Chapter Fourteen #2
“Thank you.” I give them a nod. “I think our first stop is actually South America.” Delaney’s attention swivels over to me. “As much as I dread seeing my dad and stepmom, they possess the only known map of the mine, and we need it.”
“Why do you think they’re in South America?” Addie asks.
“They have a nice place in Argentina. Once a year they host a big event down there. I saw an article online, and it’s in two nights.”
“Are your parents going to hand this map over?” Cole asks. “Or are you asking them to steal it?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I admit. “But, either way, we need to be prepared.” My attention shifts back to Cole—I know he’s still a cop deep down and I know he’s worried about Addie getting in trouble—and this isn’t their problem. It’s mine. “No one has to come with us. I know it’s a lot and—”
“We’ve got your back,” Addie says with zero hesitation, and Cole nods.
“I’ll tell Hunter to prepare the jet,” Knox states.
“I’m in,” Brighton declares.
“Aww, hell. That’s a lot of flying.” Linc groans.
“Suck it up, Deck.” Knox thumps him on the back. “You know you can trust my very skilled, former Navy pilot fiancée.”
“I trust Hunter. I don’t trust the plane. Fucking metal tube that’s way too heavy to be barreling through the sky thirty-thousand feet above land at five-hundred miles per hour.”
“Don’t be such a baby, big guy,” Brighton teases.
Addie turns to Cole. “Can you stay here and hold down the fort?”
“Whatever you need, baby.”
“We should tell The Man, too,” she murmurs.
None of us knows who The Man really is, other than he has a shit-ton of money and knows the right people to get what he wants.
We’re not about to question a guy who provides us with endless jobs and acts as our mysterious benefactor.
He keeps his identity a secret, and his endless connections have proven vital.
Win-win situation for all involved. Even better, when Addie told him we were going legit, he was onboard with the decision.
I’m not sure if we’ll ever discover his true identity, but Angel, Addie’s mom, told us to trust him. And we do.
“Have you talked to Voss?” Addie asks, turning her attention to Delaney.
“I told him I didn’t find anything.”
“Hmmm.” Addie murmurs thoughtfully. “I doubt he believes you. He’s too smart to simply accept you failed and gave up. Especially with your remarkable track record.”
Delaney smiles at the compliment.
“Oh, and while we were in Austria, we ran into your good pal, Laurent,” I tell Addie, and she makes a face. “He tried to steal the Phantom Orchid from us.”
“He’s hardly my pal.”
“I don’t like that guy,” Cole grumbles.
“That’s because he has a crush on Addie,” Knox teases. “What does he call you? Tootsie pop?”
“Addie-Baddie,” Brighton supplies with a giggle.
“Who knows? He’s crazy.” Addie waves a dismissive hand through the air, brushing their words aside as Cole scowls. “He’s not nearly as handsome as you, my detective,” she murmurs, smoothing her hands down his rumpled T-shirt and soothing his ego.
He may have ditched the suits, but Cole Vaughn still looks like a police detective to me. He possesses a keen eye, is sharp as a whip, and guzzles coffee like it’s his job. He’s been a good asset to us, and he treats Addie like a queen. I’ll take him over Laurent any day.
“Laurent saved my life,” Linc states. “He’s alright in my book.”
“True,” I acknowledge, “but he almost killed Delaney.”
“What happened?” Addie frowns.
“It was my fault,” Delaney interjects. “I followed him up a rope as he was trying to make his getaway over the castle wall.”
“She fell almost thirty feet,” I say darkly, the fear of that moment once again hitting me hard.
“But you caught me, and I’ll be forever grateful.” Her eyes catch mine, and the sincerity in them is radiant.
She laces her fingers through mine beneath the table, and I have a feeling everyone figures it out.
But I don’t care. I just keep holding her warm hand, thankful she’s alive and breathing.
Grateful for the time we spent together last night and for the future which I’m going to fight like hell to make sure happens.
Because I’m falling hard and fast for the amazing woman sitting beside me.
I want to spend more time with her. Learn everything there is to know about her.
Go everywhere and do everything. Together.
Share secrets or wake up in the middle of the night and cuddle.
I’ve never wanted to call anyone my girlfriend before, but that’s changing fast.
Shit. I’m in big trouble. Because my little English rose is making me want things—want her—and I mean for more than a night or two. A dangerous thought like that should make me break out in an immediate sweat. Maybe even hives. But instead, I find myself grinning like a fool at absolutely nothing.
“Can’t you just picture Laurent scaling a castle wall?” Brighton chuckles. “As sneaky as he is, he’s also rather dashing. Don’t you think?”
My smile fades. “No,” I state flatly, and everyone laughs.