Free Locked and Loaded by Mandy Baxter

you’ve done by following me here today?” Did she have no clue the danger she’d put herself in? “You’re in this now, Charlie. You’re not just sitting at your desk, micromanaging everyone. You’re on Kieran’s radar. He’s going to expect to see you. I told you that I would only be a part of this operation if I worked alone. And now, thanks to you, I have a partner .”
    â€œWait.” Charlie stopped dead in her tracks. “What do you mean a partner ?”
    Mason’s rueful laughter echoed around them. She really didn’t understand the weight of her actions at all. “Part-ner,” Mason stressed. “As in, not one but two. Both Kieran and my father assume that we’re working together now. What’s going to happen if suddenly you’re no longer in the picture?”
    Charlie’s mouth gathered into the pucker that Mason found so distracting. His gaze wandered to her full lips for the barest moment. The last thing he wanted was for Kieran to find Charlie even marginally interesting, and without even trying she’d piqued his interest. Not good. Mason wanted to work alone because he didn’t want the responsibility of someone else’s safety thrust on him. He’d had enough of that working with CBP. And now he was going to have to watch Charlie like a goddamned hawk. Kieran had always been a competitive son of a bitch. He’d pursue Charlie just to prove that he could get her.
    â€œI didn’t think—”
    â€œNo.” Mason let out a derisive snort. “You sure as hell didn’t.”
    â€œFine. I screwed up.” Charlie blew out a gust of breath that stirred the wisps of hair that dangled over her right eye. “But you changed the day! What was I supposed to think, Mason?”
    â€œYou were supposed to think that I knew what I was doing and stay the hell out of it!”
    Charlie’s eyes widened. “This is my task force!”’
    Mason raked his fingers through his hair before brushing it all forward with a forceful flick of his wrists. He didn’t think it was possible to be any more aggravated than he was right now. He rounded on Charlie, stepped right up to her until his chest nearly brushed hers. “How long does it take Kieran to prepare for a job?” Charlie bucked her chin up a notch but didn’t respond. “What’s his favorite wine? Bourbon? What city does he want to retire to when he’s finally had enough of the game? Do you know how he got started? What his favorite cons are? Which ones he still likes to run?” Mason waited a moment and still Charlie didn’t utter a word. “Well? Do you?”
    â€œNo.” The word slipped tightly from between her pursed lips. “But you do?”
    â€œYou’re damn right I do.”
    Charlie scoffed. “How is it that you know more about him than all of the agencies on the task force combined?”
    â€œKieran and I grew up together.” Mason reached up to fiddle with his hair. Charlie agitated the hell out of him. “He lived with us for eight years. He visited my dad every month for years after he went to prison. He’s my goddamned brother.”
    Her jaw went slack. Mason had only known Charlie for a few days, but already he enjoyed stunning her into silence. Every bomb dropped cracked away at the giant chip on her shoulder. If she only knew just how far over her head she’d gotten herself today . . .
    â€œI had no idea that Kieran was so enmeshed with your family. You were the wrong choice for this operation.”
    It was Mason’s turn to scoff. “I was the only choice.” Charlie drew in a deep breath but Mason didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Did you drive here?”
    Her brow furrowed as a burst of incredulous laughter escaped her full lips. “Of course I drove. Do you think I jogged from downtown?”
    â€œWe’ll come back and get your