“I am. Just ready for a nap.”
“Did I tire you out?” Cooper chuckles and I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him.
I freeze as it dawns on me what I just did. Just because I had my first orgasm doesn’t mean it’s okay for me to just kiss him whenever I feel the urge to. I should have asked like he asked me. He seems to catch my hesitation and doubts because he pulls me close to his body. He holds the back of my head and kisses me long and slow. After the haze of his kisses dissipates, he helps me put on my helmet and we get on his bike to head back to Heartstone.
I hold on to Cooper tighter than I’ve ever held. I remind myself there is nothing wrong with enjoying this physical intimacy. I also remind myself I need to be careful how much of my heart and my mind I give away. I already have so much to lose, thanks to my shitty company. I shouldn’t gamble another part of myself.
CHAPTER SIX
My phone rings. Leroy’s name flashing on my screen.
“Leroy, is something wrong?” I answer my phone.
“Are you with them?”
“Why?”
“Whoever she said it is coming for the van called, saying they are not coming. Is she coming for it? I can store it until she is ready to pick it up?”
“I’ll call you back whenever I know something.”
“That works for me, too.”
The call ends. I know I need to loop Rosalie in, but something is fishy about this.
“Hey, Rosalie, did your family member said when they were picking up their van?”
“No. I check with them this morning and they are waiting for the call.”
I frown and worry that Leroy is being forced to say that to bring us there. I want to check on him but I don’t want to leave Rosalie alone. What if they are baiting me to go to Saddleback to snatch her while I’m not near? I can’t bring her with me. It’s too dangerous. I’m not afraid of getting shot. I’m afraid she will if she comes with me. Do I trust anyone here to keep her safe?Two names come to mind, but I hesitate. I don’t want them to be involved with the Silver Crows.
“Cooper, what’s wrong? Did something go wrong with the van?”
I shake my head. “Nothing wrong. You got nothing to worry about.”
“The moment you say that, I worry. Was that Leroy on the phone? Why did you ask if my family member pick the van? Talk to me, Cooper.”
Her five four feet tall lean and strong body sculpted by thousands of hours of dancing and strict diets stand in front of me. Her aura makes up for the eight inches I have on her. The more I spend time with Rosalie, the more I understand why outside of performances she is the one they parade. She has this inner talent to command attention and keep it.
“Yes, Leroy called asking if you were picking up the van since your folks called saying they would not pick it.”
“But how can they say that if they don’t even know the van is ready?”
“I have a feeling he is being forced to say that to lure you into Saddleback. Heck, I think they are just trying to lure you away from me so they can grab you.”
“But what about Leroy? What about his son? What if those cartel people come, and Leroy has clients? Shouldn’t we bait them out of Saddleback?”
“Rosalie Valente coming up with a double bait to trick criminals? We are spending too much time together.”
“Could it work? Forget the spending too much time together crap. Could that work?”
“We don’t know if they are really in Saddleback. You don’t really need to be in front of someone to blackmail them or pressure them into doing something they wouldn’t normally do,” I say.
“True. I know that very well. Too damn well,” she whispers the last part, and I frown.
I need to check in with my brother and see what has he found about LuxeMuse. I feel like the Los Cuervos de Plata is the easiest part of the tangle mess stringing Rosalie and her friends.
“Let me make a couple of calls and check if they are in Saddleback,” I say, already dialing Colin to check through the satellites we have hacked.
