Rule #1: Never Date An A.C.E. [COMPLETED]

Chapter 21: Rule #36: Always Plant Three Bugs

I'm fiddling with my various bandages when Dylan reemerges in only a pair of low-sitting sweatpants.

He smirks when he sees me looking, "You can always take the next shower with me."

I scoff, trying to keep the smile off my face, "With you?"

"Didn't hear you complaining earlier," He pushes me lightly over on the couch and hovers centimeters from my face. His chest is still warm from the shower and I lightly run my cold hands along his chest as our faces grow serious. He almost closes the distance between us when a knock on the door interrupts us. Dylan's face contorts into a grimace as he sighs.

Alex's muffled voice comes through the door, "Hey! Stop fucking, we have a job to do."

Dylan pulls on a shirt before opening the door and I roll my eyes as my face heats, "We were not."

Boone smirks as everyone files into the room, "Looks like I'm still winning the bet."

I raise an eyebrow, "What bet?"

"Let's get down to business," Levi says, typing furiously into his computer. I shoot a glare at Boone who just chuckles as we gather around Levi's computer.

"Oh, before that, I thought I saw Lacey in the hallway," I mention and everyone's eyes, but Dylan's, grew big.

"I thought..." Vanessa starts, while Flower's mouth hangs open.

"Yes, I thought she was dead, but I didn't see them actually kill her," I answer.

"That's troubling," Boone says seriously. "Do you think she could be working with them?"

I shake my head, "They treated her so terribly, I must've just mistaken someone else for her."

"Alright, but we'll keep a lookout," Flower says.

"Luca checked into a suite on the eleventh floor," Alex says, after typing into her own computer. "It only has one bedroom, so the woman he was seen with must be sharing his room."

Levi swipes a hotel card and hands it Vanessa, who says, "It's my job to get into the room and plant three bugs." Alex hands her the bugs that Vanessa then tucks into her pocket. She sticks a comms unit into her ear and walks towards the door.

I follow behind her and stop her before she leaves, "Are you okay to do this?"

A determined look graces her face, "I loved him, but I will not allow his corruption with the 3P's to end my fight against the wrong in this world." I squeeze her shoulder and she disappears down the hallway.

"Order something fancy from room service," Levi calls out. "You have to keep up your appearances."

Dylan smirks shaking the menu at me, "Want some champagne, love?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vanessa returns not too long after room service has brought up champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and fettucine alfredo. We had been the epitome of the lovesick couple when we opened the door. Ernie was the one at the door and he gagged when I opened the door with Dylan's lips tucked in my neck.

"You guys are disgusting," I heard Ernie mutter on the way out. Once the door had closed, Levi, Boone, and Alex come out also gagging, but Flower has a cute smile on her face.

"They weren't acting," Alex whispers loudly enough for us to hear.

"Who said we were acting?" Dylan smirks and I sigh, exasperated. Vanessa knocks on the door then and slides into the room, grinning.

"Rule number thirty-six has been implemented."

"Thirty-six?" I ask.

Levi supplies the answer, "Always plant three bugs—two easy to find, and therefore destroy, and once found, the criminals will not suspect another." Levi and Alex tap into the feed when Boone, Vanessa, Dylan, Flower, and I dig into the food.

We sit for hours in the room, each of us taking a shift listening to the bugs in case Luca and the mystery woman returns. We finish off the champagne and the food, and order more. I mess up Dylan's hair for when room service returns. This time Ernie is not the one with our food, it's a woman with long black hair. I can just see around Dylan since I stayed on the couch and she's fluttering her eyelashes and squeezing her breasts together to get a bigger bust.

"Do you need someone to help you eat this?" a soft, sultry voice comes from her and my eyebrows raise at her direct insinuation.

"It's being eaten just fine," Dylan says coldly, before hand-signaling me to come closer.

I wrap my arms around his torso, "What's taking so long, baby?"

"Nothing, love," his face is serious, but his eyes sparkle. "Brenda here was just bringing us our food."

"Thank you, Brenda," I smile at her and she appraises me before smiling tightly back.

"Of course, have a nice day," Brenda sashays down the hallways and we burst out laughing once the door is closed.

"She tried so hard," I wipe the tears at my eyes.

"Good thing I only have eyes for you," Dylan whispers in my ear, sending another chill down my body.

"God, Ernie was right. You guys are disgusting," Alex gags again when reemerging from the bedroom. "But we have other things to talk about right now."

I perk up, "Did Luca return?"

Alex's face turns grave, "Yes, and you won't like what he has to say."