“Sorry I tried to run you down,” Travis said cautiously to the big man.
“Sorry I tried to kidnap your girlfriend,” Wrench replied in the same grave tone.
The eagle shifter was bound at the wrists using a roll of duct tape from the Jeep toolbox, and Wrench was left free.
“You aren’t planning to try anything on the real Laura, are you?” Tex’s tone might have been taken as
teasing, but the way he bared his teeth at Wrench was serious. He was still holding the duct tape.
Wrench looked conflicted, then shook his head. “I ain’t usually sent after people that don’t deserve it,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “I’m not gonna turn you over.”
“What are you going to tell them?” Laura asked.
Wrench shrugged. “Failure ain’t taken lightly by these guys, you should know.”
“Oh!” Jenny said suddenly, and she turned and scampered down the beach.
Travis watched her go, thinking she looked sexier than ever and wishing that no one else was around. He wanted to lay her down in the sand and make love to her in the pouring rain, never mind his bleeding shoulder or the storm that was still crashing around them.
The heaviness of the driving rain nearly made her disappear as she waded into the heavy surf and she returned after a long moment, triumphantly carrying a briefcase.
She handed it to Wrench.
“That will probably pay for some dancing classes,” she said mysteriously.
Wrench looked like he might cry, an odd look for a naked, hulking man covered in scars and tattoos. He cracked it open, and several American dollar bills fluttered out in a gust of wind before he could snap it shut.
“Or,” Jenny continued, “You could turn it over as evidence against them and go the legal route and bear witness against your boss. You could get out of the business for good.”
Wrench stared at her.
“I can’t promise you wouldn’t do time,” she said. “But being cooperative would be very helpful to your cause, and I can recommend a good criminal lawyer.”
“Doin’ time again don’t scare me,” Wrench grumbled, scowling ferociously down at her. “But that don’t fix the question of what I do afterwards. I like the idea of clean work, but no one good hires cons.”
“Scarlet might,” Travis suggested.
Tex and Breck looked at him, and Breck nodded. “She might,” he agreed with a shrug. “Graham’s done time.”
“For what?” Tex asked in surprise.
“Murder,” Breck said merrily.
“Murder?” exclaimed Jenny. “I didn’t know that.”
“Makes you reconsider having sex in the flower beds, doesn’t it,” Tex laughed
“Nah,” Travis said, with a sideways glance at Jenny, who looked embarrassed, but rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly.
“Not for a minute,” Breck added with a satisfied look.
“I’m soaking,” Laura said firmly. “Let’s go home.”
“I’m driving the van back,” Breck announced. “Travis almost killed us driving here, and it wasn’t even raining then.” He was fully dressed again, having stripped his clothing sensibly before shifting. Tex’s clothing was rather worse for the wear; his staff uniform was equal parts shredded and soaking. Travis’ clothing was in better shape, his lynx being smaller in size, but still badly ripped.
Laura’s dress would be fine with small repairs, and Jenny, Travis realized with some surprise, had never lost her dress.
Part of him was selfishly disappointed.