CHAPTER TWENTY
“ Mia ?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“What are you doing in my room?”
“ Why the hell did you attack me like that? ”
“ Attack you? You’re in my room. And you punched me first!”
“Yes, because you startled me! Geez! ”
I struggled to breathe with her weight over my lungs. And since I knew it was her, I didn’t want to reengage and forcefully get her off me. “Do you think you could let me go, Spitfire?”
“I don’t know. Are you going to attack me, Phoenix?”
“ Mia ,” I groaned.
“Fine, fine.”
She let go of my arm, stepped aside, and stretched her hand to help me get up. We looked around the room, and it wasn’t good. The manager wouldn’t be happy with the disturbance. Any more than I was.
She picked up both our glasses from the floor and handed me my bent ones, making an apologetic face.
I tried to set it right as much as I could and put it back on my face. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you, but you weren’t answering your phone.”
“So, you thought breaking into my room was the best option?”
She stared at me with indignation. “I didn’t break into your room!” I raised my eyebrow and leaned my head to the side. “I didn’t! I had the key.”
“How on Earth did you have the key to my room?”
She pointed her thumb behind her back. “I convinced the boy at the reception to hand me a copy.”
I frowned. “What? ”
“Hey, I didn’t hurt the kid, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
My eyes rounded as I rubbed my forehead and mumbled, “Well, I am now.” I shook my head. “I guess whatever you had to say was urgent if you felt compelled to break into my room.”
“I didn’t break into your room!”
I jumped over the glass and other broken things to the little pantry by the kitchen and picked up a broom. I started sweeping the room, and she followed me by putting the furniture back in its place. “So, what was it?”
She grabbed a dustpan and a dirtbag as we worked together. “When I got home, I was going over some of the files we collected from your software. They’re planning an attack against the agency.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Damn. Are you sure?”
“I’m afraid so.”
We tidied the place as best as we could, and I waved a hand inviting her to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?”
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“No trouble at all. I always offer a beverage for the people who break into my room and attack me.”
“I did not—”
“Break into my room, I got it.” I grinned at her frown and scrunched nose. “Since you avoid caffeine, how about hot chocolate?”
She looked at me in surprise. “How do you know?”
I shrugged. “I pay attention. So? Join me in a cup?”
She smiled. “That’d be nice. Thank you.”
I prepared a cup for each of us and joined her at the table with a plate of cookies.
“How did you figure out their plans?”
She sipped her drink. “The same way I heard about the ambush. Their audio.” At my confused expression, she clarified, “A while back, we were investigating the cartel, and I noticed they send messages to each other in their songs. They record their instructions and feedback and overlap them with music. That’s how we were able to identify some of their bases and clients. So, we’ve been collecting their audio and separating the sounds to gather their communication ever since.”
“That’s incredible. The audio part, not their new plan of attack. I can’t believe you figured that out. No wonder Aaron is always vouching for you.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and I marveled at the knowledge that, with everything she’d done and accomplished, she still managed to get embarrassed over a compliment. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, I kept the conversation professional.
“Do you have any idea what they’re planning? ”
She pursed her lips. “Not yet. But I don’t think it’ll be with guns and all.”
“How come?”
“They mentioned something like ‘ an attack like no other ’ and ‘ shame on the big dogs .’ If they wanted to just explode something to create chaos, they’d aim for law enforcement, public places, and more vulnerable victims. But if they’re planning on taking down big names, the best way to ruin them is from exposing their dirty secrets, not gunning them out and turning them into victims.”
I stared at her with round eyes. She was good.
“We need to investigate that. And fast.” A few days before, I’d been reluctant to tell her my findings. But I was soon learning she was someone I wanted to work with. So, I admitted, “I’ve just met my CI. He’s also getting information on the cartel and came to Holy Water. He called me when I was leaving Pop, so I went to see him. According to his findings, after you talked to Pablo, he went on a rampage. He’s pressuring the cartel and Bryan Keyes to help him.”
She ran her thumbs over the cup as she thought. “Then we need to find a way to intercept them fast.”
“For that, we need to figure out what they’re planning.”
Mia nodded. “Any chance your CI would work with us?”
“He’s adamant about not being seen. Aaron introduced us a while back, but he’s skittish. I don’t even know his name. ”
She frowned. “That’s weird. Are you sure this guy is legit? You could be in danger.”
I thought about her question—feeling warm that she seemed worried. “I do. He seems like a good guy. My guess is he has his own beef with the cartel. He seems intent on taking them down.”
“That’s fine by me. Just keep your eyes open.” She looked at me and cringed at whatever she saw on my face. Most likely the broken skin from where she punched me. “Do you have a first-aid kit?”
“In the bathroom.”
She stood up in search of it and came carrying the small box, which she placed on the table. Mia sat next to me and touched my chin to lean my head lightly to the side. “Sorry about that. Let me just clean this for you, then I’ll get out of your face.”
I wondered if I could ask her to stay in a way that wouldn’t make her run.
She pulled the contents out of the box and carefully cleaned my bruises, applying ointment to them. I was having trouble breathing, my pants were getting too tight, and I had to hold my legs in an attempt not to touch her.
Our first encounters were explosive and controversial at best, but the way she cared about my bruises and took care of me made me lean a little closer. I was so biased thinking that my Spitfire exuded fire only to burn me that I failed to notice she actually made me warm and comfortable.
“All done,” she whispered.
“Maybe we should check your bruises as well,” I spoke just as softly. “That tumble to the ground couldn’t have been comfortable.” I touched her ribs lightly where she fell and marveled at her shudder.
We stared at each other. Once again that night, we leaned our faces closer. I let her smell engulf me as we breathed each other’s air…until a fucking cat screeched outside, making us jump back.
Mia stood up looking everywhere but at me. “I should go. Hugo must be waiting for me.”
At the mention of his name, my blood froze. “Yes, you should go.”
Her puzzled eyes at my cold voice squeezed my heart, but I didn’t know how else to react. So, I just tried to soften the blow. “We’ll meet again in the company tomorrow morning.”
“Do you know where it is?”
“Aaron sent me the address.”
She nodded and headed for the door. Before she could leave, I called her name.
“Be careful, Spitfire.”
“Be safe, Phoenix. And don’t forget to lock the door.”
“Anything for you.”