“It’s nice to meet you, but I have to go.” Since he ignored my earlier request, I slide open my phone, ready to order a cab or call Gordon, only to notice there is no signal. Groaning inwardly, I ask, “Can I borrow your phone?”
Something akin to amusement flickers on his otherwise indifferent face. “It won’t be necessary, Miss Wright.” He opens the door, and I blink at the sight of Gordon hanging by my car and waving at me. “Your driver is here.”
Oh my God.
He’ll tattle on me to my brothers, unless that was Levi’s goal all along?
Coldness replaces any warm feelings I might have had earlier, and my usual survival mode comes crashing back, screaming at me to prevent disaster from happening.
I should have known better!
“Thank you, Gavin, and have a nice day.”
Ignoring the still extended tea, I quickly reach the car and nod at Gordon, who says, “Lavender.” Hopping inside, I wait for him to get in as well and start the vehicle. “I have to say, I was very surprised when Gavin called me earlier and told me to pick you up.” Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror. “Very happy for you.”
Could it get any worse?
“You can’t mention this to anyone. Especially to my brothers. I know you report everything to them, but this has to stay a secret.” His brows rise, and I exhale heavily. “I’m not mad and understand why you’d do it. However, if they found out I had spent the night with Levi, it might affect Rush and Aileen’s relationship. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
His hands flex around the steering wheel as he flies through the gates, and his voice sounds strained and slightly offended even when he finally replies. “I never shared anything with yourbrothers despite their orders.” He rolls his shoulders back. “I work for you.”
“Rafael was the one signing your checks, so technically, you were working for him.” I’d have to change that and ask Scarlett to make sure everyone who works for me gets paid from my account.
“And still, like I said, I work for you. I’m not a snitch.” He huffs under his breath. “I grew up on the streets, Lavender. You get more than stitches for snitching, so I know how to keep my mouth shut. Your secrets are safe with me, always.” He meets my gaze again, and the wrinkle between his brows deepens. “If your brothers know something about your whereabouts, they didn’t learn that from me.”
He sounds sincere, so I choose to believe him and relax a bit. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
“Loyalty is not something you should be thanking people for.”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I notice the signal is back. Levi must have installed something on his land to block it, protecting his property.
I scroll through various messages, each one only spiking my anxiety.
We stopped by your apartment. They told us you weren’t home. Are you okay?
We thought you might like to grab some dinner since you couldn’t make it to lunch.
Okay, so it’s been like two hours with no reply, we are getting slightly worried here.
Just tell us to get lost, and we’ll get it. Otherwise, we might actually use the spare key you gave us and check on you.
Your sisters-in-law have been blowing up my phone trying to find you. Are you okay? If you’re doing something naughty, let me know, and I’ve got your back.
Where are you?
“Oh my God,” I whisper, and groan into my palms, hating how accessible I’ve been to them all this time. I can’t even spend the night with anyone without everyone worrying.
For one of my brothers to text me, it means shit has hit the fan big time.
I’m about to call Rush, but stop at the last minute, preferring to do that once I take a shower.
Plus, I need to come up with an excuse, even if everything inside me rebels against the idea.
I’m a grown woman. Why do I need an excuse anyway?
Still, admitting to sleeping with Levi will not go over well, so I prefer to hide this little fact or not make him dig too deep into my private life.
And while life proved I’m a great liar…I’m too raw after last night to pretend and school my features. My perceptive family would get suspicious right away, and it would be just a matter of time before they discovered what happened.
