Aced (Blocked #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

realized how close he stood.
    Lucia tapped my shoulder, breaking the moment. I let go of Alejandro’s arm to turn and face her. “Hey, you coming to dinner with Dane and me after the match?” she asked.
    “Don’t think so, Rez. I’m not suitable company these days.”
    Lucia’s face fell. I didn’t like disappointing her. She looked down, and now that she’d finally removed her coat I noticed her hot-pink shirt with yet another volleyball saying: Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Could Block Like Me?
    “Nonsense,” Alejandro chimed in behind me. “You’re great company, and you should join us for dinner. Where’re we going?”
    Lucia’s eyes narrowed, and I stepped back to avoid the heat of her glare at her brother. “You’re staying tonight?”
    “I don’t have a choice,” Alejandro said. “The pilot told us when we landed that there’s snow headed our way. We can’t fly back till tomorrow.”
    “Ugh.”
    I wasn’t sure if Lucia’s disgust was about the snowstorm arriving or the shitstorm staying. I watched their back-and-forth argument like a game of pepper.
    “ Where are you staying, then?” Lucia asked.
    “No choice on that one, either.” Alejandro’s eyes tightened as he studied her.
    Lucia’s lips pressed together. “So you’re crashing my greenhouse without even asking me?”
    He sighed. “Would it be okay with you, dear sister, if I stayed at your house tonight?”
    “No.” She laced her arms together.
    Alejandro’s hands flew to the sides of his head. “Do you think I like this? Being told where to stay, what to do? China and Brad ordered me to stay there tonight, for security.” He pointed to Brad, who’d inched closer to us. “Tell her, Brad. I didn’t choose this.”
    The beefy agent’s lips puckered in a kiss, which he blew toward Lucia. “C’mon, Luce. You know you miss us. Let your bro stay.” He clasped his hands together and lowered his head to blink up at her like a pleading Puss in Boots. The military muscle-head begging for a freshman girl’s permission made me giggle.
    A small smile relaxed Lucia’s mouth. “Okay. Just for you, Braddy Bear.” I followed her gaze toward Allison and China, who sat next to each other a few seats down from Frank.
    The female agents scrutinized the crowd continually, but I noticed how their shoulders and knees touched. Yet another happy couple. My smile faded.
    “And I’ll agree to it for Allie, too,” Lucia added. She turned back to her brother. “But I still don’t like it.”
    “Duly noted.” He looked down. “Thanks for making me feel so welcome.”
    I felt a bit bad for him—Lucia was typically much sweeter than this. He’d done a really good job of pissing her off. When his gaze met mine, I said, “She’s just mad because it’ll be tougher for Dane to sleep over now.”
    “Maddie!” Lucia’s eyes stabbed my heart. “How could you take his side?”
    Whoops. “Didn’t mean to do that, Rez.” I patted her shoulder. “I’m still on your side. But your brother doesn’t visit every day.” I looked at him with a hopeful smile. “And maybe he’ll let this Dane thing go for now?”
    “So Dane never moved out,” Alejandro said, his voice strained. “Even though Dad ordered you to live apart.”
    Or maybe he won’t let it go. I heard a distant bell ding for round two. Or was this round three of their argument? It was hard to keep track.
    “Dane did move out!” Lucia’s cheeks flushed. “He moved to a condo in December.”
    “Humph.” Alejandro shook his head. “I still can’t believe that green energy shyster Jim Thompson let a Republican keep his house.”
    “Well, Dane thought one of us should stay while Dr. Thompson’s still in DC. It’s an awesome house. And since I’m the one stuck with protection, we decided it would be me.” She smirked. “Dane said Dr. Thompson’s trying to suck up to Dad by letting me stay there.”
    “Good luck with that.” He scowled. “No way Dad will waste