Fuck no, he didn’t wanna go. “Denver? Got the trigger?”
Denver rolled to his feet and studied the box. With a low growl, he ripped off the back.
Greg smiled.
“Jesus. This is just a blinking box,” Denver snapped.
“No bomb?” Ryker asked, his hold not relenting.
Greg sniffed. “I wouldn’t hurt a nice lady like Zara Remington. Geez. The chick bakes cookies for the old folks home every Sunday.”
Zara gasped from behind him. “How did you know that?”
Ryker frowned. He hadn’t even known that fact. Was there a questionnaire to dating he hadn’t discovered?
Greg leaned toward Ryker as much as the strong hold would allow. “Oh, there ain’t much I don’t know about Ryker and the people in his life.”
Ryker reared back and then went stone-cold. Finally. “Enough.”
Greg ignored him. “In fact, lady, I’m pretty sure I know a whole lot more about Ryker and these guys than you do.”
Zara stepped up to Ryker’s side. “Is that a fact?”
Greg’s Adam’s apple bobbled. “Yep. Would you like to know everything?”
Chapter
16
Zara ignored her freezing bare feet and wished she’d pulled on sweats along with Ryker’s discarded T-shirt. At least the thing was enormous and hung to her bare, chilled knees.
What in the world was going on, and why had some kid just tried to choke her while holding a knife?
“Zara? Please go back upstairs.” Ryker’s entire back undulated with barely banked violence. Tension swelled in vibrating heat around them, but his hold seemed gentle, as if he didn’t want to hurt Greg.
“No.” She tapped his waist with his phone to calm him. “Your phone has been buzzing like crazy, which is why I brought it down to you. Let that boy go.” She eyed the kid. Brown eyes, shaggy hair, lost expression. Oh, he’d felt a lot older when he’d been choking her, but even then, it had seemed he was trying to keep from hurting her. “Who are you?”
“I’m a client. Name is Greg,” the kid said politely. “Sorry about the neck.”
“I’m fine. Sorry I elbowed you in the stomach.” She glanced down at the kid’s narrow frame. “Are you hungry?” Perhaps if she got food into everybody, they’d all calm down and explain what was going on.
“Always.” He shrugged and didn’t seem to notice that Ryker still had him pinned to the wall.
“All right.” Zara smacked Ryker harder. “How about we all go up to Ryker’s apartment, and I make us a nice breakfast. Then we can figure out what’s going on and what we should do next. I’m happy to help one of Ryker’s clients.” The kid looked beyond lost, and he needed help.
So she’d help.
Everyone looked toward Ryker. “We are not going to have a nice breakfast, Zara,” he ground out.
“I’d like a nice breakfast,” Greg said, flashing her a smile.
Heath cleared his throat from just a couple of feet away, his gaze thoughtful on Greg. “I wouldn’t mind eating something homemade.”
“Me either,” Denver chimed in, also watching Greg, his brow furrowed.
Greg turned his smile on Ryker. “It’s time to let me go, man.”
“Or?” Ryker asked.
Greg’s lips firmed. “Or I knee you in the balls, take out your left knee, destroy your right ankle, break ribs eleven and twelve, and then knock you out with a punch to the temple. Then I’ll go eat eggs with your lady.”
Ryker shook his head. “Much as I’d like to show you why that wouldn’t work, I’d have to hurt you, and I’d rather not do that. Yet.” He pushed off from the kid and gently straightened Greg’s shirt.
Greg blinked and then slowly lowered his arms, his gaze on Zara. “I totally think you could do better than him.”
Warmth bloomed through Zara, and she grinned. The night had passed surreal and careened right into bizarre. “That’s awfully kind of you to say.” She held out her arm, and the kid hesitated before sliding his through hers, leaving Ryker behind them. “I don’t suppose you have anybody in mind?”
“Well, that attorney you work with is a nice guy, and he volunteers as a coach with a Little League softball team every spring. His sister has a kid who plays.” Greg switched arms with her so she had the railing on her other side, his hold hesitant and beyond gentle.
Surprise and unease invaded Zara’s stomach. “You really have investigated me.”
“Just a little. I had to know I could trust these guys before hiring them.” Greg slowed his steps so she could keep up. “Don’t worry. I didn’t look into anything really personal.”
Zara stumbled. “Um, thanks?”
“Sure thing.” They reached Ryker’s apartment, and Greg pushed open the door, walking inside first. He lifted his head and listened, doing a quick scan of the place. “Come on in.”
Okay. That was odd, and she’d seen Ryker do the same thing several times with a little more finesse. “What were you looking for, sweetie?” she asked.