“No!” Rook exclaims as I enter the little room behind the showroom desk.
“Oh, hey, Ronnie,” Ashleigh says as she hands Kate a baby cookie.
“You’re pregnant?” I ask.
“She doesn’t know yet. But Ford’s asking her for a test to check.” Rook waggles her eyebrows at me. “They’ve been bareback for months.”
Great. That’s just great. I’m gonna help a man abduct her tonight, and she might be pregnant.
“Coffee, Ronnie?” Rook asks, handing me a cup. “Spencer got me this new coffee machine and outfitted the store room as my own personal space.”
“Why?” I’m confused. And jealous. Why the f**k does Spencer do everything for Rook? I’m insanely jealous every time he pays attention to her, even after he told me how he really feels last night.
“The boys don’t want us having coffee across the street until things die down,” Ash says. “Why do you have that look on your face?”
“I don’t have a look,” I reply defensively. “I’m just confused, that’s all.”
“Ronin is crazy thinking about the reporters.”
“Yeah,” Ash joins in. “And Ford, holy shit, he’s off-his-meds insane over this stupid job tonight.”
“Ashleigh,” Rook chastises.
I walk over to the fancy coffee machine and press the button for coffee, then take my time adding cream and sugar. I can’t hear them whispering behind my back or anything, but I can almost feel the looks and hand gestures.
When I turn they’re both smiling big. Like I just caught them doing something bad. I ignore them and plop down on the couch.
“Spencer came in happy this morning,” Rook offers.
“Well, he got laid last night, so I guess that’s why,” I reply back, uninterested. All I’m thinking about is tonight. How am I supposed to help Bobby/Tet do this job when Ashleigh is pregnant?
“Earth to Ronnie,” Rook says as she snaps her fingers in front of my face.
“Huh?”
“I said, are you two back together?”
Are we back together? We can’t be back together, because then my loyalty belongs to him. And I can’t choose him over this job, otherwise his life is in danger. “No, I’m seeing someone else. This Italian guy from my building. He owns the building, actually. He owns the other apartment building too, but there’s asbestos in that one and—”
“Whoa,” Rook says. “What are you talking about?”“Did you say Italian guy?” Ash asks, her face pale with worry when I look over at her.
Yeah. That’s a dead giveaway. Does she know this guy? Maybe, maybe not. But she’s worried. I know her Tony came from the mafia, Rook spilled that part to me as soon as she found out. Damn, I wish I had a picture of Bobby. Or a picture of Tony. “Hey, we should go to your house for coffee, Ash. Let’s go now.”
“No,” they both say together. “We’re not allowed out of the building today,” Rook says.
“Until later anyway,” Ashleigh explains.
Rook shoots her another look and it’s pretty clear they are in on the job Bobby was referring to last night. I just sulk on the couch for the entire hour after that, saying pretty much nothing. My mind is racing at top speed, trying to justify kidnapping my friends.
The ends justify the means. That’s what Bobby said last night. Yes, it’s horrific and terrifying, but the end justifies the means.
Of course, he never told me the end. I laugh out loud at that and both Rook and Ronnie stop talking to shoot me a look of concern. “Sorry,” I say quickly.
They continue to talk until I get a text from Carson telling me I’m late to open the shop. Holy hell. I get up, say my quick goodbyes, and then head for my bike. Three minutes later I pull up in front of Sick Boyz, more confused than ever.
Because I might be trading the lives of my friends for Spencer.
How does one choose between friend and lover?
My shoulders sag as I get off the bike and greet Carson. I open the door, flip the sign to open, and then head back to my room as Carson talks to me from the register.
I don’t hear any of it though, because all I can think about is how I’m on the wrong side.
I’m totally on the wrong side.
But it doesn’t matter.
Bobby Mansi made it crystal clear. If he dies, I’ll lose everything. Because he won’t fix the trial until his mission is complete. And I’m not even sure what that mission is, but I need to be on board. Because if Rook testifies… all my friends go to jail.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
SPENCER
“Hello? You dumbasses still there?”
Ronin and I just look at the phone on my desk. I’m so f**king distracted today about Veronica, I should just go home. I loved her being here in the building this morning, but now she’s at work and Carson, damn. That guy is a lot of things, but a hero isn’t one of them.
“We’re here,” Ronin says. “Just… processing.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “Say it again. Because I’m pretty sure you just said you saw Ashleigh’s sister drive by six times.”
Silence from Ford means he’s irritated. He’s pinching the bridge of his nose, gritting his teeth so hard his TMJ will be acting up tonight, and closing his eyes, sympathizing with himself about having to deal with stupid people. “You’re giving me a headache,” he says calmly.