“I know. No nos pueden hacer nada por acercarnos y confirmar que estén aquí. Si estan podemos esperar a que salgan.”
“Entra tu. Yo me quedo acá.”
“Coward.”
I feel panic rising and hit Cooper’s arm. My eyes look at him and then behind him. I want to tell him that someone is coming in and that they are looking for me, for us. I want to tell him that they don’t sound like they have my safety or best interest in mind. I want to warn him, but his hand is tightly pressed on my mouth. Before the unknown man enters the workshop, Cooper turns me around. The arm around my waist pulls me even closer to him and the hand on my hand moves to behind my neck. In the same second, he wraps his lips around mine and I gasp.
My body froze before immediately melting all over his body. I wrap my arms around his neck and return the kiss with more enthusiasm that I had intentions to. My back arches and his hands move from holding my neck to cradle the back of my head. I hear a long whistle and I instinctively break to kiss to turn to look, but Cooper holds my head in place.
“Look at me,” he growls, and a fire lights up in the pit of my stomach.
“Kiss me,” I whisper. It sounds like a plea. Me three minutes ago would have been so embarrassed but current me just want another taste.
He dives in and I welcome him in. I let him taste every knock and cranny inside my mouth. I get to taste him. I don’t drink a lot and I’ve tasted whiskey once in my life. He tastes like that and like danger. He tastes like I will never be the same after this kiss. Like no man would ever measure up to him. The man behind us clears his throat and I feel Cooper’s arm leave my waist for a couple of minutes.
“I get it, dude. Love on your lady.” The stranger says in an accent I can’t recognize.
It doesn’t sound Mexican or like any other country in Central America, but it doesn’t quite sound like the accents in South America. Or maybe he is making it up, mixing a few accents so people can’t recognize him. I remember where I am and what I’m doing when I feel Cooper’s arm on my waist and his fingers scratching my scalp.
The sensation feels so good I didn’t even think of holding back the moan. He breaks the kiss but stays close, looking at me. I feel like I’m going crossed eye so I close them. What the heck was that Rosie? A moan. Rosalie Valente moaning and it is not for a recording of a ridiculous sexy song that’s not even appropriate for Vivi to do?
“He is gone. Do you know why the cartel Silver Crows is looking for you?” Cooper asks.
I open my eyes and shake my head. Besides what the article says, I don’t know why are they are looking for me. Unless…
Cooper turns me around and leaves me to slump on the wall behind me. I watch as he picks up the folded newspaper I had in my hands. He opens it and I watch as he reads over the title and the body of the article. He looks at me and then at the newspaper. He charges towards me, grabs my wrists and pulls me inside. The girls were crouching on the floor out of the window’s sight and Leroy was holding his shotgun, ready to protect them.
“Here is why they are searching for her.” Cooper slams the newspaper on the counter.
“Do you think they want her as leverage to get to her manager?” Leroy asks.
“Is what makes sense. Why would they push news to double down on the last name? News companies know linkingher to them is grounds for defamation, but is not like these girls have the support of their company. They are easy prey to the news and to the cartel.”
“Excuse me, but we would like for you two not to talk as if we are not here,” I say.
Ginny pulls Maggie and Vivi up and stands beside me. “What does that have to do with us?” Ginny asks.
“Seems like your manager.” Cooper points at me. “is doing or was doing illegal things, money related illegal things with the help of the cartel. If they lost contact with him, it makes sense. They are trying to get to you to use you to flush him out from wherever he is hiding.”
“Well, there is a problem with their plan,” I say.
“What?”
“Chad doesn’t care for me. If the media is relating our group to criminals, we are done. We are damage good not worth repairing for LuxeMuse Entertainment. We are pretty much dead.”
“This is not the time to think of the worst outcome, Rosie,” Maggie says.
“Well, it is not your name or your manager who is throwing you under the bus again.” I cross my arms over my chest and step back. I love them, I swear I do, but they will never know what it feels to be used and abuse constantly in the name of the group.
“Rosie,” Ginny starts, but Cooper’s voice stops her.
“You four talk your problems out on another time. We need to leave. Leroy, can you hold on to their van until it is safe enough for them to get it or one of their family members?” Leroynods. “We are checking out of our accommodations and we have to leave Saddleback.”
“We all four won’t fit on your bike,” Vivi says.
“Here,” Leroy says as he tosses a key to Cooper.
“Thank you, Leroy. I owe you another one.”
