Chapter Nine Addie
Pushing up off the couch, I’m glad that’s settled.
My biggest worry is protecting my team, and now that Vaughn has agreed to put our deal in writing, we’re golden.
Feeling better about the situation, I look down at the man and notice the dark circles under his eyes.
His shoulders are slouched and he looks exhausted.
“Go to bed,” I tell him. Then I cock my head, knowing he has no plans to sleep in the guest bedroom. No, the stubborn man is going to stay out here and remain on guard all night. “Cole…”
His attention locks on me. I never use his first name. It feels too personal. And the good detective and I aren’t friends.
“The alarm is set and we’re four floors up,” I say, hoping to reassure him. “You don’t need to stay up all night and watch the front door.”
“Is there a back door?” he quickly asks, stretching his neck to look around me.
“No. My point is, we’re safe. I know you’re tired, so close your eyes and go to sleep. You’re not doing anyone any favors by wearing yourself out.”
He nods, sitting back. “I’d rather sleep out here.”
Stubborn man. Giving my head a shake, I reach for the blanket on the back of a nearby chair and hand it to him. “In case you get cold.”
“Thanks.”
“Welcome.”
Alrighty then. Turning away, I flip the overhead light off but leave a small lamp on the end table lit.
Moving toward the spiral staircase, I fight the urge to invite Vaughn to come up with me.
We’ve finally reached a tentative compromise.
Involving sex would complicate everything, and I’m not willing to risk my friends’ futures.
Shutting down my own desires, I head up to my room, trying to ignore how much I like him being here.
But is it specifically Vaughn? Or just the presence of any man?
Because I’ve been lonely for a long time.
I’ve cast any potential relationships to the side, remaining solely focused on heists and running A-Squared.
I suppose it’s my way of keeping my mom’s legacy alive.
But I can’t deny things are changing. My little found family is moving on, starting their own families, and I’m so happy for them. But it’s bittersweet. Because it all means we’ll be spending less time together.
I get it. Knox worships Hunter and Linc adores Merritt. And, hell, I’m going to be an aunt very soon. With weddings and babies on the horizon, I have to learn to adapt.
Even if that means retiring from the game and going completely legit.
My heart hurts a little when I think about stowing away my lockpicking tools. Would my mom be disappointed? Or proud of the woman I’ve become?
Truthfully, I’m growing a little tired of it all. The excitement and danger used to thrill me, but it’s lost some of its luster. I’ve successfully pulled off some of the biggest heists imaginable. Of course, with the help of my crew and The Man.
The Man is another concern. How is he going to handle me walking away from the game?
I have no idea. Although lately, the jobs he’s given us have been more Robin Hood-esque.
We’ve stopped criminals and retrieved and returned stolen property.
I was skeptical at first, but quickly discovered I still experienced the same thrill.
Just without the possible repercussions and guilt.
With a sigh, I drop onto my bed. Maybe I should just disappear. Go live on an island somewhere and drink coconut and rum cocktails all day on the beach. I can almost see it, then remind myself I’d miss my friends too much. But if I do retire, I’m going to need a hobby or I’ll die from boredom.
Maybe I can find a man to keep me busy. Specifically, a man with thick, brown hair and autumn-colored eyes who carries a gun and makes it his mission to save the entire city of Denver from thieves like me.
The Thief and The Detective. Ha! It would never work.
Not long-term, anyway.
But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t rock each other’s worlds between the sheets.
I mean, that’s really all I want. A night of passion and incredible fucking with the man.
He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.
All the butterflies and tingles. Truthfully, it’s rather annoying, but it’s also too powerful to ignore any longer.
I want Cole Vaughn in my bed and between my legs, filling me with his cock and making me come so damn hard, I see stars.
Grrr. I hate this stupid attraction I feel toward him. It throws me off my game, and I’m a woman who likes calling the shots and being in control. In my world, confidence is key. Another Angel-ism. And Vaughn manages to fill me with doubts.
Grabbing my phone off the nightstand, I pull up my favorites list and hit a contact. I know it’s late, but I need advice from someone with a different perspective than my friends here. My brother lives in California, so they’re an hour behind us, which makes it, well, almost midnight there.
Ryland picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Addie. What’s wrong?” he asks, voice laced in concern.
“Nothing. I’m okay,” I assure him, settling back against my pillows.
“Then why aren’t you sleeping?” I hear him yawn and there’s a slight rustling sound.
I assume he’s getting out of bed and going somewhere where he won’t disturb his sleeping, very pregnant wife.
I smile, so grateful for Ryland. Even though my little brother and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, we’ve gotten over our differences, and I’d fight like a tiger to protect him. He’d do the same for me, too.
“I think I’m having a midlife crisis,” I blurt out, but keep my voice low enough so Vaughn can’t hear.
“You’re thirty-two,” he states dryly, talking a little louder now.
“I know,” I lament, picking at the silver-gray comforter on my bed. “I found a gray hair last week. And, technically, my life is like half over.”
“Stop being dramatic and tell me what happened, or I’m going back to bed.”
I take a deep breath. “Don’t freak out, but someone tried to kill me tonight.”
“What?” he roars.
“Shhh! You’ll wake Harper!”
“Too late. Now tell me what the fuck happened,” he demands. Such a big, bossy, alpha male.
I launch into everything that’s been happening—from working with Vaughn to the party tonight to how he pulled me from my car right before it exploded into a million fiery pieces. “He saved my life,” I murmur. “And now he’s downstairs, sleeping on my couch, guarding this place like a watchdog.”
“He’s there? Now? Why didn’t he just put patrol cars outside of your place?”
“He says he did.”
“Hmm. He’s not sneaking around right now, is he? Looking for stuff he could use against you?”
“I’m not an idiot, Ryland. I don’t keep any valuables or anything incriminating here. It’s all locked up, offsite.”
“Good. Do not trust him, Addie. He’s been after your ass for the past year.”
“Duh. You think I don’t know that?”
“Well, I don’t know. You invited him to stay the night at your place, which makes no sense—” He abruptly stops speaking and utters a curse. “You like him.”
“No,” I automatically respond.
“Yes,” he counters. “Hooking up with the man who wants to throw your ass in jail isn’t very logical.”
“We’re not hooking up!” Shit, that was too loud, and I press my lips together. “And you’re starting to sound judgy.”
He knows I hate it when he gets all judgmental on me.
For the longest time, it caused the majority of our arguments and was a huge bone of contention.
Thankfully, he’s come to understand everything isn’t always simply black and white, and gray is a legit shade when it comes to the law.
Old habits die hard, though. Every so often he needs to be reminded that not so long ago, he was mired in that same gray world where I’ve always lived when he was an assassin who worked for a shadowy group called The Agency.
I hear him suck in a breath, calming down. “I’m sorry. I love you and I want you off Vaughn’s radar, so I’m having some trouble understanding why he’s there.”
“I told you, someone tried to incinerate me tonight and he’s here to keep me safe. That’s all.” Well, sort of. When Ryland doesn’t comment, I cave. “Okay, so maybe there’s a little more to it.”
“I knew it,” he murmurs with a sigh.
“You don’t know anything, so stop talking.
” No matter how old we are, we still revert back to how we fought when we were kids.
Pretty soon I’ll be calling him a dummy.
“He wants—needs—my help. There’s a famous ruby necklace that’s going to be on display at the museum.
It’s a very valuable piece. One certain people would do anything to steal.
Vaughn wants me to keep that from happening and help me bring down some old rivals in the process. ”
“Why would you help him?”
“Because he offered me a deal. If I keep the necklace from disappearing and round up a few annoying thieves, he’ll secure me and my team complete immunity from any past, ah, transgressions.”
Ryland is quiet for a moment. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust anyone.”
“Not true. I trust my wife. I trust Brax, Saint, Zane, Gray and Inda. And their significant others. And you,” he adds quickly. “You trust fewer people than I do, sis.”
He’s right. I don’t trust anyone outside of him, Knox, Linc, Ryder and B. The Man, too, even though that’s kind of pushing it since we’ve never actually met. Six people. Without my mom, I only trust six people in this whole freaking world. How sad is that?
“Things are changing,” I say softly. “I think it’s time to end a good run and go legit with A-Squared. Everyone is moving on with their lives, and I refuse to bring down the people I love or place them in danger.”
“I think that’s a really good call,” he says, voice low. Then adds, “Aunt Addie.”
My heart squeezes. “Just a few weeks left and my bratty little brother is going to be a dad. I’m so excited for you guys.”
“We’re excited, too. Scared shitless, but excited.”
We both laugh.
“You’re going to be a good dad, Ryland. The absolute best. And unlike our father, you’re going to be there for your little girl. Sienna is already so very loved.”
“I know,” he murmurs. “It’s going to be very different for her growing up than it was for us. She’s going to be surrounded by people who love her.” He hesitates before continuing. “There’s something I wanted to run by you. We think we have a middle name—Sienna Angel. If it’s okay with you?”
My throat tightens with emotion. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”
“I think Mom would, too.”
“She definitely would,” I agree, trying to keep my voice steady, and needing to change the subject before I cry. “How’s Harper doing?”
“Poor thing looks like she swallowed about five watermelons. But, ah…” His voice drops. “Did you know pregnant women are insanely horny?”
“TMI, Ryland.” I shake my head. “But, hey, at least one of us is getting laid.”
“For the time being. But once the baby comes, it’s going to be Celibate City.”
“As it should be. Keep your hands to yourself and let your poor wife heal,” I teasingly chastise him.
“Yeah, especially since Harper’s sister will be around a lot, too.”
“Count on a visit from me, too, little brother.”
“I will.”
“Sorry I called so late.”
“You call me any time you want,” he says, pulling a smile from me. My brother is a fierce warrior and he’d kick anyone’s ass for me. Actually, he’d probably make anyone who crosses me disappear. “Don’t trust Detective Vaughn. And don’t sit with your back to any doors.”
I smile, recognizing the Angel-ism. “I promise to be careful.”
“Good. Love you, sis.”
“Love you, too, bro.”
Disconnecting the call, I know Ryland is right. Working with Cole Vaughn is one thing. Trusting him? That’s another thing completely, and I can’t afford to let myself do that. Hell, we couldn’t even trust our own father, but that’s a rabbit hole I’m not about to go down.
If I end up getting screwed, my ass could wind up in a jail cell for a very long time. And I refuse to let that happen. After all, I’m about to become Aunt Addie, which means it’s time to come up with a retirement plan. Oh, and a hobby.