Read Online Hell or High Water by Jerrie Alexander - Free Book Online

woman. Tall, lean and mean.
    Ten years vanished.  
    “Why are you following me?”  
    “You’re in danger.” Would she take a swing at him if he moved closer?
    “I’m aware of that. Exactly how do you know?”
    The knock on her front door ended their conversation. He sank back deeper on the couch.
    “I met with Tyrell and Marcus earlier today. You should let them in.”  
    “Marcus Ricci is here with Tyrell?”  
    Her face lit up as she dashed past Nate. She opened the door and threw her arms around Marcus, hugging him tight. Damn, the squeal she let out sounded like she’d found a leprechaun’s pot of gold. Getting together with the group might be good for him.  
    Nate stood and quickly found himself wrapped in Marcus’s embrace. Nate had a good two inches on Marcus, but if he decided you needed a hug, it was over before you had a chance to protest.  
    “I heard you made it home in one piece,” Marcus said with what for him was a smile.
    Marcus’s gaze darkened when his hands clasped Nate’s shoulders. No doubt, both of their minds slipped to the missing man from their group. Donavan’s chopper went down in flames while he was trying to rescue a couple of wounded soldiers. All aboard had died.
    “You too, Marcus. I heard you earned a couple medals.”
    “They can’t keep you warm at night.” Marcus wrapped an arm around Kaycie’s waist.  
    Tyrell, never one to be left out, sidled up to Kaycie’s vacant side and threw his arm around her shoulder.
    She ran her hands over Marcus’s and Tyrell’s bald heads. “What’s up? You two lose all your hair while in the service?”
    “Chicks like it.” Tyrell preened, flashing white teeth at Kaycie.
    Marcus coughed. “It’s easier to keep.”
    Nate clenched his jaw. She wasn’t through taking shots at him. Wait for it...
    She turned her gaze toward him. “What’s with the shaggy-dog look?”
    “I’m glad you’ve got work for me.” Marcus, always the peacemaker, weighed in, no doubt ending a possible argument. “It’ll be fun helping our girl out.”
    Nate gave him a shut-up look. Nate could afford to part with some of his savings. Wasn’t as if he’d had anything to spend it on for the past ten years.
    “Helping me?” Kaycie leaned toward Marcus. “Of course, I’m happy to have my boys back together. But what’s going on here?”  
    Time to change the subject.
    “If you guys are finished mauling Kaycie, I’d like to make plans.” Nate seized the bucket of chicken from Tyrell, plopping it on the coffee table.
      “Somebody needs to explain the helping-me statement.” Kaycie’s arms folded across her chest.
    “Can we eat and talk?” Marcus eyed the food. “Then we’ll divvy up watch duty.”
    Kaycie closed her mouth, drawing her lips into a thin line, and stormed to the kitchen area. Marcus hurried to help carry plates, napkins, and the rest of a six-pack of beer. She slammed the silverware down and then resumed her position across from Nate. Wasn’t him she glared at. Her gaze lobbed fireballs at Tyrell.
    “This is your doing.” She pointed the tines of her fork directly at Tyrell. “You asked Nate to keep me under surveillance without discussing it with me?”
    “After the episode at the morgue, it was warranted.” Tyrell nodded and then shrugged his shoulders unapologetically. “Couldn’t do it by myself.”
    “Definitely warranted,” Marcus said around a bite of food.
    Nate let them ramble on, arguing back and forth, exactly like when they were students at UT. Kaycie had adopted Tyrell Castillo, Marcus Ricci, and Jake Donovan. The exception was Nate. She’d never mothered him. Hell, they’d been too busy screwing like monkeys.  
    He paid attention when she described her visit with the chief of police. The FBI had been called on the missing girls. They wouldn’t react well if they learned somebody was nosing around. Nate would get the scoop on their plans and make sure he didn’t piss anybody off.
    “Did