Chapter 7
“Life gets messy.”
-Flint
When I got off the video chat with Celia’s brother, I went back to the bedroom and nearly stepped on Celia’s phone lying on the floor. The woman had her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around herself. My little spitfire. I almost teased her about it when I got a good look at her eyes, full of unshed tears.
The rage came quickly. I didn’t knowwho the fuckmade her cry, but I would rip his head clean off his shoulders.
Before I could ask what that bastard of an ex did now, her phone indicated an incoming video chat. I picked up the phone. Luke’s picture filled the screen.
Shit.
“It’s Luke,” I handed her the phone.
Her eyes went wide as she stood up from the bed, cinched the robe around her tiny waist, and took the phone into the bathroom to connect the call.
Luke asked me to put a tail on a suspect. I thought our new guy would be perfect for it. I reached out to Ryker and set him on the trail. Then, I called our resident hacker, Tatiana Martel.
“What’s up,Manly Mendota?” Tatiana chirped into the phone with her usual Southern twang.
“Um. No. That nickname ain’t happening!” I exhaled loudly. “I need a favor, T. And I don’t want Luke to know about it.”
“Ooooh, you must have a big ole bee in your bonnet if you’re keeping it hush-hush,” Tatiana laughed.
“T, I’m serious!”
“Okay, okay. Fine, Mr. Tall Dark and Brooding,” Tatiana clucked into the phone. “What do you need?”
“Everything you can get me on Octavio Cruz,” I stated.
I heard her clicking away at her keyboard. Then the clicking stopped. “Wait, Luke’s former brother-in-law?”
“The very same.”
“Hell’s bells, you must be a card short of a full deck to investigate Luke’s former ex-bro-in-law,” Tatiana pushed.
“Not now, T. Are you going to get me the intel or not?” I gritted my teeth.
“Fine. Fine,” Tatiana’s typing picked up. “I’ll have something for you in a few hours.”
With that, she ended the call.
The door to the bathroom opened. Celia stepped out. She placed her phone face down on the table and sighed.
She scrutinized me. “Do you think he suspects something?”
I stalked toward her, not wanting another inch of space between us. But she held up her hand to stop me.
“We can’t keep doing this,” she looked down at the ground.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “I think we can. I can tell by your body’s response that you’re ready for another round. As am I.”
My dick already snapped to attention when she came out of the bathroom.
She marked my crotch, and the sexy smile spread on her face but backed away. “No, no, no. We have to end this.”
That’s the absolute last thing I wanted. And we had hardly begun. I had plans for us but needed her to get on board first. I stepped toward her and put my hands on her shoulders. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped toward me. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
