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It had originally been my brother’s, and I’d kept it after he died. Driving it made me feel close to Antoni, and that was what I needed desperately. My safe space. My other half.
Even just for a few minutes.
Moore frowned. “If I think for a second that anything’s wrong, I’m telling Greyson.”
Knowing it was the best I was going to get, I clapped him on the shoulder and slung myself into my car. Just turning over the engine and listening to it purr eased some of the tension in my shoulders.
Yes, this is what I need.
I could see the war in Moore, the desire to keep me safe. Any other day, I would’ve backed down. He’d lost his best friend in a situation out of his control, and now his boss was going off the rails. The last thing I wanted to do was cause him more stress, but I needed the release. It was either driving or fucking, and now wasn’t the time to invite a random bed partner over.
I hit the button for the garage door and rolled down the window. “I’ll be back soon. I just need some?—”
“Time. I get it. Just take care of yourself.” It wasn’t an order; it was a plea. A prayer to be safe, a reminder that as tough as we were, we were still flesh and bone. Still fragile.
“I’ll come home in one piece,” I promised.
Putting the car in drive, I ignored his mumbled words. “But will you be breathing?”
* * *
The drive, though unadvised, considering the state of my life, was exactly what I needed. I sped through the city, certain that no one would pull me over. The cops were in my pocket, and the sheriffs weren’t far behind. I was as untouchable as I could be. Sure, the other families knew I was out and about, but they didn’t know I was alone. The window tint made sure of that.
When I got out of the city, I rolled down the windows again, turned on some music, and sang as loudly as I could. Okay, it was more screaming than singing, but the catharsis was incredible.
Nearly an hour, and countless missed calls and texts later, I decided to head home. I still felt unmoored, but it wasn’t as bad. Once Gilded was open and I could focus on removing the Aces from my life, I had no doubt I would feel better.
It was the only thing that had me turning the car back to the mansion.
I was ten miles outside the city when the McLaren shuddered and slowed. The tires jerked, and I had a moment to thank whatever deities still listened to me that the forecasted rain had held off. The last thing I needed was a car accident.
“What now?” I muttered as I pulled off the deserted highway, but I didn’t get out. Finger tapping on the car’s console screen, I dialed Grey.
The phone rang twice before he picked up. “Do you need me?”
That right there was why Grey would always be my right hand. No questions, no hesitation. Do you need me? He’d die with me on this godforsaken ship and smile doing it. That kind of loyalty couldn’t be bought, and even though I was pissed at the grandstanding he and Dominic were doing, I reminded myself to cherish it. To cherish him.
I wouldn’t have him to myself forever.
“I got a flat.”
“Send me your location.”
He already knew it, but I did as he asked anyway. I heard the ping of his phone and the grunt that could mean anything from got it to everyone roll out. “Was it intentional?”
I knew what he was saying. Is this an attack?
Honestly, I didn’t know. The drive had been last minute, with no plan for where I was going to end up. I’d left the city from one direction and was coming home from another. The possibility of my car dying as part of a setup seemed incalculably low, but an abundance of caution had kept me alive through some gruesome shit. “It’s unlikely.”
“Fine. Stay inside.”
Apparently, the drive hadn’t been enough. Irritation bubbled through me, and I had to breathe deeply before I could answer. “I know, Grey. This isn’t the first time this has happened.”
“Maybe not, but your decision-making skills lately?—”
Thankfully, he was interrupted by a tapping on my window. Honestly, I loved Grey to death and back, but we were about to have a come-to-Jesus chat that would very likely end in one of us meeting him.
Peering out, I spotted a man. I couldn’t see much through my tint, but he was tall and taking large steps back so that he wasn’t right up on my door. It was a wildly thoughtful gesture, one I appreciated.
