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I sat sideways across the back seat and enjoyed the ride. His driving was the closest thing to a rollercoaster I could get without going on an actual roller coaster. If he got pulled up and booked as often as regular people, he would have lost his license several times over by now. Typical young male driver.
It was the adrenaline rush I needed right now. The idea that he might lose control at any moment and smash the car into a tree, killing us all. It had yet to happen, obviously, but that didn't lessen the fun.
I leaned my head against the back of the seat and wondered if Mannix would let me pull out Charlie's toenails, one by one. I didn't need his permission, but there was some kind of chain of command when it came to work stuff. Sometimes I didn't listen. Usually I did. In our line of work and lifestyle, not listening tended to shorten our life expectancy.
If Leo ordered Mannix to kill me, he'd have to. I might even let him, as long as he made it interesting.
Better not to let it get to that point though. Death was a bit too permanent for my liking.
"What the hell did you say to her to make her run off?" Mannix asked over his shoulder.
"I asked her to get your bowtie for you," I said. "If I had a clue the experience would be so traumatic, I wouldn't have asked."
Mannix grunted.
"We've all seen Mannix's room," Ares said. "If it doesn't scare people off, nowhere will."
"Fuck off," Mannix growled. "You want to walk the rest of the way to town?"
"No, but it would be safer than your driving," Ares said. "We both know we don't have time to stop and drop me off," he added before Mannix could slow down.
Mannix muttered something about investing in ejector seats, and took a corner so fast I'd almost swear the right-hand tires left the road.
I grinned. "Do we have time to go around and do that again?"
For some reason, Mannix ignored me. I guessed he wasn't having as much fun as I was. Shame.
We finally pulled up in front of an address in a less affluent part of the city. I knew I didn't imagine the stiffening of Ares' back. He never liked this part of Dusk Bay, for some reason.
Me, I liked it. It was gritty and real. The people here were regular people. A lot of them worked for us. Those who didn't usually had a fair idea of who we were and why it was a good idea to give us a wide berth. Once in a while they'd give us trouble and try to upset the status quo, but it never lasted very long. A few deaths here and there took care of that.
Good times.
Ares and I walked a couple of steps behind Mannix as he strode up to Charlie's front door. We probably looked like the mafia boss and his underlings that Mannix aspired to be. Would be some day, when Leo handed over the reins. This was good practice for when that happened.
Mannix hammered on the door so hard I was surprised he didn't knock it in.
"Open the fuck up."
Chapter Five
Kennedy
I gave Charlie a last pleading look, which he ignored.
Half an eye on me, he hurried to the door, unlocked and opened it.
Mannix shoved past him and strode inside. He looked way too good in his tuxedo pants and white button down. The fabric was taut over his broad chest and shoulders. His pants were a snug fit, defining the muscles in his thighs.
Ice followed him in, no less panty-melting in his full suit. His shirt was dark grey, but the rest of his outfit was black. He looked mysterious and sleek, in a terrifying kind of way.
Ares followed the others in like an afterthought. He also wore a suit, but his was grey and he wasn't wearing a tie. He looked like he'd come straight from the pages of a magazine. They all did.
While Mannix stopped to give Charlie a dark look, Ice slid past him and came to sit down beside me.
He eyed the handcuff and gave me a knowing smile.
"Well this is interesting."
