Page 146 of Unchained

I hit dial on Gianna’s number.

“Wow. You really must miss me,” she greets me.

“You know I do.”

“We’re about to take off. I’ll be back soon.”

That fills me with relief; she’s only been gone a few days and I want her back.

“I’ll pick you up from the airstrip,” I tell her.

There’s a pause. “What’s happened, Colt?”

“Black Bentley with California plates parked at the auction. I assume you haven’t sent someone to spy on me in your absence?”

She scoffs. “I wouldn’t send someone; I’d do it myself.”

A grin twitches on my lips. “My exact thoughts.”

“So, why the hell are they following you?”

I swallow. “I’m more concerned about why they ain’t even trying to hide, G. The car is registered to a holding company in LA; Hunter will send over the details. They want me to know they’re here, and that they’re watching.”

That’s what people do when they think they’re in prize position; the over confident organizations are always the ones who fail in the end.

“Send me the plates. I’ll probably recognize it if they’re one of ours. Or Dom will.”

I do as she says.

“Thanks, babe,” she says.

My eyes go wide. “I approve.”

“Approve?”

“That nickname over meatball.”

She laughs. “Aw. But I like my little meatball.”

The bids start on the last horse. I hold up my paddle and start at a hundred thousand. “I gotta go, sweetheart. I’ll call you back. I’ll see you when you land. Have a safe flight.”

“Be careful, Colt,” she warns.

I hold up the paddle again at two hundred thousand. “When am I not?”

She blows out a breath. “Um. When you keep coming inside of me with no protection?”

I nearly choke on my own spit. She doesn’t sound too pissed off about that, though.

“Fair point.”

The bids get up to two fifty.

“Talk later, cowboy,” she purrs.

I open my mouth, and three words are on my tongue, making my eyes go wide. I snap my mouth shut and take a breath as she cuts the call.

The rest of the auction goes by in a blur. I secure my horse for four hundred and fifty. But my mind is still reeling from the fact that I nearly told Gianna I loved her.