13. Amorette
AMORETTE
“H ow is your Spanish coming along?” Blanca asked when she found me wandering the commons.
Since I’d returned, the brothers hadn’t locked me up, and I essentially had a free pass to roam. I hadn’t gone outside the compound just in case I was mistaken for an intruder or something equally as dangerous…like an escapee.
Men inside left me alone. I still got the random stares that were more than a little curious, but everyone inside the building seemed to know I was off-limits.
“The book you gave me was far too advanced.” I glanced at her hand full of cleaning products. “Where are you going?”
“To do some cleaning in the offices. You can come too if you’d like.” She nodded toward the wing where Andre and Parker’s offices were.
“Do they all have offices here?” I joined her, dipping my head in greeting to the few men we passed. Even though their stares weren’t as blatant as in the beginning, they still seemed like my presence was an oddity.
“Some of their men have offices here. But Grey doesn’t have an office. Lafe neither. I barely see Parker in this hall. I think he prefers to do his work outside the compound. Andre is the only one who comes here with any regularity.”
Parker worked in his office the day Grey and I had made up. My cheeks flushed at the memory.
“Where is everyone?” Grey had been gone when I got up, and I hadn’t seen any of the other brothers. Lafe had promised to teach me Spanish, but I hadn't spoken to him after our weird but sweet nap.
The calming sound of his even breathing had put me out like a light, and I hadn’t been drowsy at all.
Sometime later, I’d woken up with his erection digging into my stomach and his fingers digging into my hips.
I had startled, thinking he was trying to fuck me, but when I lifted my head, he was out cold.
I disentangled myself and snuck out like I was doing the walk of shame.
“Amorette?” Blanca asked, touching my arm.
Wow, I’d stopped right in the middle of the hallway.
“Hm?” I tried to play it off. It was rare that I lost my head like that. Fuck, just because I was back here didn’t mean I could daydream about things that didn’t matter.
“Why are you pink in the cheeks?” She scrunched her brows up in confusion as she glanced between my eyes. “You okay?”
Oh, yeah. I was great, just feeling guilty about napping with one brother while the other brother liked to fuck me. We weren’t in a relationship. I didn’t sleep with Lafe; this wasn’t a boy-next-door situation. Why did I care?
“Yep. All good. Which office are you cleaning first?” I started walking again and she immediately followed. Her steps quickened because I was apparently speed-walking away from my problems.
“Andre’s, then Parker’s. After that, I’ll get to the others. They’re not as important as the boss’.” She shot me a crooked grin.
I returned it, even if it felt weak.
“Want me to help?” I stopped at the door to Andre’s office, but Blanca fluttered around dusting surfaces. She kept the cleaning supplies in her hands instead of putting them on the desk. “I can hold those.” I motioned to her bundle. “Or you can put them on the desk…”
“Oh no. That won’t do. Grey would not be happy if you were cleaning.”
I raised a brow. Grey wouldn’t care if I cleaned, cooked, or butted into the training in the courtyard. Although he’d probably be angry he missed it.
“You just keep me company. I’ll be done in two minutes.” She smiled over her shoulder, then continued cleaning. She moved onto the windows next.
Her phone rang, and she grabbed it from her pocket. “Hola?” She paused, then several Spanish words fell in quick succession out of her mouth. Blanca hung up in a huff. “I’ll be right back. Jorge is here, and he needs help.” She rolled her eyes like she didn’t believe that for a second.
Blanca raced out of the room and her sweet scent wafted over me.
I watched the door for a few seconds, then turned back to Andre’s office.
I’d been in here once before. When he and Parker were convincing me of all the reasons I needed to work for them, but I hadn’t been in a frame of mind to really check out the space.
I moved closer to the desk, keeping my footsteps light in case someone was nearby.
A person’s office said a lot about them.
The disorganized messes of some of my colleagues were a direct reflection of their thought processes.
Mine was clean, uncluttered, with a memento or two.
A picture of me and Grace, then a picture of us with our brother and mother when we were kids. I smiled.
My office said I was compassionate, family-oriented, and straightforward. At least, that’s what I would assume. Andre’s office was spotless before Blanca ever stepped foot inside.
No dust anywhere. No smudges on any surfaces, not even oil on the mouse and keyboard. And absolutely no personal items, pictures, or otherwise. This was a standard hotel space yet built for executives.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
A phone.
Next to his computer, pushed back in the corner, was a phone.
My chest started to hurt with the strength of my pounding heart. I snuck a glance at the door. No one was here. No one was coming. Blanca was a heavy walker and I’d hear if she were on her way back.
I crept closer to the desk, reaching out a hand to pick up the receiver.
This was the opportunity that I’d been waiting for. I could call my law firm. I could call Grace. I could go home. Breathing became difficult, and my palms started to sweat. I could do this.
The phone was cool in my hand as I picked it up.
Holy hell–there was a dial tone.
Grey popped up in my thoughts. The possessive way he dominated me and the affectionate way he held me. Then Lafe as he looked at me with his broken spirit in his eyes and how he held onto me like a lifeline in sleep.
Even Parker and Andre pushed to the forefront, but not for any warm and fuzzy reasons other than they’d been as loyal to me as they could while first keeping their loyalty to each other.
If I made the call, I’d put them in danger. They could be jailed or, worse, hunted because they let a traitor into their midst. Could I truly be the catalyst for that?
I squeezed my eyes shut. I wasn’t sure. They weren’t good men. They didn’t do good things. But could I sacrifice them to save myself?
Hell.
Screams built up in my throat as I held my hand suspended. A quick call to Grace wouldn’t hurt anything. I’d ask her to keep my location a secret.
I laughed under my breath at the absurdity. Grace would blow the top off their operations so fast I’d get whiplash. If it would save me, she’d do it without the pesky conscience I had.
Me or them.
Me or them?
Was that what this had all come down to? I refused to believe it. They’d tried to bring me into their circle. It was me on the outside, pushing against their grasp on me.
I was the problem.
Shaking my head, I sighed. I was even disgusted with myself.
I put the receiver down and stepped back.
Either I was the biggest coward on the planet or the biggest idiot. Would any of the brothers choose me over saving themselves? I hope I never had to find out.
Tingles swept through my body as the adrenaline slowly seeped out of me. I laughed again. This time the shaky sound hitting my own ears was slightly unhinged. Raking a hand through my hair, I turned toward the door and froze.
“Well, hello there.” A tall and slender yet curvy woman greeted me with a slight curl to her lips. Gorgeous red hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her makeup was flawlessly applied. Grace would have a million things to say about her, but I couldn’t find a single superficial fault.
Affecting a calm mask, I gave her my professionally bland smile. “Hi. And you are?”
“Mia,” she said and grinned. Pushing into the office, her gaze swept my body, leaving an uncomfortable heat behind. The way she looked me over…
“Mia,” I repeated slowly. I’d heard that name before. Where the hell had I— ”Oh! Your stuff is in Grey’s guest room, right?”
Her eyes sparkled. “So you’ve heard of me. Parker made it sound like you had no idea I existed.” She crossed her arms, pushing her breasts up against the tight button-down shirt. The few buttons left open now showed two inches of cleavage.
I slowly twisted my head to the side. “Parker hasn’t mentioned you to me.”
She waved her hand like that didn’t surprise her, then she plopped down in one of the chairs in front of Andre’s desk and pulled the other one around to face her. “Here! Sit down. I want to get to know the little bird who caught the attention of my childhood friend and his brothers.”
I knew it! When I’d first heard her name, I assumed the relationship was something like this. Why else would her stuff be in the guest room?
“How did you meet Grey?” I asked as I took a seat. The residual excitement left flutters in my stomach, but the longer she didn’t try to attack or out me for almost making a call, the more relaxed I became.
“My father is one of Vicente’s right-hand men. I was at the mansion often as a child. The brothers all ignored me, except Parker. After I saved his ass from a beating one time, we became fast friends. Thick as thieves.” She held up two twined fingers with a smirk.
“Parker?” That was weird. “Your stuff is in Grey’s apartment.”
Her grin turned into a smirk as she tucked her chin and leaned forward like she was about to deliver a delicious secret.
“That’s because, for a time, we were lovers.
And Parker’s a ridiculous roommate.” She laughed, tossing her head back.
“So, I keep my things in Grey’s spare. I’m not here often, but when I am, I usually crash there. ”
Hot and cold shivers rolled up and down the back of my neck in contradictory waves. Grey wasn’t mine. Not really. But sitting here with a gorgeous ex-lover who had a close relationship with at least two of the brothers was still awkward.
“Are…” I started, trying to phrase this in the least revealing way possible, “you still with Grey?”
She winked. “I was never with Grey. We were purely fuck buddies, banging it out when the mood struck. It was fun for a while, and I was young, so the danger Grey gave off was an excellent aphrodisiac. Then I discovered the charms of women.” Her gaze did a burning sweep down my body again, pausing on my chest in the loose blouse.
“And I have to say, I’ve never gone back. ”
I cleared my throat. This woman was hitting on me.
My brain was having a tough time wrapping around all the ways this was fucked up.
Grey didn’t seem bothered at all when he’d mentioned her.
He didn’t talk about her like the one that got away or like a bitch who had broken his heart.
He was nonchalant. Like he talked about the weather.
If the weather was ever something Grey wanted to talk about.
Completely ignoring her comments, I asked another question. “What are you doing here now? Catching up with Parker?”
“Among other things. You’re every bit as beautiful as I thought you’d be. Parker didn’t really share the details, though I knew you’d be a knockout. How did you get to be with the bastards?”
I bristled. Was that how people referred to them here?
As bastards? That sucked. “Lafe,” I supplied, and even though I tried to avoid it, a small smile slipped through.
Enough time had finally passed that I seemed to find the hilarity in how I came to be here.
That, or I was sliding back from a healthy psyche.
“Lafe?” She pulled back with a frown. “How did he bring you into the fold? Do you know his runners in the US or encounter him on a job for Vicente?”
“Something like,” I muttered, briefly turning my attention to the window. Would they want this woman to know the truth? Was there danger in sharing it?
Lafe made it sound like this compound was their safe space, and only people they trusted were allowed. Or they locked them in the birdcages. By that logic and Mia roaming freely, it meant that she was trusted.
I faced her again and plastered a smile on. “It’s a long story. But Lafe brought me in. Then Grey stole me away.” I wouldn’t get into how Parker messed with me for giggles or how Andre would no sooner leave me on an ice cap than keep me here.
Although Andre had been one of the ones to come get me. But how hard had he really looked for me before that?
Mia twisted her lips to the side as sharp shrewdness entered her gaze. “I feel like there’s more to that story than you’re letting on.” She thinned her lips. “We’ll do drinks soon, and you can tell me all about it.”
Not likely.
“It will be a nice break from everything going on with Vicente,” she continued, watching me for any visual cues that something was not what it seemed.
It took everything I had not to react, even though the brothers hadn’t mentioned Vicente since I’d been back. From Mia’s tone, their father hadn’t been quietly waiting for them to screw up again.
“Oh!”
I turned to see Blanca backpedaling out of the office, her face now flushed in embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry! Your rooms are ready! I just helped Jorge clear out the ones you wanted.” Blanca dipped her head. She wasn’t acting like Mia was a criminal or an enemy; she was showing more deference to her than I’d seen Blanca exhibit toward anyone.
Why was that?
“Perfect!” Mia smiled, putting her blinding white teeth on display. She rose and dropped a gentle touch to my shoulder.
I glanced up and immediately regretted the disadvantage of being so far beneath her.
“Well, Amorette. It’s been a pleasure, and I can’t wait until I can steal you away myself.” She slid her fingers toward the back of my neck, then she was gone with an exaggerated sway to her hips.
“Amorette!” Blanca ran in and took the other chair and scooted closer. “What the hell! Why were you with Mia?”
I tugged my hands free of hers. “Should I not have indulged her in conversation?” Blanca was being incredibly suspicious, and a knot of worry formed in my stomach.
“No! It’s fine. She’s probably the only visitor they’d trust you with.
But it’s all so sordid! I’ve always thought Parker had some unrequited love for her.
Then Grey with his history! And now she’s trying to pick you up!
” Blanca’s strange excitement bled through every facet of her face and body.
“This is better than any telenovela I’ve ever watched! ”
I sighed. Speaking of telenovelas…
“Come on. I have a show I’m watching to try to pick up the language. You can explain the plot to me.”
She squealed and hopped up. “Okay! Let me finish cleaning the offices, then we can go.”
I waited patiently for her, keeping my seat in Andre’s office. All the while, I stared at the phone.
Had I made the right decision?