Chapter Five #3
“I don’t fucking know.” Wraith growled, eyeing the car as they passed it and walked up the stairs.
Wraith opened the door but stopped a few feet into the entry. Cross stood in the open doorway, scanning the room until he locked eyes on her. What the fuck? Both women seemed equally surprised, and Cleo jumped up from the couch.
“Hey! I didn’t expect you back until tomorrow,” Cleo said.
Cross didn’t bother watching the exchange. He was laser focused on the blonde shifting on the couch and scooting to the edge. What were the chances he’d run into her again? And more importantly, what the fuck was she doing here?
“Who’s this?”
Cross had known Wraith for years. While his tone was even, it was laced in suspicion.
“Oh,” Cleo said, and the mystery woman stood.
She hadn’t even looked at him. She was solely engrossed in the exchange between Cleo and Wraith.
She smiled and walked forward, giving Cross the perfect angle of her profile and body.
His gaze skimmed over her jaw and down her throat.
Just as fucking sexy as he remembered her from last night.
She seemed a little more dressed up, and her skin glowed.
She wore more makeup, and her hair seemed perfectly styled.
His gaze traveled down her body. He was reminded of what exactly had him ditching his brothers at the strip club to go in search of her.
Hourglass figures had always been his preference when it came to women.
And she was the perfect model. Curvy with a waist that dipped and flared out to a thick ass.
“This is Wraith.”
She offered her hand, and his brother hesitated slightly.
“Wraith,” Cleo whispered. She was giving her own warning to her man. Wraith shook her hand. Cleo glanced over and smiled as if just realizing he was there. “Oh, and this is Cross.”
This is gonna be fun.
The woman turned her head, smiling but then gasped when they locked eyes. Surprise, baby. Her cheeks immediately pinkened. If he had to guess, she was remembering him too. She offered her shaky hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Cross smirked, taking her hand, strumming his thumb over her finger. From his peripheral vision, he caught her chest rise and fall. That didn’t happen with Wraith. Cross steeled his features and battened down his amusement. Her cheeks turned a darker shade of red, and she tugged at her hand.
“Wait, you two have met?” Cleo waved her finger between them.
The woman jerked her head and cleared her throat. “Not formally.”
“Blonde from the bar last night?” Wraith’s question came out as an accusation. It was directed toward Cross, but she answered.
“I don’t know if I was the only blonde, but I was at the bar.” She gestured to Cross. “That’s where we kind of met.”
Cross cocked his brow, and her lips twitched. Met? Or where I was seconds away from you giving up your address with only one thought in mind?
“What bar?” Cleo asked.
“Barry’s,” Cross said.
She turned to Cleo. “That’s where I was leaving when we spoke. I had just gotten into town, and it was the only place open serving food.”
Barry had called it. Not a local. Cross knew as much. The area was small, and he knew just about everyone even in the surrounding area. And I wouldn’t have forgotten her.
“That’s so unfair you got to meet her first.” Cleo chuckled.
Meet her first? It was the first time since he’d walked in the house that it had dawned on him they still didn’t know who she was. And from Cleo herself, today had been their first-time meeting. So, who the fuck is this woman? Cross stilled, looking over at Wraith. He shared the same confusion.
“Well, I didn’t.” Wraith growled. “So who are you?”
“Oh! I introduced them, but not you.” Cleo reached out grabbing her arm. He was used to Cleo’s over the top excitement, but this was next level. She was practically bouncing on her toes. “This is Addison!”
Addison.
It only took a few seconds for that identity to register. And one to feel the physical effects of her presence. His muscles tightened and blood rushed through his veins. Without even realizing it, Cross balled his fists, lowering his gaze to her chest. That Addison.
He clenched his jaw, fighting against the feral rage coursing through his body. What the fuck was she doing here?
Cross was fully aware Cleo had kept in contact. He’d even read some of her letters. It was as if she was a faceless ghost. Until now. Addison had crossed enemy lines in their world. Knox’s life. And she had no place here.
His body was a ball of tension without release, and it only intensified the longer he looked at her.
But he couldn’t look away. She had Knox’s heart.
His! Not hers. The room was silent, and when she glanced over at Cross, her smile faltered.
She flattened her lips and shrunk slightly.
His scowl hardened until she looked away.
“Isn’t this great?”
Cleo seemed to be the only one in the room clueless to the drop in temperature. Addison wouldn’t get a welcome from him or any of the brothers. Wraith was proof of that.
“Um…” Addison turned to Cleo. “I should go.”
Yeah, you fucking should. Cross pressed his lips together and folded his arms, glaring at her.
“You don’t have to go.” There was no missing the panic in Cleo’s voice. “Stay for dinner.”
“Cleo.” Wraith growled, but she ignored him.
“I made plenty.”
Addison’s shaky smile made it clear she’d assessed the situation for exactly what it was. Get the fuck out!
“I appreciate it, but I’ve overstayed my welcome.”
“No, you haven’t.” Cleo whipped her head to Wraith. “Tell her she hasn’t.”
Cross glanced over to Wraith, who was scowling at Addison but remained silent.
Addison squeezed her arm. “Cleo, really, I’m still kind of on Iowa time and need to get some rest.”
“But I’ll see you again, right? You’re not leaving leaving.”
Addison licked her lips and slowly shook her head. “I’m here for a little while if you want to get together again.”
“I do,” Cleo blurted. “How about tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. Call me when you get up, and we’ll make some plans.”
Addison released her arm, walked over to the couch, and grabbed her bag. Cross was blocking half of the doorway. And I’m not moving. She waved to Cleo and ducked her head as she passed him. “It was nice meeting you both.”
As soon as the door closed, Cleo clapped her hands, bouncing on her feet like a kid on Christmas. Picking up social cues wasn’t exactly her forte, but the tension was impossible to miss. Hell, even Addison picked up on it right away.
“Isn’t she great?”
Cross grasped his hips and tightened his lips. He’d let Wraith handle his woman. And he did.
“What the hell is she doing here?” Wraith snapped.
Cleo’s eyes widened innocently. “She wanted to meet me.”
Wraith’s gaze darkened. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”
Now they knew why Cleo hadn’t answered her phone when he’d called.
“Well” —she licked her lips— “I didn’t know until last night. She called and said she was in town. You were away, so…”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Cleo.” Wraith dragged his hand over his head, sharing a look with Cross.
Cross narrowed his gaze. “You said this wasn’t gonna be a problem.”
Wraith cupped his mouth. He was seeing the ramifications of Addison’s arrival. Cleo, on the other hand, did not. She charged forward, putting herself between the men.
“It’s not a problem, Cross. I spent the afternoon with her. She’s probably the sweetest person I’ve ever met. If you just…”
Oh, fuck no.
“If I what? Get to know her? Why the fuck would I do that, Cleo?”
Cleo flattened her lips, and he silently cursed his outburst. It wasn’t Cleo’s fault. He needed to leave before he said anything else he’d regret. He turned toward the door.
“Wait, Cross.”
He had no plans of stopping until her hand gently grasped his arm.
He glanced over his shoulder. “She’s got his fucking heart. She doesn’t get his family or anything else from us!” Cross didn’t wait for a response and stormed out of the door.
Addison’s presence had instantly brought old wounds to the surface. A walking talking reminder of what he’d lost. He stalked across the yard, keeping his bike in his sight. He needed to get the hell out of there.
“Hey man, who’s the girl?” Cypher asked, but Cross ignored him and straddled his bike. He must’ve seen her leave. There’d be a discussion but not now. All he wanted was to put as much space as possible between him and his past.