Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Maddie
My heart is still racing as I hear Ace’s voice echo through the building again.
“Maddie!” The anger in his tone is real. “Answer me right now!”
Shit. I’m barely dressed. I adjust my camera bag while taking a breath and trying to pull it together. The last thing I need is for Ace to figure out what I was really doing here tonight.
I lean against the wall, trying to look casual, like I have been here the whole time just taking photos.
Footsteps pound up the stairs, then Ace and Vander burst through the doorway. Ace looks furious.
“There you are,” I say, trying to be nonchalant. As if I’m the one who’s been waiting for them to get here.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Ace stalks toward me, and I force myself not to back up. “You snuck out. Again!”
“I’m fine, Ace. Relax.”
“Relax?” He’s in my space now, close enough that I can see the muscle jumping in his jaw. “You climbed down a fire escape, got into an Uber without security, and came to an abandoned building alone, at night. Do you have any idea how many things could have gone wrong?”
My chin lifts automatically. “But they didn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point?” I cross my arms, adopting a defensive posture. “That you want to control every single thing I do? That I’m not allowed to breathe without permission?”
“The point,” Ace says, his voice dropping dangerously low, a tone that does things to me, “is that this building isn’t structurally sound. Half of the floor is rotten. You could have fallen through and broken your neck.”
Guilt tries to work its way in, but I push it down. “I was careful.”
“Careful,” Ace repeats flatly. “Right, because careful people sneak out in the middle of the night when they have an unhinged stalker on the loose.”
“I got some great shots,” I try, knowing it’s a weak argument.
“Maddie, I don’t give a fuck about your shots. I care about keeping you alive.”
I open my mouth to say something I’ll probably regret, then snap it shut when Vander moves toward the door. It’s his way of saying this argument is over.
“Let’s go,” Ace says. “Now.”
I huff but follow them because arguing any more will only make this worse. Vander falls into step behind me, and I’m hyperaware of his presence.
The SUV is idling at the curb when we emerge, Rhodes behind the wheel, watching us as we walk over.
Ace opens the back door and gestures impatiently. “Get in.”
I climb in without argument, and Vander slides in beside me. Ace takes the passenger seat.
Rhodes catches my eye in the rearview mirror, and I see his familiar dimpled smirk forming. “So, how were the photos? Worth the ass chewing?”
“It’s always worth it to see Ace mad—he’s kind of hot when he’s pissed,” I say, mostly to annoy Ace further.
“Kind of hot?” Rhodes repeats, and there’s something in his tone that makes me pause. “I would say he is extremely hot when he’s pissed.”
Wait. The pieces click together so fast I almost laugh out loud.
“I knew it!” I blurt, leaning forward. “You two are fucking.”
The SUV swerves slightly before Rhodes corrects it, while Ace goes completely still in the passenger seat. That’s when I know I’m right.
“What?” Rhodes asks.
“You and Ace.” I gesture between them, unable to keep the satisfaction out of my voice. “The way you look at each other, the weird tension. You’re sleeping together.”
“That’s quite an accusation,” Ace says, his voice carefully neutral.
“It’s not an accusation. It’s an observation.” I sit back, grinning. “And I’m right, aren’t I?”
Rhodes’s eyes meet mine again in the mirror. “Would it bother you if we were?”
“Why would it bother me?” I say with a shrug, realizing as I speak that it honestly doesn’t. If anything, the mental image is one that will live rent-free in my brain.
“I don’t know,” Rhodes replies, “but you seem pretty invested in finding out the answer.”
“I just like being right,” I counter, which is only partially true. “Besides, you literally just agreed with me that Ace is hot when he’s pissed off.”
Rhodes groans. “I was making conversation.”
Ace shifts in his seat, and I enjoy watching him squirm. “You’re reading too much into it.”
“Am I?” I lean forward between the seats again. “Because I’ve been watching you both, and the comment about Ace being hot was simply confirmation.”
“So what if we are?” Rhodes asks, his eyes on the road but his attention fully on me.
I shrug, trying to play it cool even though my brain is supplying very detailed images. “So nothing. I don’t care who you both sleep with, I just think it’s hot.”
Ace’s jaw tightens, and Rhodes’s knuckles go white on the steering wheel.
“Hot?” Ace repeats flatly.
“Yeah.” I can’t help but sound pleased with myself. “Two gorgeous men—that’s like premium spank-bank material.”
“Jesus Christ, Maddie,” Rhodes mutters, but I catch the almost smile tugging at his lips.
“What? I’m just being honest.” I sit back. “So are you going to confirm it, or are we playing the Maddie guessing game?”
“Our personal life is our business,” Ace says, like that’s supposed to end the conversation.
“That’s not a no,” I point out. “Which means I’m right.”
“You’re very sure of yourself,” Rhodes says, and there’s a hint of amusement in his tone as he watches the road.
“I’m very observant,” I correct him. I settle back in my seat, knowing I’ve gotten under their skin. The smirk on my face probably isn’t helping.
Ace clears his throat. “Can we focus on the fact that you snuck out?”
“We already covered that,” I say dismissively. “You’re mad, and I don’t care. I’m much more interested in this fresh development.”
“There’s no development,” Ace says firmly.
“Your face says otherwise.”
Rhodes laughs despite the look Ace shoots him. “You’re impossible, Maddie.”
“And you’re evading answering me,” I shoot back.
Then I remember the silent presence beside me. I turn to look at Vander, who’s been watching this entire exchange without a word.
“You’re awfully quiet, Vander. Did you know about them?”
He nods once, and somehow that single gesture says everything.
“Of course you did.” I let out a breath. “The silent ones always know everything.”
The tension in the car is thick enough to cut with a knife. I’ve put something out in the open that can’t be taken back, and part of me enjoys it.
“So, Rhodes,” I say after a moment, unable to help myself. “Does this mean you’re off limits now? Because I was really enjoying making you uncomfortable.”
Rhodes shifts in his seat, glancing back with a look that makes my stomach tighten. “Who says you make me uncomfortable?”
“Please. You practically choked on air when I came out in that black dress.”
“I was surprised at your complete disregard for weather-appropriate clothing.”
“It was a cute dress,” I defend. “And you’re dancing around my question.”
“I’m driving.”
“You’re also blushing.”
“I don’t blush.”
I lean forward between the seats, close enough to see the back of his neck. “You’re doing it right now. I can see your ears turning red.”
“That’s the heating in this car,” Rhodes says, but his smirk widens. “Not everything is about you, princess.”
Princess. The nickname sends a little thrill through me, one I absolutely will not examine right now.
“Princess?” I sit back with a laugh. “I don’t know whether I like it or not.”
“You love it,” he says confidently.
“Assuming a lot there, dimples.”
“And you’re still using that nickname, so clearly I’m doing something right.”
I’m quiet for a second, trying to think of a comeback. “You know what? You’re kind of annoying.”
“Kind of?” A faint smirk curves his mouth. “I must be losing my touch.”
“Extremely annoying,” I amend. “The most annoying person I’ve ever met.”
“And yet you keep talking to me.”
“Someone has to keep your ego in check,” I shoot back. “God knows Ace isn’t doing it.”
Ace clears his throat from the front seat. “Can we save the flirting for when we’re not dealing with a security breach?”
“We’re not flirting,” Rhodes and I say in unison, which only makes it more obvious that we absolutely were.
The rest of the drive is quiet. When we pull into the garage, I’m out of the car before any of them can open my door. I need space, and I need to get to my apartment so I can process everything that happened tonight.
“I’m going to bed,” I announce. “And before you lecture me again, yes, I’ll use the actual door this time. And I’m totally okay with you two showing PDA while at work.”
Blowing out a breath, I roll my shoulders and head toward the elevator without looking back, though I can feel their eyes on me.
Tonight was incredible. The masked men . . . the way they made me feel . . .
My phone buzzes with a notification from Wild Steps.
Thank you for using our service. We hope your fantasy exceeded expectations. Please rate your experience.
I smile to myself as I hit five stars.
Best decision I ever made.