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“The G-Wagon,” he says, pointing behind him to the blacked-out Mercedes Benz I know I can’t afford to take.
“Yeah, I’m going to have to politely decline. Uber Black isn’t in my budget. Thanks, though.”
I turn my attention back to my phone so I can continue ordering another ride when the man speaks again. “The personI was picking up canceled, so I’m just heading back into the city. If you’re headed toward the Upper East Side, I can bring you at the same price as a regular vehicle since I’m heading that way anyway.”
I raise a brow and study him. He seems friendly enough with that pearly white smile he’s worn ever since he came up to me. He’s attractive with his freshly shaved face and his clean-cut hair style that’s faded on the sides and styled longer up top. Thiswouldbe a lot more convenient than having to order another ride.
“I have an address, but this is my first time here, so I’m not sure if it’s in your direction.”
“What’s the address?” he asks.
I flash my phone to him, showing him the address of my mom’s last known location. “Is this the Upper East Side?”
He takes a small step toward me, as if he’s trying not to invade my personal space, and peers at my phone. “Lucky for you, it is,” he responds without a hitch in his smile. He turns and holds his arm out toward the G-Wagon. “Shall we?”
Making my way to the back passenger door, he holds out his hand. “I can put your bag in the back.”
I offer him an appreciative smile and a thank you before handing him the heavy duffle bag, which he takes effortlessly.
He holds the door open for me while I step up into the SUV and slide onto the black leather seat. I plop my purse onto my lap.
Upon shutting the door, the locks click, which sends a sense of eeriness through me, straightening my spine.
Relax, Lux. Cars lock. Totally normal.
“You should really be more aware of your surroundings,” a smooth, deep voice says from beside me, causing me to shriek and my hand to fly up to my racing heart.
“Oh my gosh. I-I’m sorry. I didn’t see youthere.”
“I’d say that’s obvious,” he grumbles.
Okay, asshole.
“Look, I didn’t realize this Uber was already taken.” I grab my purse and sling the strap over my shoulder. “I’m more than happy to order another one.” As I go to unlock the door, the driver slides into his seat, but to my annoyance, this car is apparently too high-tech for me and I can’t figure out how to unlock it.
The driver slides into his seat. “Can you unlock the door, please?” I call out to him. “I didn’t realize you were already taking someone. I can just order another ride.”
“No can do, pretty lady,” the driver says with a chipper attitude before making eye contact with the other passenger in the rearview mirror. “We good?” he asks.
I finally take in the man who was crammed so far in the corner of the vehicle just moments before. Now that he’s leaning forward slightly, the terminal lights peering in through the window allows me to get a better look at him, andholy crap. He might have no manners, but he’s by far the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.
His thick dark hair is styled back, putting his loose waves on display, and it makes me want to comb my fingers through it. His facial hair is well kept and his dark eyes are, well, they’re dark.
Menacing, actually.
A spark of annoyance seems to pass through them when he nods to the driver, which pulls me out of my distracted state of mind as the car begins to move.
“Could you please let me out of the car, sir?” I call out to the driver once more, which is proving to be useless, as he ignores me. Pulling on the door handle again, I look for the lock button. My heart rate picks up and my palms begin to sweat as I realize the situation I’ve gotten myself in.
“You might as well stop trying to open the door. No matter what you do, it won’t work,” says the man next to me. The sinking feeling in my gut lights up with fury.
Turning back to the man, I ask, “What is this? A kidnapping?”
Is this what happened to my mom? Is this sort of thing common in New York City?
“Call it what you want,” he says with a shrug. It’s like he does this every single day. It doesn’t even seem to affect him.
Think, Lux, think.
