Singe (Guardian Protection #1)

He shook his head. “Take care of her. Johnson’ll be down shortly.”

Fuck that. I didn’t need Johnson to come down and take care of whatever the hell problem had Rhion shaking with anger in my arms. And I feared my head would explode if he tried. I needed someone to open their mouth and fill me the fuck in. Swear to God, when it came to Rhion Park, I was always in the dark.

“Her necklace!” Val called out. “That lady still has it.”

Alex heard her and pulled up short, releasing his hand over the woman’s mouth only long enough to snatch the necklace from her hand.

“How dare you!” was all the old broad got out before he tossed the necklace my way and pushed her into the elevator.

I caught it and shoved it into my pocket.

My mind was reeling with a million questions, and as I was finally able to take in the rest of the apartment, they only multiplied. Shopping bags from numerous stores covered the floor while makeup and hair shit did the same on the counter. And then, on the small coffee table, I clocked four plates with what appeared to be the remnants of several different meals. Beside them were four champagne flutes each with a different kind of fruit floating in a clear liquid.

I was under the assumption that it had only been the two of them at Rhion’s that day. Not to mention that I’d given Rhion specific instructions not to leave the apartment with Val.

Yet…clearly, they had.

I was sure there was an explanation. My only problem was that Rhion wasn’t exactly known for being forthcoming with me.

That was about to change.

After releasing her with one arm, I caught the door and swung it shut. “All right. Calm down,” I stated, dipping down and catching her at the back of her knees.

She squeaked as I lifted her, but her arms folded around my neck.

I made my way through the maze of bags and settled on the couch. Rhion attempted to move to the cushion beside me, but with a hand at her bare thigh, I kept her securely on my lap.

“Let’s start with who the hell that woman was,” I said.

When she didn’t answer, I swung my gaze to Val, and for the first time since I’d arrived, I actually saw her. Her hair was no longer pulled back in a ratty ponytail, and she sure as hell wasn’t wearing that baggy tracksuit. Instead, she had on a combination of reds and blacks that made her look like an older version of the little girl I’d always known. I wasn’t big on the idea of my eleven-year-old wearing makeup, but I wasn’t going to make a fuss over the gloss at her lips and the natural tint of color at her cheeks.

Val must have followed my gaze, because she looked down at her clothes and asked, “What do you think?”

“You look beautiful,” I replied.

She shifted a hand into her hair and smiled at the ground. “Rhion picked them out.”

“They’re nice,” I said. “But those clothes are only beautiful because you’re the one wearing them.”

Val’s grin widened at the praise, and Rhion’s tight body finally relaxed in my arms.

At that, my anger and frustration began to ebb away.

“Hey, baby, can you give me a minute with Rhion? We’ve got a few things to discuss.”

She nodded. “I’ll go watch TV in the ocean room.”

That. Fucking. Ocean room. I was hopeless to hide my smile.

After Val had disappeared down the hall, I gave Rhion’s leg a squeeze and announced, “I need you to start talking. And I need paragraphs, sweetheart.”

Her head slowly tipped back, but her mouth didn’t open.

I brushed the hair off her neck and murmured, “Why is it, when I need you to talk, you have nothing to say, but when I need you to be quiet, you can’t shut up?”

Her gaze cut away.

I growled and shifted her in my lap so I could get a better read on her. “I’m really gonna need you to give talking your best shot right now. Because, currently, I can’t decide how to react.”

“Jude,” she whispered.

“My name is not an answer, Butterfly.”

“I’m sorry I cussed in front of Val.”

“Trust me. She’s heard far worse. And you know good and damn well that is not what I’m asking you to talk about.”

“But—”

“And, before you finish that thought, you should be fully informed about what I’m wavering between when it comes to the crazy woman Alex just hauled out of your apartment. Either I’m gonna march up to Guardian and raise immortal hell until someone gives me the answers or I’m gonna sit here on the couch and listen to you give me some answers. Either way is fine with me. But make no mistake. Answers will be had.”

“Jude,” she whined.

“Still not an answer, Rhion. But I’m not done yet. So you got a few more seconds to mentally prepare your words.” I glided my thumb across her lips, my chest swelling when she parted them for me. “When it comes to Val, I’m also on the fence.” I moved my hand to her thigh and teased my fingers up until I stopped under the hem of her dress. “See, part of me wants to slide my hand between your legs and show you exactly how much I appreciate you buyin’ her that outfit and putting that smile on her face.”

Her breath caught and her eyes flashed wide as she squirmed in my lap. She wasn’t moving away—she was opening her legs. At that, more than just my chest swelled.

“But see,” I said, “the other part of me wants to turn your ass red for taking her out shopping when I specifically told you I didn’t want you two leaving the apartment today.”

“Jude!” she exclaimed, clearly affronted.

But I’d like to note: Her legs. Did. Not. Close.

“So, what’s it gonna be?” I asked, allowing my fingers to glide a few inches higher on her thigh.

She sucked in a sharp breath and then finally opened her mouth. Only, in true Rhion Park fashion, it wasn’t to answer my question.

“Could we clarify what turning my ass red would entail?”

I shot her a pointed scowl. “I could show you.”

She pushed out of my lap and started pacing.

“Rhion,” I prompted.

She groaned loudly and stared up at the ceiling before finally relenting. “Okay. Fine. She’s my ex-stepmother. Satan himself created her. Up until tonight, she didn’t know where I lived. As far as I can tell, she and my stepsister are in town and she must have stolen Katie’s key to come see if she could con me out of money.” She scrunched her nose. “Well…more money.”

I reclined casually on the couch and crossed my legs knee to ankle. “Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it? How about you keep that streak alive and answer another one: Why did she keep repeating my name?”

Her body locked up tight, and she changed the subject. “Val and I didn’t leave the apartment. I have a personal shopper. We picked out stuff online. She brought it over.”

“A personal shopper?” I asked, feeling mildly better even though she was avoiding my question.

She nodded. “And my stylist came and did our hair, and she brought a girl to do our makeup.”

Mildly better turned into a hell of a lot better.

That is until I thought about it.