“There better be a great reason for you calling me back here so soon,” she snaps.
Milo clears his throat, then mutters, “Watch sold.” He hands over the envelope of cash I just gave him.
“I thought you said it would take a while,” she says, suspicion creeping into her voice.
“Yeah, well… things changed.” He nudges the envelope toward her like it’s a bomb ready to explode.
She picks it up, flips it open with one hand, and counts. She’s quick, efficient; I can tell this isn’t her first rodeo.
“What the fuck is this?” She spits. “I know that watch sold for more than this. Don’t fucking play me,cabrón.”
Her eyes never leave him as she moves behind the counter, jabbing the envelope into his chest. “¿Tú crees que soy estúpida? You think I don’t know what that thing is worth? I work too hard to get ripped off!”
Milo holds up his hands slowly, expression calm, voice steady. “Easy, sweetheart. Trust me, that’s all I’ve got.”
She snorts in disbelief, stepping closer. “Don’t make me laugh.” She turns away from him and mutters, “Pinche pendejo!” mostly to herself.
From behind the shelves, I can’t help the grin tugging at my lips.Oh, she’s a firecracker.She’s hot when she’s mad, too. Somehow, it’s even hotter that she doesn’t know I’m watching. My eyes linger, dragging up and down her body as she peppers Milo with more Spanish insults.
She walks back around the counter, heading toward the door as she shoves the envelope in the back pocket of her skin-tight jeans.
Milo doesn’t make much of an attempt to defend himself. Maybe he’s feeling guilty.
But just as she reaches the door, he calls out, “I swear I didn’t take a cut. That’s all I got for it.” He waits for her to glance back at him, eyes narrowed, before adding, “Just take care of yourself.”
Then, she walks out the door.
I send Seb a quick text before following behind her.
Me
I’ll take it from here. Grab a car and wait for my call.
Seb
Better watch your back. She’s vicious.
Chapter 7
ARDEN
the next day
The walk home from the park is normal. Zoe skips ahead, her small hand in Lexi’s, giggling about something I’m only half-listening to. Something about the swings, or the ducks. Something innocent.
I should be relaxed, but I’m not. Since yesterday, something has felt off.
I try to shake the feeling as we enter the building and take the stairs up to our floor. Lexi is still talking, shifting Zoe’s backpack onto her shoulder as she digs around in her purse to fish out her keys.
That’s when I see it. A hotel keycard neatly tucked against the doorframe. On our front door.
I stop dead. Of course, Lexi clocks my hesitation immediately.
“What?” she asks, frowning.
I don’t answer. Instead, I snatch the card from the doorframe and shove my hand into the back pocket of my jeans.
Her eyes narrow at me. “What was that, Arden?”
