Bitter Arrangement: Chapter 21

“You’re sure you’re okay?” He frowns at me as he hands over the ice pack.

“I’m fine. Honestly, just embarrassed.” I press the ice to the back of my head. There’s a little bump forming. I feel like a total moron for reacting that way, but I hit my head hard enough to make me almost pass out. He had to catch me to keep me from falling over, and he carried me right down to the kitchen.

He studies me, lips pressed together. The folder is on the counter between us. I try thinking up some excuses, but I’m still a little muddled from banging my skull.

“Then we should talk about boundaries.”

I smile sheepishly. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“That lock you picked.” His eyebrows raised slightly. “That was a good lock.”

I snort and shake my head. “Maybe ten years ago. The Primus is way out of fashion now. It’s got some good defenses against key copying, but it’s way too pickable.”

“How long did it take you?”

“Five minutes? Ten at most.”

He grunts and crosses his arms. “That’s slightly impressive.”

“Slightly? I’d like to see you do it in an hour, asshole.” I glare at him, eyes darting down to his muscular biceps before focusing on his face again.

Keep it together, Riley, it’s just a hot man, nothing special.

“The lock isn’t really the point. You weren’t supposed to go in there.”

I shrug and sit up straight. “You should be happy I did, because I’m positive I can break into that place.”

His expression darkens. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“I figured you’d say that, but I can do it. The hard part will be disabling the security system, but that’s where my genius hacker husband comes in.”

“Not happening. Not even remotely happening.”

“What are our other options? You can’t crack the encryption, which means you need the key. There’s no way you’re getting inside alone, and you can’t trust someone else to take the job for you. Who’s going to rob the Mantis? Only someone desperate and a little stupid.” I spread my hands wide. “I’m your best option. And you’re lucky that I’m good, too.”

His jaw works. I beam at him and drop the ice pack onto the counter. My head’s still throbbing, but not too bad.

“I hear what you’re saying,” he concedes, “but this isn’t some normal job. If you get caught, Fong will have his soldiers flay you alive. I mean that literally. They’ll peel off your skin and pour salt over your raw flesh to make sure you don’t get sepsis. It’ll be agony.”

I let my arms drop. “That sounds unpleasant.”

“It would be the most excruciating way to die imaginable.”

“Alright, you scared me a little bit, but you still don’t have any other options.”

“I’ll find someone.” He looks away, and I can tell he’s lying. “It’ll cost, but it’s doable.”

“You’re crazy. I’m right here. My brother trained me for this, and with everything in that folder, I can pull it off.”

He levels a hard stare. “I said no, Riley. If your head’s feeling better, go back to bed and don’t talk about that folder again.”

Anger bubbles in my chest. I hate being dismissed. There’s nothing worse than being treated like I’m useless.

My father’s been talking to me like I’m a brainless moron since I was a little kid.

I don’t need it from my husband, too.

“We both know I’m right,” I say firmly, not going anywhere. I plant my hands on the counter and lean forward. “Nobody in the world is stupid enough to break into a secure Mantis office. You need me.”

“You’re my wife.” His face falters slightly. “I don’t want to risk you.”

He obviously doesn’t like this. I can tell he’s beginning to dig in, and if I want to get him to stop being so fucking stubborn, I need to find a way to crack through his knee-jerk defensiveness.

“You’re not risking anything. I’m risking it because I’m the one that got us into this mess. At least let me help fix things.”

“I can’t.”

“Then just stake it out with me,” I say, speaking quickly so he can’t interrupt. “We won’t go inside. We’ll keep our distance and check the place out in person, okay? If we can come up with a safe plan to get in and out, then maybe we’ll do it. But if you’re right and it’s too dangerous, I’ll let it go. Does that sound reasonable?”

His face tightens. Clearly, it sounds terrible. But he glances away, takes a breath, and nods once sharply.

“Only because you did good work picking my lock,” he says, sounding grudging. “And when you realize it’s too much, you’re going to drop this plan. Promise me right now.”

“If I can’t do it.”

“And you’ll be reasonable about your abilities.”

I get to my feet, smiling sweetly. “Nobody’s more reasonable than I am, darling.”

“I really doubt that.”

I walk around the counter and kiss his cheek. He glares at me, but I can tell he’s already softening. I pat his big, muscular chest.

“Come on, quit being so angry. We’re in this together, right? Bonnie and Clyde to the end.”

“They died in a police ambush.”

“Well, Bonnie and Clyde without the bullet holes.” I head back toward the stairs. “We should get some sleep since we have such a fun day ahead of us.”

“I already regret agreeing to this.”