“I bet you don’t, Bomb.”
“Mmmhhmm. They always think my feistiness is cute at first. And if you call me that name one more time without explaining how you know about it, I’m gonna walk away.”
“What makes you think I care if you walk away?”
“Because I’m a bottom feeder, Bobby Mansi. I know desperation when I see it. You need me for something. It’s not dinner, and apparently it’s not a f**k either. So that means you want info on my ex.” I pause for a moment to see if he denies it, but he stays silent. “Or maybe it’s got something to do with Rook, or Ronin, or Ford.”
His face is impassive.
“Or”—I play my last card—“Ashleigh and Kate.”
He cracks a grin. Not a seductive one, or a scary one, or a challenging one.
No. His grin says bingo. I called it.
“I know a lot about you, Bombshell. I know a lot about your friends. And to be quite honest, most of those details bore me. All except one.”
“Ash.”
“Ashleigh Li Aston.”
I wait for more information but none comes forth. He holds his cards. “Come to dinner,” he commands.
“And if I don’t?”
“Then goodbye.”
“Are you going to hurt her?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it matters! She’s my friend!”
“I’m not here to hurt her. I’m here about something else.”
“The baby?”
“She’s part of it too, but no. That’s not the main reason I’m in town.”
Damn. I’m so f**king curious. “Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t. I’m not a very good guy.”
I scoff and turn away now. I’m done. I grab my leather jacket from the locker and slide into the smooth lined sleeves, then grab my helmet and my backpack. “OK, well. I’m just gonna take your advice then. If you don’t mind, I need to lock up.” I wave him forward.
“After you,” he insists.
I swear to God, I expect him to gag me with chloroform as we walk back up front, but he doesn’t. I flip the lights off as we exit, then turn the key in the door lock and check to make sure it’s engaged. When I turn to walk to my bike, he walks with me.
“Come to dinner.”
I snort this time. “Why? I’m not giving up information that might hurt my friends.”
“I said I’m not here to hurt her. I’m not here to hurt any of your friends. I’m here to help, actually. And Veronica”—he grabs my arm before I can step off the curb and get on the bike—“they need my help.”
It’s not so much the words, but the way he says them that sends a chill up my spine. “Why? What’s going on? I know something’s going on. What’s happening?”
“They don’t tell you?” He still has a hold of my arm, but he drops it and ponders his own question. “You’re not involved at all, are you?”
“No, I have no idea what they do. You’re asking the wrong person. They don’t tell me shit. I’m really not Spencer’s girlfriend.”
And that’s when the real smile comes out. “I’ll follow you back to your condo. Dress for dinner, and I’ll come to your door and pick you up in an hour.”
I say nothing.
But he follows me when I pull out onto College Avenue, and even though I could go home to my dad’s house, Bobby Mansi has me freaked the f**k out. My dad’s big, empty house with no locking doors or windows is the last place I want to be tonight.
Winning the game of life is all about the devil you know. So I’m gonna hang with him. Get all the info I need, and then take this back to Spencer tomorrow. Maybe then he’ll see I’m not some helpless girl who can’t be trusted with secrets.
Chapter Twenty-Two
SPENCER
A little while later, after Ryan and them have all gone home, the camera crews are packing shit up in the control room and Ford and Larry are discussing the particulars for tomorrow’s filming. Rook and Ronin come back to the office. She’s been getting the front showroom all squared away while Ronin hoofed it around downtown looking for local businesses that want to get in on the big opening day and supply food and shit.
Rook plops down on the couch. “Kate just woke up from her nap. Ford sent a car to get them, should be here in a few minutes.”
I nod at her and look over at Ronin. He’s peeking through the blinds, looking out at the street. There’s been people hanging out in the parking lot all day. I’m not sure who they’re hoping to get a glimpse of. Me? That’s just weird. More likely they’re looking for Rook. In fact—“Reporters, you think?” I ask Ronin as I stand next to him and peek out.
“Probably,” he mumbles. “Even if they’re not legit, everyone’s got a camera phone. Everyone thinks they’re just one YouTube video away from Grumpy Cat greatness.” He lets go of the blinds and they snap closed again. “You got a plan?” he asks as Ford and Ashleigh come in. Kate is squirming in Ashleigh’s arms and it’s painfully obvious both of them have been crying.
“I do have a plan, and it’s not dangerous at all.”
“Good,” Ford says. “Because I’m not happy that Ash needs to be the bait. Not one bit.”
“Well, her bait days are limited, Ford,” Rook snaps. “She’s gonna be all over the news next week, so relax until we hear what we’re doing.”