I can tell Lex went looking for it when I see his face closer to the camera, and when he snorts softly and his eyes focus back, I can almost feel the warmth of his stare.
“I love how your brain works, angel.”
I melt.
In my experience,the property is pretty typical in the fancy neighborhoods of Jersey, but I know damn well this is far from your run-of-the-mill mansion.
For one, I can see the three guards that are scanning the SUV as soon as Austin drives it halfway through the gate and stops—just like Eian’s instructions said. And just like he warned, I make sure to stay flat on the back seat so no one can see me. Sure, we’ve got barely legal tinted windows, but it’s still a precaution I don’t mind taking.
I really don’t want anyone but Seamus, Eian, and Colby to know who I really am, or well, my guess is Colby and Eian haven’t really figured out I’m Angelwings66, or they probably would’ve said something, right?
I’ll have to make sure Seamus doesn’t snitch.
I hear Austin talk quietly with the guards through the half-open window, and smile at the memory of our brief conversation barely twelve hours ago. The one question he asked before agreeing to bring me here and to stay with me, echoes in my head.“Does this have anything to do with your secret meetings with your Dad that you always leave us home for?”
Of course I denied it.
And thankfully, I am very good at lying, because after staring at me for ten seconds he conceded with a nod, then asked me when we were marching to our deaths.
So dramatic.
I laughed in his face and climbed out of the car.
The car moves again and brings me back to the present. I hear the window close, so I know it’s safe to speak.
“All good?”
“Yeah,” he says, but the shake of his voice betrays how rattled he is.
“I promise it’s all going to be okay.”
“Of course it is.” I’m not going to deny him the chance to boast with false confidence. “They said to go around the house and keep going until this little road stops, aaaand there’s a creepy little house there. I don’t like creepy little houses, Eli.”
Okay, so false confidence has left the building.
“Is anyone around?”
“Uh, yeah.”
I can’t pinpoint what his tone means now.
“What is it?”
“Well, you know, just New York’s most ruthless killer staring daggers at me.”
I take a moment to ground myself, and make a mental note to give Austin the biggest end-of-year bonus ever—I’ve got my own money now, I can actually be the one who pays him that. I should actually do that, have him work directly for me instead of Dad, and that way?—
Not important right now.
“Is he alone?”
“Yes.” The car stops, and I hear him put it in park. “Just leaning against the doorway of the creepy house.”
I sit up quickly and put on my happiest face.
“Good.”
I open the door only half a second before Austin, and he doesn’t say anything but I can tell he wants to grumble at me some more for not waiting for him.
