Last First Kiss

by Sidney Halston

  “You don’t go into a situation blind?” Rocco asked, trudging forward through the swamp. “What the hell do you call this? Are we lost?”

  “Did you really think I didn’t have a backup plan? I scoped this out a week ago and Joey gave me three alternate routes. Relax.”

  “At least give me a gun!” he snapped, while following her deep into the Everglades. This was reminiscent of a fucking horror movie.

  “Keep low. Shut your mouth. We’re less than a quarter mile from the street. The Facebook check-in post has a wide range. Cars can be parked anywhere and your voice carries, especially out here.”

  She was hunched down and he had a perfect view of her perfect ass; too bad this was the least perfect timing to be doing such a thing.

  “If we weren’t knee-deep in mud, I’d fuck that commando attitude out of you, right here against that mangrove tree.”

  She turned, an eyebrow cocked high. “That one right there? The one buzzing with mosquitoes?”

  “Yeah, Tiger, that one right there. You wouldn’t feel the mosquitoes, trust me.”

  “How about the snakes and alligators, I wouldn’t feel those either?” she teased.

  “Jesus Christ, babe,” he said, as his foot disappeared into the muddy swamp. “Way to ruin a moment.”

  Grabbing her by the arm, he stopped her. She turned, still hunched low, and mouthed an annoyed, “What?” as he patted her breasts.

  “I thought you were being cute. This really is not the time, Monroe!” she reprimanded.

  “I’m grabbing whatever weapon you have tucked in here, Tiger.” He pulled out her ASEK, which she’d explained was an Army-issued knife. With a roll of her eyes, she relented. It wasn’t a gun but it would do.

  “Are you sure we’re going the right way? I think this is a bad idea. We should be—”

  “Holy fucking Christ.” She stopped, forcing him to grab onto her waist in order to avoid pushing her forward. “Would you shut up? I know where I’m going.”

  Okay, yes. Of course she did. She was military trained. She was a fighter. She was fucking stunning. And he wanted her so fucking much he ached. But it was time to listen to his bodyguard, not his cock.

  When they were at a small clearing, nothing but miles and miles of sea grass when he looked left and right, she pulled out her cell phone. “Damn. Still no reception,” she whispered, and he checked his too and shook his head. “Come on, a few more yards.”

  “To where?” he asked, exasperated.

  “There’s a little hole-in-the-wall bar about a mile that way. Hurry before it gets dark.”

  “I’m hurrying.”

  They continued to track through mangroves and swamp, the sound of the nearby road muted by the loud noise of crickets and swamp things all around them.

  Every time water moved anywhere he jumped. He tried not to. He tried to be the cool badass alpha male a woman like Annabelle deserved, but fuck that—alligators were not something he wanted to come face to face with. Every few feet she’d check her reception. There was nothing anywhere and Rocco was convinced they were lost. “Would you stop checking your phone, damn it. You’re not going to get reception!” he growled when he saw her grab the phone two seconds later.

  She yanked the phone back. “I’m not checking reception, you idiot. It’s a compass app.” She shook her head, exasperated. “Of the two of us, who spends most of their day fuckin’ around on social media? You think in the middle of the fucking Everglades, I’m Snapchatting?”

  She grunted and turned back to where she was going.

  A compass.

  Good idea.

  It wouldn’t have occurred to him. He’d have died in the middle of the Everglades, a perfect snack for the wildlife.

  “There!” She pointed ahead. He couldn’t see anything. The sun was beginning to set and he just squinted as they walked. Eventually, the small rickety shack came into focus. “And look, now we have reception.”

  She stopped about a yard away from the building but still ankle deep in the murky water. Why couldn’t she have this conversation away from the reptiles?

  “Joe, I’m at Plan C. Send a pick up,” she said and hung up. He wasn’t sure what Joey’s reaction was or if Joey needed more information. And what the hell was Plan C?

  “Plan C?”

  “We had different exit strategies planned. I picked this one, Plan C.”

  As they approached, he saw an old sign dangling from an even older pole. “No Name Bar, est. 1917.”

  “Of course,” he murmured under his breath. He really was in a horror movie.

  The bar was relatively empty except for the bartender and two bikers sitting at the bar. Annabelle crossed straight back and toward a booth, gesturing to him to go first. His brow furrowed but the way she stared at him, there was a reason. Everything she did was for a reason, so he shut up and slid in. She slid next. Not across, but right next to him. “Your face is mostly covered and no one can see you with the shadow from the door,” she explained.

  “Gotcha.”

  A man, who could’ve been the owner since 1917 from the looks of it, came toward them. She ordered without hesitation. “Two Buds.”

  The old man nodded and walked away. “Try to blend in. Joey’ll be here soon.”

  “Blend in?” he guffawed. “How exactly should I blend in? I’m not one hundred years old or a bearded biker. What were Plan A and B?”

  “Plan A was the road and Plan B was two miles east. There’s an airboat rental.”

  “You’re pretty incredible, you know that?”

  “Just doing my job,” she said as the old man brought the beers. She pulled up her phone and called Ben. He answered and she spoke.

  “You two make it out okay?”

  “If by ‘okay’ you mean that I had to pull my weapon out in front of a news van in order to get three cars to move out of the road, yeah. We also had bottles thrown and a shattered window. But we’re okay now. There are probably twenty cars headed to the set. I hope you got out before that.”

  “Yeah, we’re good. Have to have someone pick up the car, though. Keep safe. File a report, call NHN, and let Jax or Joey know.”

  “Got it, kid,” he said as she hung up with a frown.

  “What happened now?”

  “I hate it when they call me kid.” She shook her head and then explained what Ben had said. “I’m glad we didn’t risk going the other way.”

  Rocco rubbed the palm of his hand over his face. God, she was losing it and he wasn’t sure how to break the news. “Annabelle, please don’t take this the wrong way, but they weren’t going to kill me. I’m used to a crowd of people. This was overkill.”

  “How’s this overkill? Did you want to be ambushed by an angry mob?”

  “The news was there. No one was going to pull out a gun. It would’ve been a huge pain in the ass, but it would have been okay.”

  She processed that. Would it have been okay? Last time she was in a crowd of people, things were not okay. Not at all.

  Was she taking this job overboard? She hadn’t doubted her ability before, but now . . .

  Her phone rang as she was mulling it over. “Bad news. The set was destroyed,” Joey said, alarmed.

  “What?”

  “Burned down completely. Almost everyone was out but a few crew members were hurt fighting with the mob. Annie, these people are serious. I’m thinking there’s more to this than we thought. Their purpose is to sabotage this movie, completely. And they are not afraid to get violent. I’m going to the set. See what I can get from the cops and the scene before I pick you up. You’re safe?”

  “Yeah. No worries. Keep me posted.”

  “By the way, rumors are that Julia is going to take a big hit from this. The studio is livid and is fining her through the nose, since it was her fault.”

  “Good. It’s deserved.”

  “Certainly is. Call you back.”

  “We didn’t overreact,” she said, setting her phone down. “The set b
urned down. There’s some injuries. Julia is getting fined. Paul would probably know more about that, though.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Dead serious. I have a bad feeling, Rocco. Joey does too. Don’t make me question my decisions again. I know what I’m doing, and I have to trust my instincts.”

  “Well then, fuck. Colombia’s going to be interesting.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  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.”