AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about Oliver—or Ollie?” Lo wonders. I remember bringing up my dad’s cousin before. “Do you still think he’s close to your dad and involved?”
“I’d have to ask my dad.” I pocket the cigarettes. “I’ll fix him on the family chart thing.”
“Is he related to Raff?” Connor wonders.
“No, he’s Paddy’s oldest son.”
Lo rolls his eyes, and I make my way to the door.
I ask, “Ready now?” I’m itching to go and rip this Band-Aid.
“Yeah,” Lo says, digging out his car keys. “I’m driving you.”
“You can’t drive him.” Connor rests his electronic tablet on the desk. “We’ve been over this, Lo.”
They have?
“Great, so you heard me last time when I said,I don’t care if I’m spotted.He’s my son’s bodyguard. It’s not that weird for me to drive him to South Philly.”
“Lo—”
“For Christ’s sake, Connor, he’s going inmycar. I’m dropping him off. I’m picking him up. If you have a problem with that, take it to your god, whoever that may be. And if it’s yourself, there’s tenbillionmirrors in your mansion, have fun.”
I’m too surprised to laugh.
“Let’s go,” Lo says to me, trying to usher me out of the office.
I hesitate and look to Connor.
“He’s going to have his way,” Connor says simply. “So go with him, but just know, this isn’t a good choice. If you’re to gain his trust, Sean shouldn’t think you’re close to any of us.”
“He won’t,” Lo assures. “I’m dropping off my son’s bodyguard. He’s not a friend. He’s not family. He’s abodyguard.That’s it, Connor.”
Why does he want to drive me so badly?
It’s a question I don’t ask now. Not when it looks like we’ll have a whole car ride alone together.
7
PAUL DONNELLY
Loren Hale’scar isn’t exactlyhiscar.
He ditched his red Bugatti. Too ostentatious, and paparazzi have an easier time tracking him. So we’re in the car Lo and Lily gifted Kinney in October. A black Mini Cooper. It’s the car that Kinney told Xander she loved, but she figured her parents would want her to drive their mom’s old BMW until she’s older.
They surprised Kinney on her 16thbirthday. Xander was the one who made sure they knew which car she had her eye on.
Thinking about Xander right now isn’t good for the soul. I can’t help but think I should be on-duty. Protecting him. He’s at school with the Delilah rumors circulating. His senior year is a time he won’t forget forbadreasons now.
And I don’t even know how angry he is at me for trying to date his sister.
Last I heard, Gabe is the one floating over to my position. Being replaced doesn’t make me feel great. Not even for a day. An hour. It’s just gonna make it easier to replace me for real.
The Mini Coop is snug, and I watch Lo navigate the roads to South Philly in silence. Security is split in two other vehicles. One tails us, and the other is coming from another direction, trying to be more unseen.
Lo told me to “relax” when we got in the car.
Doing this thing called listening to Loren Hale is as comfortable as wet socks, but I can’t say he’s thrown me to the wolves yet, not when he’s sitting beside me in the driver’s seat.
