Free Reckoning by Jo Leigh Page B

explosively, and when it was over, he drifted, barely aware that her lips were on his temple, that her breath was warm and sweet. Then, nothing.

7
    BY NOON, VINCE HAD A LINE on four pretty decent computers that he could pick up in Vegas, had made a list of all the machine shops within a hundred miles and helped Kate find her green sweater, which, according to Kate, was the only sweater she truly loved. He’d also gone to the bank.
    He’d talked to the branch manager privately, showing Mr. Eccles the badge he wasn’t supposed to have and convincing Mr. Eccles that there was a very serious undercover mission afoot. It helped that back when Vince had quit the L.A.P.D., he’d stolen some letterhead from his ex-captain, upon which he’d written a letter about the serious undercover mission, and how Vince’s identity had to be kept super-duper top secret. Not for the first time, it struck him that since he’d got together with Kate, he’d become a damn good criminal.
    He’d made arrangements to get a large wire transfer from Los Angeles and to collect the money in cash. All of which would occur with absolutely no names involved. He’d left with a handshake and a jaunty salute.
    He’d ducked yet another bullet. He’d made it out without getting arrested, and no one, to the best of his knowledge, had followed him. He was so pleased he decided to make a pit stop before returning to Motel Hell. When he finally got there, he had to kick Christie’s door to get her to let him in. His hands were full of pizza boxes and salads.
    “You stopped?” Kate asked. “You stopped for pizza and you didn’t even call me?”
    “Hey, I brought you a salad. With mozzarella cheese in it.”
    She took the bag containing the salad and put it on the small round table, next to the very large boxes of pizza. Then she turned back to Vince and socked him in the arm.
    “Ow.” He rubbed where she’d hit him, regretting the time he’d encouraged her to work out. “That hurt.”
    “You should have called.”
    “Okay, okay. I will never get pizza again without calling first.”
    “It’s not the—” She stopped. Looked at him through narrowed eyelids. “It’s a good thing that you weren’t killed on your way to the pizza place, or I would have—”
    “Killed me? Again?”
    “I would have managed it.”
    He took her beautiful face between his hands and kissed her. “I know you would have, sweetie. Can we eat now?”
    She moved in for a kiss, but only bit his lower lip. “Now we can eat.”
    He checked, but she hadn’t broken the skin. Which meant he could safely put red pepper flakes on his slice of pepperoni pizza.
    Christie, who’d ignored their little dance, had called the rest of the troops. Boone was up, but still groggy from his night behind the lines. Didn’t stop him from taking a big old slice of pizza. By the time Vince had poured himself and Kate sodas, and grabbed a couple of pieces for himself, Seth, Harper, Cade, Nate and Tam had arrived.
    Everyone was pleased about the luncheon menu. Milo, Christie’s golden lab, sat next to Cade, who snuck him several pieces of pepperoni and sausage before his mom put a stop to it. Altogether, they were a happy bunch. Well, as happy as they ever got.
    The minute lunch was done, Vince brought everyone up to speed. The computers would be in place in two days. There were several nearby machine shops that would fit their bill, and Kate had her green sweater.
    He relaxed, knowing his job was done. He sipped cold soda as the others reported in. Christie’s detail at the Renegade had gone well last night and now that Boone and Seth were there, they could begin going over the pictures of the patrons.
    Harper had called an old friend, Noah somebody, who agreed to deliver the GHB. She gave Seth a curious look, and they’d both stared at his claw.
    “You’ll meet him somewhere else,” Nate said.
    Harper turned from Seth. “He’s safe. He’s the guy who gave Seth his