“There you are,” I say, trying to be nonchalant. As if I’m the one who’s been waiting for them to get here.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Ace stalks toward me, and I force myself not to back up. “You snuck out. Again!”
“I’m fine, Ace. Relax.”
“Relax?” He’s in my space now, close enough that I can see the muscle jumping in his jaw. “You climbed down a fire escape, got into an Uber without security, and came to an abandonedbuilding alone, at night. Do you have any idea how many things could have gone wrong?”
My chin lifts automatically. “But they didn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then whatisthe point?” I cross my arms, adopting a defensive posture. “That you want to control every single thing I do? That I’m not allowed to breathe without permission?”
“The point,” Ace says, his voice dropping dangerously low, a tone that does things to me, “is that this building isn’t structurally sound. Half of the floor is rotten. You could have fallen through and broken your neck.”
Guilt tries to work its way in, but I push it down. “I was careful.”
“Careful,” Ace repeats flatly. “Right, because careful people sneak out in the middle of the night when they have an unhinged stalker on the loose.”
“I got some great shots,” I try, knowing it’s a weak argument.
“Maddie, I don’t give a fuck about your shots. I care about keeping you alive.”
I open my mouth to say something I’ll probably regret, then snap it shut when Vander moves toward the door. It’s his way of saying this argument is over.
“Let’s go,” Ace says. “Now.”
I huff but follow them because arguing any more will only make this worse. Vander falls into step behind me, and I’m hyperaware of his presence.
The SUV is idling at the curb when we emerge, Rhodes behind the wheel, watching us as we walk over.
Ace opens the back door and gestures impatiently. “Get in.”
I climb in without argument, and Vander slides in beside me. Ace takes the passenger seat.
Rhodes catches my eye in the rearview mirror, and I see his familiar dimpled smirk forming. “So, how were the photos? Worth the ass chewing?”
“It’s always worth it to see Ace mad—he’s kind of hot when he’s pissed,” I say, mostly to annoy Ace further.
“Kind of hot?” Rhodes repeats, and there’s something in his tone that makes me pause. “I would say he is extremely hot when he’s pissed.”
Wait. The pieces click together so fast I almost laugh out loud.
“I knew it!” I blurt, leaning forward. “You two are fucking.”
The SUV swerves slightly before Rhodes corrects it, while Ace goes completely still in the passenger seat. That’s when I know I’m right.
“What?” Rhodes asks.
“You and Ace.” I gesture between them, unable to keep the satisfaction out of my voice. “The way you look at each other, the weird tension. You’re sleeping together.”
“That’s quite an accusation,” Ace says, his voice carefully neutral.
“It’s not an accusation. It’s an observation.” I sit back, grinning. “And I’m right, aren’t I?”
Rhodes’s eyes meet mine again in the mirror. “Would it bother you if we were?”
“Why would it bother me?” I say with a shrug, realizing as I speak that it honestly doesn’t. If anything, the mental image is one that will live rent-free in my brain.
