Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) Kaylie Hunter (books to read this summer TXT) 📖

Jackson walked over to me, lifting me up and settling me in a chair before he crouched in front of me. He lifted a hand and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“Grady?”

“He’s alive. Shipwreck patched him up enough to be moved again. Bones is the same blood type, so they did a direct blood transfusion. Grady was still groggy but conscious. Shipwreck was arranging for a boat when the call was interrupted.”

“Interrupted by gunfire,” Tweedle whispered, standing a few feet away, holding a plate of cookies.

She swayed to the side but was too far away for us to catch. Reggie lunged forward—grabbing the plate of cookies—as Tweedle fell. Bridget dove across the living room, catching Tweedle’s upper body before it slammed against the floor.

I looked at Reggie, glaring.

“Oops,” he said, grinning.

“Nice save, Reggie,” Katie said as she stole the plate of cookies.

Tech stole a cookie from the plate. “Have to admit, the cookies were my first thought, too.”

“No concern for the woman left in our care?” I asked.

“Please,” Tech said before taking a bite. “Tweedle has fallen down the stairs, been shot with a nail gun, and was almost decapitated by a fricken battle axe. Fainting onto padded carpet is nowhere near threatening her nine lives.”

“He has a point,” Whiskey said, snagging a cookie. “On the other hand, gooey chocolate chip cookies would’ve been a bitch to clean out of the carpet.”

“And wasteful. These are amazing,” Lisa said, moaning as she took another bite of her cookie.

Katie rolled her eyes. “Like we wouldn’t have eaten them even if they’d hit the floor. Please. What’s a little dirt and dog hair?”

Jackson shook his head and with Pop’s help, they moved Tweedle to the couch. Anne covered her with the afghan.

Bridget looked at her elbow. “I got rug burn diving across the carpet.”

I couldn’t help the smile that appeared on my face. “Have fun explaining that story to Bones.”

Hattie choked on the drink of coffee she was taking. “Mind out of the gutter, sunshine.”

We all tried to hide our grins.

“Looks less serious in here,” Wayne said as he reentered the house from the garage. “What did I miss?”

“Not important,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “Everything set?”

“Coast Guard is on alert. They have three ships nearby and will be monitoring their radar for small vessels moving at high speeds while being chased by bad guys.”

“Good. We’ll just have to wait until we hear from them again.”

“How long will that be?” I asked. “And how are they going to make it to a boat when they’re under attack?”

“Shipwreck will have a plan; he always does. He’s not going to be happy about them leading the cartel to his house, though.”

“I’ll pay him restitution,” I said, waving my hand in the air to indicate that it didn’t matter. “How long until we hear from them again?”

“An hour, maybe. Two if they have to travel to a different marina.”

“You’re padding the time,” Pops said. “What’s your real expectation?”

Jackson exhaled slowly. “Half an hour. Shipwreck will have a boat close. The Coast Guard will be ready for them. Donovan will know we’re worried and will call back as soon as they’re safe.”

“I need that drink now,” I said to Jackson.

“About time,” Jackson said as he sighed, moving into the kitchen and opening the liquor cabinet above the refrigerator. He ignored the weak stuff, pulling a bottle of Jack from the cabinet and a handful of shot glasses. Returning to the table, he poured two shots, sliding one to me.

Reggie reached for the bottle, but I slapped his hand away. “Reggie, you’re in charge of breakfast. The kids will be up soon. They’ll need something more than cookies to eat.”

Reggie stomped into the kitchen, slamming pans and food around as he pouted. Jackson rolled his eyes before clinking our glasses, and we downed our shots.

“Can I have one of those?” Tweedle asked, sitting up on the couch.

“I’ve never seen you drink,” Bridget said, pouring a shot of whiskey. “This should be good.”

“She’s a disaster sober,” Tyler said. “What happens when she’s drunk?”

“We shall see,” Bridget said as she walked over and handed the glass to Tweedle.

Tweedle took the shot glass and downed it. She flung herself from the couch, hissing, “That burns!”

“That’s whiskey, baby,” Whiskey said, chuckling. “It’s not made for sissies.”

Anne glanced over at Whiskey, rolling her eyes as she poured herself a shot and downed it.

Whiskey laughed, wrapping an arm around Anne’s hips and pulling her onto his lap. “Too bad one of us needs to stay sober for the kids.”

“Probably best if they don’t wake to a house full of drunks,” Hattie said, taking the bottle.

“We won’t overdo it,” Jackson said, snagging the bottle back. “Promise.”

Hattie shook her head at Jackson but left the bottle and went to the kitchen to help Reggie with breakfast.

I glanced at the clock and pushed away from the table. “She’s right. Kids will be up soon. I’m going to sneak a smoke break.”

“I’ll go with you,” Beth said, snapping her fingers for Storm to follow.

Tyler glanced over at me, but I shook my head that we didn’t need an escort. “We’ll be fine. Sun’s coming up. You should take a nap.”

“Not until we hear the guys made it out.”

I stopped to rest a hand on his forearm. “They’ll make it, Tyler. Anything less than that and I’ll rain fire down on the cartel’s asses like they’ve never seen before.”

~*~*~

I raised the overhead garage door, and we wandered into the driveway. The sun was drifting at a lazy pace into the eastern sky, casting enough light to see the main highway.

“Just me,” Nightcrawler called out before he rounded the corner of the garage. “Smoke break?”

“Yup,”