Pack Dynamics by Julie Frost Read Free Book Online Page A

get hurt, so you deserve your pain. Ben didn’t do that.”
    “This time,” Janni said.
    “Hey, you know this business is dangerous.” Ben tried to sit up, failed, and sank back down, wincing.
    Janni’s forehead creased, and her hand went back to roaming through his hair. “No, this business is supposed to be boring,” she said. “If it’s this exciting, we’re doing something wrong.”
    “Or you did something right,” Alex answered. “At least we know we’re on the right track.”
    “We? Screw that ‘we’ shit, Alex.” Janni made a circle with her forefinger in the air. “ We are out. We do not need this. We are going home as soon as we can move Ben.”
    “I’ll quintuple your fee,” Alex offered.
    “It isn’t about the money—”
    “Honey …” Ben interrupted.
    “ No , Ben. Dammit, look at yourself! These people are playing for keeps. And Alex Jarrett can’t protect you, or any of us.” She glared at Alex. “Especially not from a friggin’ wheelchair.”
    “Not twenty-four/seven,” Alex admitted. “But you’re safe in here. The entire house can be locked down if need be, and you’re free to stay until we get this straightened out.” His brow lowered. “And we will get it straightened out. Sooner rather than later. I play for keeps, too.”
    Janni crossed her arms and glared. “Well, you’d better quit playing and get serious.”
    “Fine. What’ve you got for me?”
    “I’d just gotten a nibble that it was Ostheim before they took Ben. He’s been working the tech angle, and I’ve been pounding pavement asking questions.”
    “The people who worked me over wore Ostheim Industries shirts,” Ben said. “Subtle, they were not.”
    A corner of Janni’s mouth turned down. “How long will you be laid up for, Alex, and how quick can we move on this?”
    “Doc Allen already hit us pretty hard with the nanotech, but Mike Reed in that division of my company’s got some interesting breakthroughs going there. Let me give him a call.” Alex was relieved at how they’d apparently just skated over Janni quitting. He really didn’t want to start over.
    “Mr. Jarrett, you realize that it’s five o’clock in the morning,” Megan said.
    “Yeah, so? It’s not like Reed sleeps.”
    Megan smacked him on the back of the head, and he turned around and gave her his best kicked-puppy expression. “Hey!” he protested. “What, he doesn’t.”
    She glared at him, unfazed. She’d caught him practicing that look in the mirror in the past. “Wait a couple of hours. For heaven’s sake.”
    “Fine,” he grumbled. “Janni, let’s you and me run some of your info through the computer and see what we can hack.”
    “Hacking’s my department,” Ben said. “Got a laptop?”
    “Ben, you shouldn’t—” Janni started.
    “Honey. I’m fine. I will be finer with something to do. Laptop, now.” His hand went to his face. “Crap. Do you happen to have my spare glasses?”
    “Always.” Janni reached over to her clutch, which sat on the bedside table. “I wish you’d stop losing them.”
    “Hey! Not my fault this time.” He gestured. His lips were split in two places, and cuts and bruises decorated his eyebrows and cheekbone, although they were fading. “I’m still picking shards of the pair I was wearing out of my face. Man, I hate sap gloves.”
    Janni flinched and fished around in her purse, coming out with a pair of round wire-rimmed glasses. “Sorry. But give them back when you get home.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He put them on. “Ah, vision.” He noticed the protein shakes. “Is one of those for me?”
    “Megan? Laptops?” Alex said, handing the full glass across to Ben.
    “You should both be resting, but how many?” Her voice was resigned.
    “Six, please.” He reached back and squeezed her hand. “You’re a doll.”
    “I expect an amazing bonus next paycheck,” she said over her shoulder as she left the room.
    “She’s a treasure, Alex,” Janni commented.