Page 54

Amelia---Plotting Calls For Coffee

After branding Rhodes last night, I am exhausted. There was a lot of processing I did both in the aftermath and when I woke up this morning. I understand why Rhodes wanted me to do it, I do. But to say that it was easy is not accurate at all. I hated every minute of it.

Just like I’m hating every minute of this morning. When I texted Parker to reschedule, I should have known that the fiery redhead would be on my doorstep, bright and early, instead of settling for lunch. No, instead, when I’d reached out, Parker took it upon herself to show up with coffee and breakfast, using her own key to barge right into my house. I wasn’t even dressed before Parker’s voice rang through the walls of my home.

The four of us are now settled at the kitchen island, a spread of coffee and breakfast before us.

“So,” Parker says, taking a sip of her coffee before settling back into her chair. “What is your plan? Run it past me one more time.” Duncan starts to answer, but Parker silences him with a look and a flick of her hand. “No, I need to hear it from Ames.”

I sigh, picking at the piece of French toast I’d plucked. “We are meeting at a warehouse.”

“Which one?”

“Your uncle’s. The one a few miles off the highway that he uses for negotiations, lots of windows.” Parker seems amenable with this, so I continue. “Medina and I will enter the building alone, have a conversation, and it will be over.”

“That easy?” Parker’s eyebrow lifts, her disbelief evident. “Ames.”

“Parks,” I snap back, keeping my tone playful, despite not feeling as such.

Parker purses her lips, leaning forward. “It isn’t that I don’t trust you, love. It is him I don’t trust. We both know the instant Medina sees an opportunity, he’d be stupid to not take it.”

“I know. I won’t give him one.” I shrug my shoulders at her statement.

A scoff comes from Duncan and Rhodes tenses at the noise. I don’t need them at odds. The whole point of this fucking meal was to just go over everything one last time.

“I will be in sight of Duncan the entire time, keeping my front facing the window he will be looking through. There will be two blades on me, plus an extra in my purse. I fully expect Medina to not follow through on his end, and anticipate an extra body being in the room as well.” I glance at Rhodes, noting the strain on his face. “I can throw my knives again.”

Parker nods, clearly used to the antics required of me. I know she won’t fight me on this. Duncan doesn’t have a choice. What I say goes since he is beneath me in rank.

I swirl my coffee, watching the liquid slosh against the paper cup. Parker made sure that I had my favorite latte this morning. I wonder if she’d done it intentionally, knowing this conversation would be frustrating.

“What is your plan if you are ambushed?”

“I won’t be.” I turn to Rhodes, taking several deep breaths. “I am not going into this meeting as myself, Ro. I have to present myself as The Fox.”

Rhodes suddenly stands, pushing the stool out from under him. He plants his hands on the sides of the countertop, hovering above me. I spin on my stool, finding his eyes lit with confidence and a small grin starts to form on my lips.

“You will walk out of there, kochanie .”

“I know.”

He shakes his head before placing a quick peck on my nose and returning to his seat.

“Good. Now that we have that all settled—again, let’s talk about something more pleasant! How was your anniversary?” I look at Parker quickly before pinning Duncan with my stare.

Duncan’s eyes dart away from mine as he answers. “It was fine, nothing too crazy.” I glance at my best friend, noticing how quiet she is. Parker hasn’t taken her gaze off her coffee, and is now noticeably less engaged in the conversation. She starts to reach for her necklace, but stops herself.

“Did you guys go for dinner?” I shift my eyes between them both. “I know Parker was talking about that new Indian place uptown.”

“No,” Parker’s answer is soft, wounded. “We stayed in.” Parker doesn’t look up and I decide to change the conversation to something mundane in hopes of distracting her. We talk for a little bit longer before Duncan says they should get going. As I walk Parker out, I hug her tightly.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Duncan, but I’m here, okay? I am here.” Her arms tighten around me, and when she pulls back, there is a sad smile on her face.

“I’ll be alright. Good luck tomorrow, and I will see you for dinner this week, yeah?” I nod, watching as she jogs to the car. Turning on my heel, I gently close the door behind me. I release a sigh, finding Rhodes leaning against the wall, his thumb rubbing against his lip before his hand runs down his jaw. He pushes off, stalking toward me, and he stops just short. “Well, that went so well.”

A dark chuckle comes from Rhodes, and his hand reaches for mine, pulling me back into the house. He leads us to the island once more, setting me on the countertop and standing between my legs. I place my arms on his shoulders, lacing my fingers behind his head. I let my eyes fall closed and I feel the way his nose grazes mine, the movement bringing a shy smile to my lips. It has been a rough twenty four hours and I just want this to all be over. It feels like I am trying to find my way through an impossible darkness where, at every turn, there is a new trap. I am tired of having to be The Fox, of having to continuously prove my worth. I slowly blink, taking in the man before me. He let me brand him. He has held me while I’ve broken. Rhodes never once walked away, and the thought of forever in his arms is all the motivation I need to be the one who walks out of that warehouse tomorrow, no matter what.

“How’s your brand?” I see the bandage through his shirt, the raised area giving away to what lies beneath.

His face pulls back so I can see him fully. “It hurts like a bitch, but it’ll be alright, kochanie.” I hum, unsure what to say as he continues. “Where is your head at, hmm?”

I lean back on my hands, reveling in Rhodes running his large palms along my bare thighs. I barely had the time to throw on one of his shirts from the clothes hamper this morning, so I’m wearing an old pair of bike shorts since that’s what my hands landed on when Parker barreled her way through my door this morning. Letting my head fall back, I consider his question.

“I have this.”

“I know you do.”

“Then why does it feel like this?” I cannot put into words how my stomach is knotted. I feel like I am walking a tightrope with no safety net. Rhodes tightens his grip on my knees and I hear the deep breath he takes before answering me.

“I trust you, Amelia Conte. I know that you will come back home to me tomorrow. This truth is settled into my bones. What I don’t trust is everyone else. I don’t trust Duncan. I don’t trust Medina. You and I both know that the second you enter that building, you are alone.”

Rhodes interrupts before I can respond. “Do you really expect him to not try something?”

I sigh. “I don’t. Honestly, I would be disappointed if he behaved.” I want Medina to try to pull something. I would love nothing more than to have a reason to slice the man’s skin and flay him open. I bring my head back center and find Rhodes staring at me, awe twinkling in those blue eyes.

Medina will not get his hands on Parker, on Rhodes. No. I will die killing him before Medina touches those I love.

I thread my fingers through that thick hair twisted atop Rhodes’ head, pulling him up so I can kiss him. His lips meet mine and I soften, deepening the kiss, teasing his tongue with mine. Rhodes moans and I wrap my legs around him, locking my legs at the small of his back. I yank his body to mine, wanting his skin against me. His rough hands skirt up over my hips and slip under the oversized shirt I’m in. I gasp the instant his palms reach my ribs, slipping beneath the band of my bralette. He cups me, taking the full weight of my breasts and teasing my nipples. His thumbs brush the hardened peaks, eliciting a groan from my mouth.

“What do you want, Amelia?” Rhodes’ voice is thick with grave, and I know there is a heat in those eyes that I would find solace in. But tonight? Tonight I want to soak every last moment I can with him, to be slow, and intentional, and just be.

“Um, can we just chill? Like, put on the coziest clothes and curl up under the blankets?” I see his smirk grow at my request. “Please?”

“Yeah, baby. We can do that.” His lips are soft on mine, the lightest touch from them, and it makes me melt. “Let me clean up here. You go get comfortable in our room, okay, kochanie ?”

I slip off the counter, nodding as I duck under his arm. I move past him and I feel his palm make contact with my ass, and I shriek, laughter bubbling from my throat.

“Go, before I change my mind.”

I scurry away, love filling my head instead of dread.