Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (great books for teens txt) 📗

“Okay.”

With a quick glance in the mirror, I confirmed Carl had returned to slobbering on my SUV.

“I’m not sure you helped, Beth,” I whispered.

“Who says that was my intention,” she said, laughing quietly.

I pulled perpendicular to the front doors, with two motorcycles still in front of us and two more behind us. A dozen security guards walked out and flanked the SUV. One of the guys took the keys from me as I escorted Beth, Carl, and the kids inside.

Finding a hair scrunchy in my bag, I whipped Sara’s now brushed but still wild hair up into a ponytail, kissing her cheek when I was done. She giggled and ran toward the stairs. Nicholas, still not speaking to me, stomped in the same direction.

“It’s going to be a long ass day,” I said to Beth.

She laughed and followed the kids.

“Trigger is here,” Carl said, clapping his hands. “Can I hang out with him?”

“Sure. I don’t have him scheduled for anything today.”

As if hearing us from across the gym, Trigger looked over. Carl ran in his direction. I pointed to Trigger, then pointed two fingers at my eyes for the universal language of watch, then pointed at Carl. Trigger gave me a thumbs up before turning his attention to Carl.

I walked across the gym and up the stairs to the war room. Entering, I found Kemp and Tech moving the chairs to the other side of the room and Bridget setting up cots.

“What are we doing?”

Tech looked at me as he took a cot from Bridget and moved it to below the large windows. “Kemp’s covering the phones while we sleep for a couple of hours. Then this afternoon, Bridget will relieve Beth and take the kids outside to play, so Beth can take a nap.”

“What about work?”

“I’d wager you’ve slept less than five hours total over the last two days. The rest of us have slept only a few more hours than you. We’re useless until we rest. We’d only be spinning in circles all day.”

“Hattie sent pillows and blankets,” Wayne said, entering the war room. “I’m crashing with you guys. The apartments seem too far from Headquarters until we know the red alert has been lifted.”

“I felt the same about not being here with the kids,” I agreed. “Let’s prop the door open, though, so we can hear if something happens. And, Kemp, you’d better wake us if needed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call her ma’am. She hates it,” Bridget said to Kemp as she removed a chain mace—an archaic weapon with a spiked steel ball at the end of a chain—from the wall. She carried the heavy steel contraption over to the war room door and used it as a door prop.

When she turned back around, I was smirking at her.

“What? It does the job.”

I continued smirking at her.

“Fine. I’ll let Goat know to install something more normal to use in the future.”

Tech tossed a pillow at her. “Night, bitches.” He threw himself on the cot under the far window, tucking himself in with a blanket.

I took the cot closest to the door and Wayne took the cot under the large window overlooking the gym. That left the cot next to the file cabinets for Bridget. Removing my gun harness, I unloaded my Glock and slid it under my cot. I set my phone on top of a wall shelf a few feet away. After curling up on the cot, I was asleep within seconds.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hey,” was whispered near my ear as someone shook my shoulder. “Wake up, beautiful.”

Opening my eyes, I found Wild Card crouched down beside me. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon. Kemp asked me to wake you. He said you threatened him if he didn’t wake you with updates.”

I nodded, sitting up and running my fingers through my hair. Wild Card reached under my cot and loaded my Glock. I strapped on my shoulder harness before sliding the Glock in place and snapping the strap to keep it secure. I nodded again to Wild Card, following him out and grabbing my phone from the shelf as we left.

A few minutes later I was still wiping the crud from my eyes as I sat in one of the guest chairs in Kemp’s office. Really it was Grady’s office, but we’d reassigned it to Kemp until we could figure out the office spaces. Grady never used it, so it didn’t matter.

“What’s up?” I asked Kemp.

“First, Wild Card and Ryan returned an hour ago. Wild Card told me not to wake you, though, so don’t blame me for that.”

Wild Card laughed, sitting in the chair beside me.

“Deal,” I agreed, grinning at Wild Card.

“Donovan called. He’s getting messages from the media asking for an interview on the Allie Jacobs investigation.”

“Pass.”

“Donovan wanted me to relay to you that it would be good PR for the firm.”

“The investigations side doesn’t need any PR. We’re carrying a backlog of cases. If Donovan needs good press for his side of the business, he can tie on a cape and do something newsworthy to get noticed.”

Kemp gulped, staring back at me. I think he even paled.

Wild Card laughed. “You don’t need to repeat her word for word,” he said to Kemp. “Just tell Donovan that Kelsey said no and to talk to her directly if he has a problem with it.”

“I like that plan better,” Kemp said, nodding. “I’m less likely to lose my head.”

I rolled my eyes. “What else?”

Kemp didn’t have a chance to answer before we heard a loud noise in the schoolroom. Wild Card bolted ahead of me down the hall and into the schoolroom. Beth stood near the far wall, keeping Sara between her and the wall. Storm stood guard in front of