Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
I nod.
“It’s not a trick?”
“What trick would it be?” She shrugs a shoulder. “Just until the highway. And don’t hit anything.”
She gives me a look, but hurries to get in before I change my mind, I guess. I close the door, walk around to the passenger seat and open the door. One of the SUVs pulls up and Enzo climbs out raising his eyebrows.
“Quite the detour.”
“Keeping you all on your toes. She’ll take us to the end of the road. Give her some space, will you? I’m not sure about her driving skills.”
He chuckles. “Noted.” I get in the car.
“You’re not sure about my driving skills?” she asks, eyebrows raised. “Well, you’re not changing your mind.” She finishes the last of her custard and rubs her hands together, eager to adjust the seat and rear-view mirror. I finish my custard. She turns the key in the ignition. “Where’s drive?” she asks.
“Shit. Please tell me you’re fucking kidding.”
She grins an evil little grin and shifts the car into first gear. “Hold on!” she says, and presses her foot to the accelerator, making me grab hold of the dashboard as the car leaps forward and she laughs wildly.
“Jesus Christ!” I reach over to adjust the steering wheel as she speeds down the road, shifting gears, the ride bumpy as hell. But I find I don’t care. I find myself enjoying watching her laugh.
“Is it this model that used to stick between third and fourth?” she asks, fully focused on driving, not taking her eyes off the road as she shifts gears a little clumsily for my liking, but it could be the car. “Yep.” She answers her own question.
“Slow down a little, this turn is tight,” I say, again reaching over to adjust the steering wheel.
“Relax, will you? I got this.”
“There’s little room for error.”
“Are you going to hold on for dear life the whole way?” she asks with a glance at me.
“I don’t want whiplash. Who taught you how to drive?”
“My dad.”
“Did he let you go this fast?”
“Oh, I only ever drove on our property with him. He’d never let me on the highway. Or a real road even.” She grins.
“You told me you knew how to drive.”
“Well, I don’t have a driver’s license or anything.”
“You don’t have a license? You lied to me?”
“Not really. I mean, would you have let me drive if I’d told you the whole truth?”
“No, probably not.”
“But look at you now. You’re having fun.”
“What I’m having is a heart attack.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s fine. I just haven’t had much real practice, but I know the basics.”
“Ease off the gears a little. It should slide into the slot not be rammed in. Like this.” I cover her hand with mine and instinct has her gasping, trying to pull away, but I don’t let her and a moment later, she stops trying. “Push the clutch in,” I say, and she does, and I ease the car into a lower gear for the turn. “Good girl. Again, clutch.” I shift up as she speeds up.
We drive like this for a while and when we get to the highway, I give her a nod to continue. She smiles happily and weirdly, that smile makes me happy. I keep my hand over hers even when shifting isn’t required. I’m just beginning to relax into this, into her not pulling away from me, into her not fighting me, when my phone rings. It’s Vivi’s ringtone or I might not answer.
She glances at me. “I’m fine. Go ahead.”
“Stay in the right lane.”
She sighs. “Boring.”
“Right lane,” I repeat.
“Fine.”
I dig my phone out of my pocket and answer. “Vivi, everything all right?”
I see Allegra glance my way.
“Everything is fine. Just wanted to let you know we’re on the plane. Angelo wanted to make sure you knew.”
“Thank you.”
“I gave Angelo a list of what we’ll need. How long do we have to stay away?”
“Not sure. Until I figure out who sent that package,” I say with a glance at Allegra. “Just relax and try to enjoy yourself.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“I know. Give me a few days. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.” I am careful with my words because Allegra may pretend she’s focused on the road, but she’s listening to every word.
“We’re going to take off in a few minutes. Let me get Gage settled.”
“All right. Let me know once you land.”
“I will.”
“It’s just to keep you all safe. You know that.”
She sighs. “I know, Cassian.”
We disconnect and I tuck the phone into my pocket. Allegra looks at me, eyebrows raised.
“Take the next exit. We’re just about there,” I say, the mood in the car shifted now.
She nods and exits the highway. One of the SUV’s pulls around us to drive ahead of us into the lot.
“Follow him,” I tell her, and she does, nodding. We pull into the parking lot and follow the SUV to my spot. “There.” I point.