I’ll leave you in your brother’s capable hands.” She turned with a blank look before heading for the door.