Player (A Secret Baby Sports Romance)(281)
She rolls her dark eyes, as she pulls a silver case from the back pocket of her black jeans and takes out a cigarette; “My my, clean Bryce is all business now isn’t he?” I give her nothing, keeping my face set and neutral, only shaking my head when she holds the cigarette case my way.
Sasha sighs dramatically as she produces a small pack of matches and lights her cigarette. She keeps her eyes locked on mine as she inhales, before she turns to lean into Peyton, smoke exhaling through the corner of her blood-red lips; “You know, you really should have seen Mr. ice-cool over here was the life of the party when he got into a little of the nose-candy, if you know what I-”
“I’m not here for games, and if what I’m told is right, you’re in no position to play either,” Peyton says with lead in her voice, instantly silencing Sasha and making the dark-haired woman drawback in honest surprise.
Well, damn. The girl’s direct, you have to give her that. I can see Sasha bristle at her own frosty attitude tossed right back at her from the small blonde girl that people like her just seem to love underestimating.
Sasha narrows her eyes; “Let’s have a seat and get right to it then, shall we?” She smiles thinly at Peyton, her eyes flicking over her as if trying to read her or most likely looking for some sort of weak point.
Except that girl has thicker walls up than a fucking castle; believe me.
“Benson and his outfit-”
“Your outfit.”
Sasha narrows her eyes at Peyton at her interjection; “Yes, dear. As I was saying, we’ve set up operations in an old Christian monastery north of the city, near Yayla. That’s where your brother is.”
Peyton frowns; “So he’s just being held in a church? That’s it?”
“If by ‘just a church’ you mean a fortress from the Crusades with thirty-foot walls and a literal moat, then yes, let’s call it that.” Sasha smiles patronizingly at Peyton, a gloat teasing her lips.
“Then why didn’t you-”
“Ok, enough.” This is going fucking nowhere, fast, and I’m also not here to play fucking games with Sasha; “How do we get in, how many guards; details, Sasha.”
She smiles thinly at me, smoke curling from the tip of the cigarette dangling from her fingers; “How many guards? As if you’re going to walk in the front door and take them?” She rolls her eyes at me patronizingly; “Still a hot-head, I see, Bryce.”
“Jesus Christ, Sash-”
“There’s actually just one guard we need concern ourselves with.” There’s a wicked glint in her eye when she winks at me that has me on edge, even before she turns to Peyton; “And you are just his type, darling.”
Peyton’s brow furrows; “Excuse me?”
I can feel the hair on my neck standing up, my whole body bristling. She hasn’t even said anything yet, but I know where this is going, and the answer is “over my dead fucking body.”
“What do you mean ‘his type’?” Peyton says more forcibly, frowning at the way Sasha is just smirking at us both.
“Oh, please; you’re a bright girl,” Sasha says, crossing her legs and sitting back in her chair as she arches an eyebrow at Peyton. This is classic Sasha; waiting and watching like a fucking vulture, ready to swoop in for the carcass; “His name is Anderson. He’s a sergeant within the Blackriver ranks, close with Benson, access to say, back doors of certain monasteries? He’s not too bright, and he’s a bit of a boorish fellow,” She winks as she reaches out and pushes a lock of Peyton’s hair behind her ear, making her frown; “And he does love the blondes, you know.”
“Not a fucking chance,” I growl; “Not even an option, there’s no way I’m let-”
“It’s no problem.”
I jerk my head towards Peyton, who’s jaw is clenched as she stares at me; “What?”
“I said it’s no prob-”
“No, I fucking heard you, but I’m not-”
“You’re not ‘letting’ or ‘not letting’ me do anything at all, actually,” Peyton says icily, narrowing her eyes at me.
“Peyton-”
Sasha starts to laugh as she stamps her cigarette out in the ashtray on the table; “Are you sure you’re up for something like that?” She says, eyeing Peyton.
“Jesus, I said it’s no problem, and you don’t know me.”
Sasha shrugs and smiles that sharklike smile at her; “Sounds like you are, then.” She stands abruptly, before I can even say another word; “I’ll be in touch about setting the meet.” She winks at me, and I can feel my frown deepening, my hackles rising; “Lovely to see you again, handsome.”