Chapter 14 #2
Ace ran a hand over his face. “I’m heading home, but I’ll keep the searches running. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“We’ll keep looking, too,” she said. “Night, Ace.”
Ryder huffed out a breath. “We should probably take a break too. Order some dinner.” His lips quirk. “What does my lovely wife want to eat?”
Siv looked back at the computers. “I want to check a few more things—”
There was a knock at the front door.
They both rose. No one had called up to be buzzed into the building.
Siv met his gaze, then moved into the entryway. She checked the peep hole on the front door and straightened. Swinging it open unveiled four women.
She’d met them all since she’d started work at Norcross Security.
The bombshell blonde in the fitted, navy-blue dress was Harlow Carlson, Easton’s fiancée.
The pretty, slender brunette in the cream, lace dress topped with a fitted, black jacket was Rhys’ woman, Haven McKinney.
The slim blonde in leggings and a large, white shirt with pale-blonde, curly hair in a messy bun on top of her head was Savannah Cole, Hunter Morgan’s fiancée.
The short brunette in front in the statement-red pantsuit and holding a huge designer handbag was Gia Norcross.
“What are you four doing here?” Ryder growled. “Siv and I are undercover.”
“We know.” Gia strode in, the other women following. “We heard you guys are happily married.” She smiled. “We came to see if Siv had murdered you yet.”
Ryder crossed his arms over his chest. “You came to be nosy. If the bad guys spotted you—”
Gia waved a hand, her engagement ring glinting. “Oh, please. You know who my brothers are. Our cover story is that I’m meeting an important client who lives on the tenth floor. And we came in the back entrance.”
“I’m guessing your men don’t know you’re here,” Ryder said.
Gia tossed her dark curls over her shoulder and headed for the kitchen. “They aren’t the boss of us.”
Savannah shrugged. “I protested about coming, but Gia made me. She’s small, but bossy.”
“I’m organized and confident,” Gia countered.
“And a bit scary,” Savannah added.
Ryder shook his head. “You’re going to be in trouble.”
“Ryder.” Haven’s face fell. “You’re all bruised.” She crossed to him and touched the side of his face.
“A run-in with some thugs. I’m fine.”
“You’re sure?” Harlow leaned in and hugged him.
Siv saw him wince, but he hugged the woman back. Savannah touched his arm, her worry clear.
“Siv’s taking good care of me,” he said.
All the women’s gazes swung her way.
“Really?” A smile flirted on Harlow’s lips.
Ryder grinned. “ Really good care.”
Siv made a sound. “Why don’t you just tell them we’re sleeping together?”
“Because there isn’t much sleeping going on.”
Savannah started laughing, while Harlow clapped her hands together. Gia and Haven were smiling.
Gia dumped her huge handbag on the kitchen counter and pulled out a bottle of tequila, a cocktail shaker, and other ingredients. “This calls for margaritas.”
Ryder’s eyebrows flew up. “Do you have an entire bar in that bag?”
Gia ignored him. “Siv, since we can’t take you out for cocktails, and ply you with questions about Ryder, we brought the cocktails to you.”
Ryder shook his head.
A loud knock thumped on the front door.
Siv raised her brows, while Ryder strode over. When he checked the peep hole, he fought back a laugh.
This time, it was Vander, Saxon, Easton, Rhys, Hunter, and Cam.
Saxon strode in. “Contessa, I told you not to come here.” He waved a hand. “This has your name written all over it.”
Gia sniffed. “I don’t take orders from you, Saxon Buchanan.”
His gaze narrowed. “You do sometimes.”
“You could have compromised Ryder and Siv’s cover,” Vander said.
“No one saw us, and we used a cover story.” Gia propped a hand on her hip. “We aren’t stupid.”
Vander looked like he wanted to yell.
Brynn appeared in the still-open doorway, carrying an armload of pizza boxes. “Sorry I’m late. Someone help me with these. I got pizza from Tony’s.”
Vander eyed his woman and shook his head. He then went to help her carry the boxes in.
Cam lifted the beers he was holding. “Who wants a drink?”
Siv watched the men all claim their women for quick kisses. She saw Hunt Morgan tug on Savannah’s hair, and murmur something to her. The detective looked a lot like Ryder, but a more clean-cut, big brother version.
Soon, she found herself on the couch beside Ryder, who’d slung an arm around her shoulders, eating excellent pizza and sipping a very good margarita.
“So, Ryder’s infamous charm won Siv over.” Gia sat perched on an armchair, Saxon sitting at her feet. “We weren’t sure which way things would go.”
Siv froze and glanced at Vander. She hadn’t been quite ready to announce to everyone that she and Ryder were, whatever they were. Vander’s face looked as impassive as always, but he was a hard man to read.
“Damn,” Cam muttered. “That means Vander takes out the betting pool.”
Siv lowered her drink. “You guys were betting on when Ryder and I would…?”
“When you’d take pity on him,” Cam said. “I bet against him.”
“What?” Ryder shot his brother the finger.
“He kind of wore me down,” Siv said.
That got chuckles out of everyone.
“And I think my charm actually worked against me.” He smiled at her. “Luckily, I have other good qualities.”
Siv acted surprised. “You do?”
He pinched her side.
The conversation drifted. The group talked a little about the case, but she noted the Norcross men kept it light and didn’t go into detail. The women talked about their work, upcoming weddings, Sofie and Rome attending an event in Mexico City, and Maggie and Ace’s impending new arrival.
Siv sat there, listening to Ryder’s deep laughter as he absently stroked the back of her neck, and watched the group.
They included her without a thought, and she realized how much fun she was having.
These were good people. Many of them were very wealthy—her gaze moved to where Harlow sat on Easton’s lap—but they were all so down-to-earth.
They didn’t care about making appearances or doing the right thing or being seen at the right places.
They were just themselves, and they accepted her as part of the gang, just as she was.
They cared about each other. She listened to Ryder and Cam argue about football. This group was a team. It made her realize how much she missed her team from the FSK. It was nice to belong somewhere again.
Finally, Vander rose. “Well, we’d better call it a night.”
Everyone started moving and packing things away.
Her boss met Siv’s gaze. “Ace briefed me earlier. He said you’re searching for the Foster’s lab.”
She nodded. “We haven’t found it yet, but we’ll keep at it. Tomorrow, Ryder and I won’t stop until we find where they’re making the drug.”
Brynn appeared at Vander’s side, her face serious. “As soon as you get definitive proof, Hunt and I want the information. I want to be a part of bringing these assholes down.”
Vander slid his arm around his woman. “Don’t worry, Detective, you’ll get your chance.”
Soon, the apartment emptied out. Siv closed the front door.
“Had fun?” Ryder was leaning back on the kitchen counter.
“I like your friends and your brothers.”
“They like you back, and I’m pretty sure you just got inducted into the gang.” He smiled, slow and sexy. “Are you ready for bed, Ms. Pedersen?”
Heat flared, curling low in her belly. “I think I am, Mr. Morgan.”
Her case would be there, waiting, in the morning. But right now, she had a hot, sexy medic she wanted to play with.