NHN to pay a fine of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars after the set for the filming of El Traficante was set on fire in the middle of the Everglades, Friday afternoon. Government officials are calling it negligence on the part of NHN. NHN is claiming arson. Regardless, NHN is responsible for any damage in the national park while shooting on site. It took five hours to put the fire out. Rocco Monroe was not seen leaving the set, but reports have him safe and sound at his Coral Gables home. It is rumored that NHN will pull the plug on the movie after all the setbacks . . .

“You okay?” Paul asked, his voice serious and concerned.

“Yeah, fine. Just had to outrun the paps. Is the movie really getting pulled?”

“No. But the studio has decided to keep quiet about future shoots. Only the immediate crew will be given details and it will be a completely closed set. We don’t want any leaks.”

“So we’re still flying out tomorrow?”

“No, the studio’s going to convene and figure things out,” Paul said. “I just drove by your house and it is swarming with news vans. Go somewhere safe, I’ll call you when I know more,” Paul said before hanging up.

After they finished their beers, they each went to the bathroom to try to wipe off some of the mud, but it was of no use. They’d need a pickax to take the hardened dirt off their skin. Plus, they were itching from all the mosquito bites.

“How are you not going crazy?” he asked, scratching his red and bumpy arm.

She shrugged. “Been though worse, I guess.”

“That makes me sad for you, Tiger.” He scratched his head and then his neck.

Light seeped into the dark bar when the front door opened and Joey walked inside and hollered, “Let’s go.”

Jax was in the driver’s seat of one of ICS’s black Yukons and Rocco and Annie sat in the back. “You can’t go to your house,” Joey said. “I can take you to one of our safe houses.”

“No. I’m not going to any safe house. I’m going home. I’m not hiding from these fanatics. It’s a goddamn movie. Not an act of war.”

“Listen, these fanatics, they mean business. A safe house is a good place to—”

“No!” he said in a tone that left no room for questioning.

Jax and Joey looked at each other, clearly having a silent conversation that made Rocco want to lash out.

“I’ll take him to my house,” Annie piped up from beside him.

“What? No!” Joey said quickly.

“Yes. No one knows who I am. My house is off the grid, it’s the safest place. And we don’t know how long the paparazzi will be at his house or when we’ll be leaving for Colombia. This is the best option.”

Joey turned his body and looked straight at Annie, ignoring the other two men in the car. “You are being irresponsible and emotional.”

“Joey . . .”

Rocco put his arm around Annie, and pulled her toward him. “You better accept this, because this is real. The two of us, it’s real. And she just got us out unscathed, so you should also thank her for a job well done.”

Her sunburned face broke into a big smile. “I really like you.” It surprised him that she’d admit that in front of her brother, but it felt wonderful to hear it.

“I really like you too, Tiger.” It wasn’t “I love yous,” but for someone as guarded as Annie this was a huge step and he wanted to hold her, kiss her, make love to her. Instead, he was stuck in the middle of nowhere with her brother shooting daggers at them.

“This is all real cute.” Joey said, with his arms crossed and his nostrils flaring. “But this is so in-fucking-apropriate! Like him? What does that mean, exactly?”

Her brother really needed to take it down a few notches. He was just as intense as Annie. Apparently, it was a Clad family trait.

But the bottom line was that this was really none of his business and even though Rocco could appreciate that he was being protective of his sister, Joey was very close to crossing the line. He didn’t want to cause Annie additional stress by going head to head with her brother but he wasn’t going to stand idly by and watch Joey be a dick to him or to Annie, even if Annie could defend herself. It just wasn’t in his DNA to watch anyone mistreat another person, especially a woman.

“It means I like him. I like how he is with me, I like how I feel when I’m around him. I like him.”

“Fuck, Annie.” He rubbed his temples with his thumbs. “How could you let that happen? He’s an actor.”

A low deep groan came from deep within Rocco and he had to fist his hands in order to control his impulse to punch Joey. Who the hell did he think he was? Calling him a liar right in front of his face. And in front of Annie, his woman. “Fuck you! I’m not acting and I don’t give a shit about work. I won’t let anything happen to her. You have a lot of nerve coming here and talking about things you don’t anything about.” Joey was assuming this was a quick roll in the hay for Rocco, but it wasn’t. Not at all.

“She’s not supposed to let anything happen to you, Goddamn it! How did this all get twisted around? This is not pretend. You told me you just wanted someone to blend in, Monroe.”

“It’ll be fine,” Jax said from the driver’s seat, trying to calm Joey down. “Where’s your head at, Annie?”

“It’s on the job. I’m focused. If anything, I’m more aware because I don’t want anything to happen to him. I can do this, Jax. I swear. You have to trust me.”

“I do trust you. But you’re not my sister. You and Joey need to figure your shit out.”

“Annie, honey, I love you and I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Joey finally said, softly.

“I’m not a little kid anymore, Joe. I love you too, but trust my instincts. It’ll be fine. I’m tired of arguing with you. Just stop.” She looked exhausted by the conversation and he wanted to reach for her but he didn’t want to be so blatantly touchy-feely in front of her brother, who was obviously not on board with the relationship.

“How can you do your job when you have feelings for him? Your judgment is compromised.”

“Did you have this talk with Jax when he fell in love with Megan—his client?” she asked snarkily.

“Yes. Actually I did. And you know what the lunatic did, he ran into a fucking arena with a bomb in his hand. If that’s not compromised judgment, I don’t know what is.”

“Well, I’m smarter than that.”

“Screw you both. It was the best option at the time!”

“That is never the best option,” Joey replied quickly.

His jaw ticked and Annie just sighed. “What is it? Just say it.”

“I can’t lose you again. It would kill me, Mom, the brothers. Annie, maybe this isn’t for you, this life?”

“Why because I fell for my client? Because I have feelings? Because you are insecure? Soldiers can have feelings too. Fuck, maybe you’d be better at your job if you left the fucking computer lab and started having feelings too.”

“Annie—“

“No. I don’t need you to talk down to me. I’ve been through hell, Joey. Now, I have a chance at happiness. Maybe it won’t last forever, but while it lasts, it gives me hope. Something I haven’t felt in years. Don’t take that away from me. Be my brother! Be happy for me!”

“Annie—”

“That’s it. This conversation is done,” Rocco interrupted, his eyes square on Joey. He’d tried to let the siblings hash it out for themselves but that was it. “Take us to Annie’s house. Now.”

* * *

She seemed so upset he wasn’t sure how to handle her. She was the kind of woman who needed space. She needed to come to her own conclusions and make her own decisions, otherwise she’d resent him forever.

“1993 Ford Taurus?”

She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. They’d just gotten out of the car and Joey wouldn’t look at either of them. Jax bid them both a goodnight.

Annie gave Rocco a quick tour of the small apartment and then took out a toaster. “I need to eat something before showering.”

“I can’t do anything until I shower. I’m so itchy.”

“Okay,” she said, not looking at him, lost in thought. He didn’t like to see her that way. “So, let’s talk about your bathtub at this house of yours?”

She turned to look at her and her big scowl turned into a little chuckle. “Shower only. Sorry to disappoint.”

“There’s fun to be had in a shower. I could make it work. First, though, we have to take off about two pounds of mud.”

“I have a roommate, so you have to be quiet.”

He laughed. “Be quiet? Me? You’re the loud one, baby. Super loud. Not complaining, but thought you should know.”

“I’ll bite you to keep things under control.”

“I like your style of crazy, crazy.”

She chuckled again and he was glad he’d gone the route of cheering her up and pretending the argument with her brother didn’t just happen.

“I didn’t know you had a roommate.”

“Yep. For years now.”

“Cool. I’ve only ever lived with Paul.”

“Really? I thought I read you lived with Jessica Anton when you guys dated.”

“We never dated. It was all a PR stunt. And no, we never lived together.”

“Really?”

“Really. You’re the first woman I’ve ever lived with.”

“Hmmm. . . . interesting,” she said, then focused back on the toaster. “My brother’s an ass.”

“He’s just worried.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, turning back to the toaster. “I mean, who does he think he is? I’m a grown-ass woman, and I know how to do my job.”

I guess she does want to talk about it, he thought.

“I don’t have siblings, Annie, but I suspect that if I did, I’d be protective of them. Give him some slack. He’s worried.”

A half-naked man walked out of the bedroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and yawning. “Hey, honey. Whatcha doing here? And who’s this?”

“Xander, Rocco. Rocco, this is my roommate Xander.”

Xander stopped and his eyes opened wide. “Rocco? As in Rocco Monroe? I didn’t recognize you with all that dirt. What the hell happened to you two?”

“Long story. I’ll explain tomorrow.”

“It was nice to meet you, Xander.” Rocco said. “Mind putting on some clothes while my woman’s here?”

Xander looked down at himself and smiled and Annie playfully slapped Rocco on the chest. “It’s his home. He can do whatever he wants.”

“Maybe you should explain to him that I’m gay. Also, if you’d like to walk around in your tighty-whiteys, Rock, by all means . . . mi casa es su casa.” He waved his fingers. “Goodnight, kids!”

Rocco took her hand and led her to the bathroom. “Food later. Bath now. I want to know more about this ‘falling for me’ business. And then, afterward, you can explain to me how you never told me that one, you have a roommate, and two, that roommate is a man.”

“Let’s pretend none of that happened.”

“How about we don’t. How about you tell me your feelings and I’ll tell you mine. It’s like Girl 101.”

“I didn’t take Girl 101. I was raised with boys.”

“I get that, but I know you have feelings. Remember what I said. You can be a hardass out there, but here with me, those walls come down and you tell me what’s in your heart.”

“You first.”

“Get undressed and get in the shower and I’ll pour my heart out to you.”

He continued to scratch. “It’s just a few mosquito bites. Jeez, get a grip.”

She took off her sweaty shirt and pushed down her dirty jeans. Once they were both in the shower he squirted half a bottle of soap on their bodies.

“I’m thirty-seven years old, Annabelle. I’ve dated. I’ve travelled. I’ve seen what’s out there. But I’ve never met a woman like you. I don’t think I could ever get bored with you.”

“You’re so good at all the talking.”

He rolled his eyes and poured shampoo in her hair. “I already know you like me. More than like me. So you can play it off as if you don’t feel the same way, but I know the truth, Tiger.” He turned her around to face the water. “It’s cute how you’re trying to act unfazed.”

“Please, I already did the jealous girlfriend thing. I’m not acting unfazed.”

“Aww, so you admit you’re my girlfriend. Look at you, all girly and sweet.”

She turned back around and scowled and held up her middle finger. “Screw you, Monroe.”

He firmly grabbed her wrist and took that middle finger into his mouth. And sucked. “As you wish,” he said with a growl needing to be inside of her right away. He sucked and nipped on her finger, her eyes wide, pupils dilated. He would bet his entire fortune she was wet.

“Show me,” her voice low and lust-filled. “Show me what you like. What you want.”

He loved that she trusted him so much in the bedroom and that she was so open. He took her finger, slid her hand down her lean torso, and right between her legs. “Turn around and touch yourself,” he demanded, pushing her back down and her ass up. Pointing the shower away from them, he used his feet to widen her legs apart. He helped her balance herself with one of her hands against the wall. She looked over her shoulder and down to where he was fisting his swollen cock. He rubbed it up and down her slit.

“Fuck! Do not move a muscle.” Dripping water all over the bathroom, her face completely stunned, he walked out of the shower and ran to the medicine cabinet. “Please tell me you have condoms in here.” Everything fell out as he frantically searched the shelves.

“Yes. Xander does.” He’d never been so happy her roommate was a man. His dick was about to explode. He ran back in, ripped the wrapper, and slid it on.

“Don’t stop touching yourself. This might feel intense in this position. If it hurts let me know.” He slowly slid inside of her. The way her pussy gripped his cock was something he could live a hundred lifetimes and never get used to. It felt like a warm wet fist wrapped around him.

“Do you touch yourself?” he asked, but she didn’t respond and he pushed inside of her, hard.

“Ow!” she yelped when smacked her ass.

“Answer me. Do you touch yourself?” he asked again, now that he had her full attention.

“Yes.” Her needy moan vibrated through the bathroom and he pulled out and then thrust back in.

He’d never ever been this turned on in his entire life. He wasn’t sure how he hadn’t already exploded inside of her but if she kept moaning that way . . . “Fuck, Annabelle. Fuck Fuck fuck. I’m coming.”

“Go. Do it.”

“No. Hurry. Get there.”

He reached around and pinched her nipple with one of his hands, the other one covering the one she had against the wall. But he couldn’t hold back any longer and he detonated so hard and intensely his legs shook. A moment later, as he was about to collapse to the bathroom floor, she stiffened against his body, using both hands to hold herself up against the wall, the sound of pleasure filling the room.

He gathered her in his arms as he slid down to the floor. “It’s gonna be awesome to watch you fall in love with me, Tiger,” he said, lazily kissing her shoulder. She fit so perfectly against him and when she stiffened at his comment he chuckled but just held her tighter. He was beyond caring. The way he felt about her was too big. Too intense. And he didn’t want it to end. There was just one thing that kept holding him back from jumping with both feet in.

The only fear he had was her fearlessness.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about her job.