Broderick doesn’t move. “There will still be a high cost on the Amazon side of things.”
“Yes, there will. Which is why I can’t allow it to happen.”
“But…”
Monroe’s voice goes soft. “Who do you think will be the first person harmed if things go sideways? It won’t be me, Broderick. It will be Winry or Jasper. My mother might be willing to gamble with their safety, but I’m not. We can’t conclusively figure out how my mother got her information, but in the end it changes nothing about our plan.”
It certainly seems like the only person Aisling will move heaven and earth to protect is Monroe. She wouldn’t threaten me otherwise. The truth coming out about my parents won’t change anything on the grand scale in Sabine Valley. They only had the faintest bit of power in the Amazons, let alone in the entire city.
No, the only person who will care is Monroe. It will potentially damage her relationship with her mother, and that’s something Aisling is willing to kill to prevent.
It’s sweet in a really fucked up sort of way.
This is better, though. If I keep Monroe and Broderick focused on putting on a show that will protect both of them, they will stop worrying so much about my past. “What do we do? I’m assuming you have something resembling a plan.”
Monroe flips her hair over her shoulder. “The same thing we’ve been doing, love. We fuck and we play, and we let everyone know we’re getting along swimmingly. We give the faction leaders no reason to get involved.”
Chapter 26
Broderick
I thought taking the time to go get coffee would be the break I needed to get my head on straight. It didn’t work. Sitting here on this bed with two of the most beautiful women I’ve ever encountered, having a conversation that doesn’t involve arguing for once…
It’s enough to make me want things I’m not sure are meant for me.
Monroe stretches. The sheet is bunched at her waist, leaving her breasts bare, and combined with the cute way Shiloh has the covers nearly tucked to her chin, my heart gives an uncomfortable lurch.
I care about Shiloh. Fuck, I love her. I have for a very long time.
I didn’t expect to care about Monroe, too.
It’s not love. That would be ludicrous. Not simply because she’s the enemy, but because just a few days ago, we were at each other’s throats. I can admire her strength and cunning and beauty without being in love with her. I can enjoy how seamlessly we work together when we’re focused on accomplishing the same thing without my emotions getting involved. No matter how much I enjoy her in my bed, ultimately sex changes nothing.
At least in theory.
I clear my throat. “I don’t know if it will be enough to fuck and frolic or whatever the hell you just said.”
“As long as we’re moving in the right direction, neither your brother nor my mother will jump the gun.” Monroe shrugs. “War is bad for everyone, and they’re not going to dive headfirst into it if there’s another option. We need to be convincing enough to prove there’s another option.”
Shiloh pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around them. “What if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not.”
“You say that so confidently, I almost believe you.”
“You should.” I clear my throat. “She’s not wrong.” I know Abel. He might give the impression of being a barbarian brute, but there’s a reason we’d all follow him to hell and back without complaint. He’s too savvy to do something he can’t take back just for the sake of doing it. “Depending on how we play things, it should negate the current danger.”
Shiloh curses. “Fine. What’s the plan, then?”
Monroe drains the last of her coffee and slides out of the bed. “Since we have an off day, let’s have some fun.”
Shiloh shakes her head. “Fun isn’t going to get both of you out of the crosshairs.”
“Silly girl, I’m not talking about fucking.” Monroe grins suddenly. “Though we can do more of that later, if you like. I want to visit Old Town.”
Now it’s my turn to narrow my eyes. “There’s a reason we haven’t let you run rampant all over the faction, Monroe.” Though if there’s a mole—or several moles—in the compound itself, it removes some of those reasons. And with her going to Amazon territory every weekday, it’s not as if she can’t slip information to her people whenever she feels like it. Still… “It’s not safe.”
No matter how formidable she is, she’s still an Amazon in Raider territory. A single woman. There are plenty of people in our faction—especially in Old Town—who hate both Amazons and Mystics and won’t hesitate to take that hate out on Monroe, deserved or not.
“Are you worried about me?” For once, the question doesn’t have a mocking lilt to it. Monroe stares at me like she’s never seen me before. Before I can come up with a response, her expression clears. “Oh, of course not. If I die, it puts you right back into the fire with war.”