CHAPTER THREE #2
This article is straight up defamation. They have nothing besides a semi common last name.
I hear someone coming my way and in a hurry; I fold the newspaper and hold it behind my back.
I relax a little when I see is Cooper. I don’t know when I felt comfortable around him.
He is still annoying, especially at how charismatic he is.
I charm people. That’s basically my entire role in VERA. I don’t get charmed by others. Seems like Cooper is a special case. I don’t want to even consider he is the exception.
“Where are your friends?” Cooper asks.
“They are inside talking to Calvin.”
“Remember the guys that followed you four into Sing Note? I took care of them, but we can’t stay in Saddleback. They know you four are here and I’m sure they will bring more people to drag you all four back to; what was the name of the town?”
I glare at him. I know he remembers, but he is just being infuriating. “Maxwell. How exactly did you take care of them? I hope it doesn’t mean that you fought with them and scared them away.”
“Do I look like I got into a fight with two men?” I extend his hands to his sides and turn around.
Cooper looks exactly as I last saw him. His shirt is not crumpled. There are no bruises on his face and no cuts or blood on his hands. “Then how did you convince them to leave?”
He leans in a smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
I glare at him. I want to give him a heavy piece of my mind, but the idol training kicks in hard. I smile so wide I force my eyes to smile, too. “It would be awesome to know, to learn negotiation tactics, but I totally respect you for wanting to keep your methods secret.”
I smile wider when he frowns. I’m sure he expected me to complain and argue until he said something. I’m enjoying throwing this man for a loop every time I get the chance to. The dopamine hit feels so exhilarating. I need to be careful or I would create my undoing.
“I’m not gonna fall for your trick. I see right through you, Rosie.”
I roll my eyes to ignore my heart speeding up when he says my name. “What trick?” I ask, leaning closer to him and batting my eyelashes.
He breathes in deep and closes his eyes.
I watch as a myriad of emotions run through his face, none I could recognize.
When Cooper opens his eyes, for a second I see it.
Lust. Passion. A shot of electricity run through my body and I step closer.
I want to see it closer. I want to touch it. I want to taste it.
I feel my eyes widened at my train of thoughts.
What is wrong with me? Why I’m so attracted to this man whom I know nothing about?
The same second I thought of stepping back, Cooper wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me flush to his body.
He moves us to the corner beside the only window between Leroy’s Shop office and the workshop’s main area.
Cooper hits it twice before he signals the people inside to lie low.
“Shouldn’t we—” Cooper covers my mouth with his hand.
He shakes his head and then looks straight into my eyes.
Moments later, I hear voices talking in Spanish.
I concentrate and try to hear what they were saying.
My Spanish is getting a little rusty because I haven’t talked with my fans and it is always so hard to find time to talk to my parents for over five minutes to check that I’m still alive.
“La vieron aqui. Estoy seguro que la vieron aqui.”
“Estará en el hotel?”
“No. Las vieron, a las cuatro, entrando a este establecimiento. Lo mas probable el viejo Leroy las esta escondiendo.”
“Tu sabes que no podemos tocar a Leroy.”
“I know. No nos pueden hacer nada por acercarnos y confirmar que estén aquí. Si estan podemos esperar a que salgan.”
“Entra tu. Yo me quedo acá.”
“Coward.”
I feel panic rising and hit Cooper’s arm.
My eyes look at him and then behind him.
I want to tell him that someone is coming in and that they are looking for me, for us.
I want to tell him that they don’t sound like they have my safety or best interest in mind.
I want to warn him, but his hand is tightly pressed on my mouth.
Before the unknown man enters the workshop, Cooper turns me around.
The arm around my waist pulls me even closer to him and the hand on my hand moves to behind my neck.
In the same second, he wraps his lips around mine and I gasp.
My body froze before immediately melting all over his body.
I wrap my arms around his neck and return the kiss with more enthusiasm that I had intentions to.
My back arches and his hands move from holding my neck to cradle the back of my head.
I hear a long whistle and I instinctively break to kiss to turn to look, but Cooper holds my head in place.
“Look at me,” he growls, and a fire lights up in the pit of my stomach.
“Kiss me,” I whisper. It sounds like a plea. Me three minutes ago would have been so embarrassed but current me just want another taste.
He dives in and I welcome him in. I let him taste every knock and cranny inside my mouth.
I get to taste him. I don’t drink a lot and I’ve tasted whiskey once in my life.
He tastes like that and like danger. He tastes like I will never be the same after this kiss.
Like no man would ever measure up to him.
The man behind us clears his throat and I feel Cooper’s arm leave my waist for a couple of minutes.
“I get it, dude. Love on your lady.” The stranger says in an accent I can’t recognize.
It doesn’t sound Mexican or like any other country in Central America, but it doesn’t quite sound like the accents in South America.
Or maybe he is making it up, mixing a few accents so people can’t recognize him.
I remember where I am and what I’m doing when I feel Cooper’s arm on my waist and his fingers scratching my scalp.
The sensation feels so good I didn’t even think of holding back the moan.
He breaks the kiss but stays close, looking at me.
I feel like I’m going crossed eye so I close them.
What the heck was that Rosie? A moan. Rosalie Valente moaning and it is not for a recording of a ridiculous sexy song that’s not even appropriate for Vivi to do?
“He is gone. Do you know why the cartel Silver Crows is looking for you?” Cooper asks.
I open my eyes and shake my head. Besides what the article says, I don’t know why are they are looking for me. Unless…
Cooper turns me around and leaves me to slump on the wall behind me.
I watch as he picks up the folded newspaper I had in my hands.
He opens it and I watch as he reads over the title and the body of the article.
He looks at me and then at the newspaper.
He charges towards me, grabs my wrists and pulls me inside.
The girls were crouching on the floor out of the window’s sight and Leroy was holding his shotgun, ready to protect them.
“Here is why they are searching for her.” Cooper slams the newspaper on the counter.
“Do you think they want her as leverage to get to her manager?” Leroy asks.
“Is what makes sense. Why would they push news to double down on the last name? News companies know linking her to them is grounds for defamation, but is not like these girls have the support of their company. They are easy prey to the news and to the cartel.”
“Excuse me, but we would like for you two not to talk as if we are not here,” I say.
Ginny pulls Maggie and Vivi up and stands beside me. “What does that have to do with us?” Ginny asks.
“Seems like your manager.” Cooper points at me. “is doing or was doing illegal things, money related illegal things with the help of the cartel. If they lost contact with him, it makes sense. They are trying to get to you to use you to flush him out from wherever he is hiding.”
“Well, there is a problem with their plan,” I say.
“What?”
“Chad doesn’t care for me. If the media is relating our group to criminals, we are done. We are damage good not worth repairing for LuxeMuse Entertainment. We are pretty much dead.”
“This is not the time to think of the worst outcome, Rosie,” Maggie says.
“Well, it is not your name or your manager who is throwing you under the bus again.” I cross my arms over my chest and step back. I love them, I swear I do, but they will never know what it feels to be used and abuse constantly in the name of the group.
“Rosie,” Ginny starts, but Cooper’s voice stops her.
“You four talk your problems out on another time. We need to leave. Leroy, can you hold on to their van until it is safe enough for them to get it or one of their family members?” Leroy nods. “We are checking out of our accommodations and we have to leave Saddleback.”
“We all four won’t fit on your bike,” Vivi says.
“Here,” Leroy says as he tosses a key to Cooper.
“Thank you, Leroy. I owe you another one.”
“It’s okay. You keep them safe. I know you Callahans have beef with those crows. Seems like helping them will help you, too. Killing two birds with a stone,” Leroy says.
“You know too much. That, and many other reasons, is why you are so respected. Tell Calvin I’ll give back his car better than I left it with. Beside Rosalie, who else drives?”
Genevieve extends her hand, palm up. Cooper drops the key on her palm and grabs my wrist. “You are riding with me.”
“Why? I should be with my members.”
“No. They want you, the most. They are safer away from you. I need to keep you safe. Listen to me Rosalie.” Cooper holds my shoulders and leans down to face me.
“You have to be within eyesight. If you want to stay alive. If you don’t want to even think of what the Silver Crows are capable of, you will not leave my side. ”
“It cannot be that bad.” I roll my eyes and roll my shoulders, trying to get his hands off me.
“Promise me, Rosalie.”
I pause at his tone and how serious his expression is. Dread fills my stomach. I blink twice, wanting to go back to the moment I was making out with Cooper.
“I promise.”
He hands me my helmet and helps me up onto his bike. In less than two hours, we were checked out and on our way out of Saddleback, Tennessee.