Alejandro dropped whatever he’d been saying, speaking with his hands like my Italian father who’d raised me. He turned his gaze sharp on me as if I had two heads.
At this point, maybe I did?
“Mitch will never believe we got married.” He hit the side of his hand into his open palm like a blade dicing an onion.
I was already peeling apart, so you know ...
Makes sense.
“It’s too risky—how can you not see that?” Alejandro asked, eyes on my brother.
“The plan falls apart without her and you know it,” Ryder responded in a steady tone. “Bravo and Echo may be at risk, given what we now know. It’s no longer just about protecting government secrets or former operatives.”
“And we will protect them.” Alejandro pointed at me. “Just not with your sister in the middle.”
“How about a tiebreaker decision?” I was going to keep riding this train of crazy all the way to New Zealand if I had to. I found my backbone again, chucked aside both the pillow and my anxiety, and stood. “Reed. What do you think? You’ve been as quiet as I have.”
Reed glared at me as if unhappy I’d dragged him between two men ready to go to war over how to best protect me.
“If Audrey stays in Colorado, you don’t think Mitch will find a way to get to her here? And how are we supposed to open the vault without her?” Reed slowly pivoted toward Alejandro. “A magic trick?”
“Not funny,” Alejandro hissed.
“I wasn’t trying to be,” Reed shot back.
Alejandro’s dark eyes slanted over to me before drifting back to my brother like a target he’d dialed in on but didn’t want to take the kill shot.
“For the record, I hate this plan—you do know that, yeah?” My brother spoke before Alejandro could present his next argument. “But this is our only plan for now.” He pointed at him. “Don’t like the plan? Come up with a new one. Until then, I’m calling Chandler and getting approval.” He left no room for arguing, because he took off.
“I’m going to check in with Natasha and Gwen,” Reed muttered, bailing on us as well.
Maybe that was my cue to leave. To let Alejandro calm down so he’d realize Ryder was right. There was no other way forward that didn’t involve us being together.
It was a slow journey to my face before his dark eyes challenged my lighter ones in a duel. Who’d blink or turn away first?
“I should probably give you some space to think,” I said, surrendering first.
“To calm down, you mean?” His eyes burned through me, peeling back more of my layers in a much different way right now.
I fidgeted with the sleeve of my shirt, tugging it down to cover part of my hand. “Peligroso,” I whispered. “This is dangerous, I know.”
“Muy peligroso,” he said, emphasizing each word slowly. “¿Lo entiendes?”He closed the space between us. “Me estás volviendo loco.”
Loco. Crazy.I knew that one. “I make you crazy?” My breathy question redirected his focus to my mouth.
“Muy loco.” He hit me back with a gritty answer, only to close his eyes. “Go beforeIdo something crazy.”
“And if I want you to do it?” Because I felt just asloco, if not more, than he did.
“Please,” he begged, desperation in his voice. “Por favor.”
I relented and backed up. “Just so you know, the danger out there might be real,” I said while turning, preparing to leave, “but this thing between us is, too.” I took off after that and went to my bedroom.
Once the door was both shut and locked, I checked my phone, ensuring Chase’s little blinking dot was where it was supposed to be. Then Eden’s. I didn’t have a chance to toss my phone and hide under the covers, because a message popped up.
Unknown:I’m sorry.
Unknown:This is Alejandro btw. I don’t think you have my number in that new phone.
