Cut and Run 08 Ball & Chain by Abigail Roux Read Free Book Online Page B

tight. “That’s my girl!”
    “How in the hell did you become the favorite?” Ty grumbled. He looked genuinely upset, and Zane gave him an apologetic smile. He’d actually spent more time with Ty’s niece than Ty had because of the deployment, and he’d overcome his awkwardness with children to become quite comfortable with her. He carried her over to the golf cart, leaving Ty to gather the rest of Zane’s bags for him.
    Ty and Nick piled the bags onto the cage on top of the cart. Nick and Kelly took the rear seat, facing backward, and Zane set Amelia between himself and Ty as Deacon guided them toward the main house.
    “Pretty swank, Deuce,” Ty said, leaning forward so he wouldn’t have to yell.
    “Oh my God, wait until you see the house,” Deuce said, laughing.
    “My granddaddy had a flair for the dramatic,” Livi told them. “I mean, the place was pretty dramatic to start with from what I understand, but he completely gutted and redid it when he inherited it.
    “How long’s the island been in your family?” Zane asked.
    “A little over a century. When the steel boom started and the robber baron era came along, my great-great-grandfather bought the island and built the mansion as a way to escape public outcry when his dealings went shady.”
    Zane raised both eyebrows, impressed with her candid handling of her family’s not-so-stellar history. “Wow.”
    “I’m going to die in Scotland,” Nick said under his breath. “In a kilt.”
    Zane coughed to cover his laugh.
    “The castle ruins on the lee side of the island are from the sixteenth century. But the main house was built in the late 1800s,” Livi continued. “The island was produced by an extinct volcano, so it’s riddled with caves, lava tubes, and cliffs. The house is built near the highest cliff, actually. You guys should have plenty of territory to explore.”
    Nick turned around, putting his arm over Ty’s shoulder and leaning closer to hear. “Did she say lava?”
    Ty shook his head. “You’re not going to die in Scotland.”
    Livi smiled sympathetically at him. “Deacon tells me you and Kelly are both members of Ty’s Recon team.”
    “Yes ma’am,” Nick answered.
    “Sidewinder, right?”
    Nick and Kelly both nodded.
    “So do all of you make a habit of being bitten by snakes, or was that like a personal journey of discovery for you?”
    Deuce and Ty burst out laughing, and Livi covered her mouth like she was embarrassed for making fun. Amelia giggled, even though she didn’t know why. Zane glanced sideways to see Nick pursing his lips and nodding like he was trying to hide a smile.
    “Everyone’s a comedian,” he finally muttered, turning back around and shaking his head.
    “I still love you, babe,” Kelly said to him, patting him on the knee.
    “Shut up.”
    Livi finally got control of her laughter and continued talking. “I have to apologize, when Ty told us you were bringing a date, we just assumed . . . the room you have has one queen-sized bed.”
    “That’s fine,” Nick said. “We’ve shared before.”
    “You’re sure? We could probably do some creative switching, maybe find you two twins.”
    “No, we’re good,” Kelly insisted. “Thank you, though. He brought me for a free week in Scotland. Least I can do is put out.”
    “You damn right you will,” Nick said. They both laughed.
    It took another few minutes to reach the house, and even Zane’s eyes widened at the sight of the place. It was a Gothic revival mansion, with spires and gables and ancient windowpanes that sparkled in the weak sunlight, all of it made of aged stone and dark brick.
    They sat and stared at it as Deuce and Livi clambered out of the cart. Kelly leaned forward to peer up at the structure, then turned to Nick grimly. “You’re going to die in Scotland.”
    Nick just nodded, his mouth gaping open.
    “Jesus Christ,” Ty whispered.
    Four porters appeared to retrieve their luggage, leaving them free to gawk at the house as