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“Is this it?”Caleb glanced around.
“This is it,” Nick answered.
The loud rush of air brakes made me jump. I looked behind us at the massive grill of the refrigeration truck behind us, all gleaming chrome and polished paintwork. I turned around, staring at another towering beast in front…and three more that passed us on the way to the city.
We were sandwiched between the metal giants as we crept toward some kind of dispatch yard outside the city and, by the looks of it, the only car in sight.
“This is his, isn’t it?” Caleb asked. “Rossi’s?”
Nick just nodded, then leaned forward and turned off, nosing the car up to the security gatehouse at the entrance of the massive yard. “Yep.”
“Smart,” Caleb sounded impressed. “Very fucking smart.”
The whir of the driver’s side window filled the space and the roar of truck engines invaded. Nick waited for the guard to approach, giving his name and Benjamin Rossi’s.
“Wait here,” the guard ordered, turning and heading back inside the small hut. He returned a minute later as the boom gate in front of us lifted. “Through the gates, all the way to warehouse five. Mr. Rossi is waiting for you.”
A nod, and Nick drove through. Trucks were everywhere, in and out. Anyone else trying to get in here would stick out like a sore thumb. It seemed we were safe here…for a little while, at least.
We pulled into an empty parking space outside a massive warehouse. A ten-foot chainlink fence topped with razor wire surrounded the yard. Men dressed in neon yellow vests and hard hats walked to and from the buildings. For some reason, it made me feel a little more settled, like maybe we had a chance of survival here and Benjamin Rossi had some kind of plan.
“Princess,” Nick called as he killed the engine. “You okay?”
I glanced his way as Tobias climbed out and tucked his gun into his waistband at the small of his back. “Yeah,” I answered. “Just nervous.”
“We’re right here.” Caleb opened my door and closed his own. “We’re not letting you out of our sight.”
Nick shoved open his door and stepped out. “Rebel, come,” he called.
She jumped up instantly and scrambled between the seats to follow him out the driver’s door. We headed for the warehouse entrance, scanning the workmen as they stared, until the powerful figure strode out of the gloom and headed our way. It felt like forever since I’d seen the man my father worked for, but Mr. Rossi didn’t look like he’d aged a day. If anything, he looked even more dangerous.
“Nick, thank fucking God you made it.” He nodded, reaching out to shake my stepbrother’s hand. “Any problems?”
“No,” Nick answered.
Benjamin turned to Tobias. “Tobias, how are you, son?”
“Pissed off, if you want the fucking truth,” Tobias snarled.
But Benjamin Rossi didn’t seem at all surprised at the outburst. In fact, he gave a slow, sad smile and nodded, then stepped forward, grabbed Tobias, and pulled him close. “I was so goddamn worried.”
I hadn’t known what to expect, but the fatherly hug made me smile. Then Mr. Rossi turned that careful stare to Caleb, then to me. “Ryth, honey.”
“Mr. Rossi,” I murmured.
“Ben,” he corrected. “You’re to call me Ben. Come on, let’s not talk out here.” He scanned the yard and turned, leaving us to follow him back inside.
He led us through a mechanical workshop to a massive office in the back. The moment the door closed behind us, the deafening sound of truck motors and clanging tools dulled.
“Sit.” Ben motioned to the sofa at the end of the room, but none of us took him up on the offer. Instead, Tobias crossed his arms, scanned the desk and photographs pinned to the cork-board, and turned around.
Ben noticed, scanning us in the corner of his eye as he opened a refrigerator and pulled out cans of soda, tossing one each to the guys and an extra one to Tobias for me.
“Laz?” T asked.
Ben Rossi gave a hard sigh, aging in a second. “He’s safe. They’re all safe.”
