Secrets Collide (Bluegrass Brothers)

nonchalantly.
    Cy was going to kill Miles if he didn’t stop laughing. Then he was going to kill Gemma. After dropping that bombshell, she just leaned back and smiled.
    “Autumn Hayes and Katrina Poklavich? Damn, I mean, dang. Why didn’t I become a stuntman? Or were they throwing themselves at you because you're CIA?” Pierce asked before Tammy swatted him hard against his stomach. “You’re right, then I’d never have met the love of my life.”
    “That’s better, hon.” Tammy smiled sweetly.
    “What do you mean you knew?” Cy asked his mother before turning on his brother. “I can’t believe you told her, Miles.”
    “Oh, pish-posh. Your brother didn’t tell me anything. I’m your mother. I know everything. I even knew my own son’s bottom was plastered across the big screen. I was at that movie with my quilting club. Oh my, Edna was with us. The whole town is going to know by lunch.” Marcy dropped into her chair as if the world was now over.
    Cy stood speechless as his brothers grinned and the women bit their lips trying to contain any comments that he could see sitting on their tongues. How had he lost control of this situation?
    A sharp whistle pierced the air and all eyes immediately snapped their attention to Jake. “Now, I'd like to hear what’s going on. Just hand the phone over to me so we won’t get any more interruptions.” Cy grimaced as his mother threw a book and nailed his father right on the head.
    “At least it wasn’t an iron this time,” Paige said before breaking out into peals of laughter.
    “Dammit! The people who tried to kill Pierce are trying to kill Gemma and me,” Cy finally yelled. The room quieted down and Cy let out a breath. He finally had their attention.
     
    Ahmed listened intently. It was exactly what he thought. Sergei. Debate raged inside of him. He could easily manipulate Gemma into becoming bait for Sergei, but she was an innocent and he wasn’t like Sergei. He didn’t hurt innocents. Besides, if Cy was anything like his records indicated, he wasn’t to be messed with. The family all thought Miles was the toughest. But they were all wrong. It was Cy.
    The secret file the CIA kept on him read like a spy novel. He took on missions no one else would take and managed to get out without a scratch . . . that is, until Russia. That’s where Sergei must've discovered him.  Cy had breached a secure laboratory guarded by armed soldiers. He had busted up the sale, arrested the men involved in the trade, secured the weapons, and was in the process of hauling them out of the facility when he was detected. A firefight ensued and he held them off until he set a trap, escaping with the weapons and criminals. The rest of the CIA was stationed five miles away getting ready to breach the facility, but Cy beat them to it. The records quote him as saying he went alone because he “wanted to make sure the job was done right.”
    Ahmed looked Cy over again as he stood telling his family the events from the last twelve hours. Gemma was quietly shedding tears as Marcy and Paige held her hands. She was innocent, he kept reminding himself, but she might hold the key. He’d just have to work with Cy this time, but he’d make it clear—Sergei was his.
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Thwack! Miss Lily Rae Rose slammed her broom down on John Wolfe’s balding head. She took advantage of stunning him to race past him down the sidewalk. She might only stand at five-feet two-inches, but she gained four feet with that broom. Enough height to bonk John on the head, she thought as she raced toward the Blossom Café where many regulars were eating lunch.
    “Oh no you don’t, Lily Rae,” John bellowed, his round belly bouncing as he chased after her.
    John caught her by the arm and swung her around to attempt a kiss. Men. It worked one time so they think it’ll work every time. Lily grabbed hold of his suspenders, rose onto her tippy toes, and kissed him with everything she had. Right when he was leaning forward but before he wrapped his arms around her, Lily shot off down the street again, leaving him standing dazed on the sidewalk.
    “Sucker,” she called over her shoulder as she ran toward the café. She passed the large windows and arrangements of bright flowers under them. Lily saw people enjoying lunch as she threw open the door and barged into her sisters’ restaurant.
    The patrons all stopped and stared as she gulped in some air. Her sister, Daisy Mae, halted setting a