Page 9 of Abra's Acquisition
I shrug. “Maybe. I think he’s more interested in learning about the treasure than finding it. He’s a scholar, just like his parents. They loved ancient Rome, which is why they named him Cicero. Cicero’s interest lies in the French Revolution and its ties to New Orleans.”
Rey frowns but says nothing. I study her as she considers my words. Rey is a stunning woman, something I hadn’t really had time to appreciate when we first met. Her hair, a pretty bronze color mixed with her natural black, is pulled into multiple braids, leaving her face unframed. Her sculpted cheekbones remind me of sculptures depicting Nefertiti. Intelligence shines through her green orbs as she processes what I’ve told her.
“I’d like to meet this Cicero and learn more about his research. Is that possible?”
I nod as I pull out my phone. “He would probably love to talk to you about his work. I was going to call him and tell him about the papers I took from Erickson. Let me give him a call.” Before I can select his number, my phone rings, and I do not doubt who is on the other end. When I accept the call and hear Erickson shouting, I know I’m right.
Rey winces as Erickson rants and raves about her being my accomplice and stealing from him. Rather than letting him continue bad-mouthing her, I interrupt him.
“Shut the fuck up, Erickson. Did you really think I would give in to your demands? You fucked up. Rey wasn’t working with me, but she is now. Before you consider calling the police or attacking her professionally, think again. We have the video feedshowing you incapacitating her. I’ll be happy to send it to the cops.”
“You really think the cops would believe her over me? I’ll just tell them she fainted and I gave her a place to rest for the night.”
Rey snarls, but I brush my hand down her arm to calm her. “Oh, you think so? What if I sent it to her brothers instead? They’re police detectives. Do you think they’ll believe you over her? Especially, when I tell them that I found her locked in a room with bars on the windows.”
Erickson goes silent on the other end, so I send Rey a smirk. She still looks worried, but considerably less agitated.
“I want my documents back, and that fucking figurine,” Erickson barks.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I don’t see that happening. You screwed up, Erickson. You should have approached me without involving Rey. I might have heard you out, but hurting her just pissed me off. Now, I have nothing to say to you. You have nothing I want. However, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I am familiar with Harlequin and his role in our performance. It will be interesting to see who reaches the stage first.”
I end the call and immediately reach out to Cicero.
“Do you need me to bring the figurine? I’m ready to go, just tell me where to meet you,” Cicero gushes the minute he picks up.
“Calm down, the woman is safe. We got her out. We also found some documents that I think you might want to review. What about coming to the clubhouse and bringing the figurine with you?”
“I’m on my way.”
CHAPTER EIGHT: REY
“Are you hungry or do you want to take a shower and change into fresh clothes?” Abra asks me after he ends the call with his friend, Cicero.
“Do I have time to take a shower?” I ask.
“Yes. It will take Cicero about thirty minutes to get here, and since I’m certain he wants to bring his research material along with the figurine, he’ll probably need another ten or fifteen minutes on top of that.”
“I don’t have anything to change into…” I start, but one of the women who greeted me hops up from her place on Hex’s lap and takes my arm.
“I have clothes you can borrow,” she says. “I’m Cleo, by the way, Hex is my man.”
“I’m Rey,” I say as I follow her up the stairs while she chatters. The long hallway extends the full length of the building. Cleo stops in front of a door and opens it, revealing a closet. Inside are supplies like toilet paper, toiletries, towels, sheets, and blankets. There are containers filled with travel-sized toiletries. She hands me the towel and piles shampoo, conditioner, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste onto it. She gives me the once-over before snagging a bag off a shelf containing similar shopping bags. With my hands full, she leadsme about halfway down the hall before she opens another door. “This is Abra’s room. He won’t mind if you use his shower. There are brand-new clothes in the bag along with underwear. No bra, I’m sorry. Let me know if you need anything else.”
I thank her before carrying everything into the bathroom. While I brush my teeth, I glance around the space. It’s nice. Very masculine. The stone floor is black, as are the cabinets and the shower tile. The walls are a deep burgundy with bright white trim. White granite counter, with glass sinks set beneath brushed silver faucets. The entire room is spotless. After undressing, I hop into the shower and use the items Cleo provided. They aren’t my everyday products, but they’ll do. It’s nice to feel clean again.
After toweling off, I pull out the clothes and find a pair of leggings in light lavender and a tunic in several shades of purple. I put my dirty clothes inside the bag and open the bathroom door. Standing in the room is Abra. He has his shirt off as he rummages in the dresser. His back is to me, and damn, it is a spectacular sight. He’s all muscle and smooth skin. He has the perfect male form, broad shoulders that taper into a tight waist. His jeans cup the globes of his muscular ass. Seeing it makes me want to take a bite. Hell, I didn’t know the sight of a guy's back could have me panting with desire. If his back looks this good, what does his front look like? It isn’t until after I’ve studied every inch of his body that I realize he’s facing a mirror. His eyes are on me. Locking eyes with Abra, I see him smirk. Great! Now I want the floor to open up and suck me in.
“Like what you see?” Abra asks, his tone teasing. He grabs a shirt from the drawer and turns, giving me a good look at the front, and yep, that’s pretty fucking spectacular, too. I surreptitiously wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth. He chuckles at my maneuver. “Drooling?”
I narrow my eyes at him before turning away to leave. I feel him come up behind me and hold the door so I can’t escape. His body is so close, I can feel the heat wafting off him. He smells amazing. All I want to do is turn and snuggle into his hard body, but I stop myself. Instead, I step away from him and glance up into his grey eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He raises his hands in surrender, but never loses the smirk. “I’m just making sure you make it downstairs safely. Wouldn’t want to lose you in this big place.”
I shake my head and nod toward the top of the stairs. “I think I can manage.”
He says nothing more as he joins me in the hall. I want to stay silent, but his presence makes me nervous. I don’t often get nervous, but when I do, I tend to babble. “This place is amazing. It used to be a plantation, right?”
Abra nods. “It was. Hex’s ancestors lived here as enslaved people before they escaped and fled to Mexico. He bought the place a few years ago. It was in terrible shape. He fixed it up, along with help from Dixie and his mother, Desdemona.”
