I’m not entirely sure what to do. I could just phone Oliver, like I was going to, and head home and forget about them. On the other hand, I could go get in their car and try again to find out something more, or at least attempt to confirm what I think I know.
Well, when I phrase it like that, the decision is easy.
I strut over to the car and climb into the back, sliding across into the middle seat before looking up, giving an innocent, butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth, smile to the two men in the front seat who have turned around to gape at me in surprise.
Well, I imagine they are surprised at my sudden appearance. Their poker faces are pretty damn good.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Aiden demands, glaring at me as though he’s trying to figure me out.
Other than when I confronted them on the trail, I’ve all but ignored their annoying presence. He’s probably wondering why I’m suddenly acknowledging their existence now, and honestly, I’m not sure. I just saw them tonight and acted, as is my go to move around them apparently.
Shrugging my shoulders. “I need a lift home,” I explain casually, “I saw your car and figured there was no point in dragging poor Oliver out of his bed to come get me, in the middle of the night, when the two of you are right here.”
Tyler barks out a laugh at my audacity. I can’t imagine many people voluntarily get into a car with these two, especially given the air of danger that constantly surrounds them, the ‘don’t fuck with us’ faces they sport at all times, and the fact I’m ninety-nine percent sure they are both carrying at least one type of weapon on them right now.
For some reason though, I feel strangely comfortable with them, regardless of who they are and who they work for. I definitely feel a hell of a lot safer here, with two gangbangers, than I do with Kurt. Besides, my father doesn’t want me dead. Yet. So, I figure I’m safe enough with them until then.
When they both continue to just look at me, I turn my gaze to Tyler, since he’s the one behind the wheel, and give him my best ‘well what are you waiting for’ look.
“Yes ma’am,” he chuckles, giving me a mock two-finger salute as he turns around in his seat, shaking his head at my antics as he starts the engine and manoeuvres us down the drive.
The three of us sit in silence for a couple of minutes as we make our way down the dark road, the occasional street light brightening the inside of the car as we drive past, showing me brief glimpses of both their faces.
Leaning forward, resting my arms on my knees so I’m perched with my head between the two front seats, I take advantage of this time to observe the two of them. Tyler is focused on the road, but I see him occasionally flash his gaze up to the rearview mirror so he can watch me. Aiden just ignores my presence. Perhaps he thinks if he pretends I’m not here, I’ll just disappear.
Aiden is definitely the harder of the two to get a read on. He’s so closed off. I wonder what made him that way, what happened to this man in front of me that made him put up such impenetrable walls. There is more to him than what he shows people though, otherwise, he wouldn’t cover for me with my father. I saw a glimpse of what he hides underneath his mask, that day on the trail, and again tonight, when he didn’t just drag me out of the car after I all but barged in, demanding a lift.
Tyler isn’t much easier to read. On first impression, you would just write him off as an easy-going, fun-loving player, but he has the same coldness in his eyes, that same ruthless, predatory gleam, that Aiden has. They are more alike than you would initially think, but Tyler is more open than Aiden, freer to show a softer side of himself. That’s what makes him easier to get a read on, quicker to gauge.
Where I have no idea what Aiden’s thoughts or feelings are about me, I’m pretty sure Tyler likes me, or he at least finds me amusing. I can only hope, whatever positive feelings they might have towards me, will endear them to open up to me a bit about who they are, and who my father is.
“So…” I begin, flicking my glance between the two of them, hoping I don’t just succeed in pissing one or both of them off with my probing. “You work for my father.” It’s not a question. I already know this as fact. I’m telling them what I’ve already gleaned, wanting to know if they will agree or deny it.
The two of them exchange a quick glance out of the corner of their eyes, neither one giving me a verbal response.
“And…my father owns a ruthless criminal gang,” I say, continuing on with my fact sharing, even though I am less sure of this statement.
Again, they don’t respond to me in words, but their silence says all I need to know. I’m right. Interesting. I knew he was associated with one, high up in one even, but the leader. That’s a lot more concerning.
“So, that means you’re both in a gang…A violent, ruthless gang known for its heinous crimes,” I ramble, as the seriousness of who I’m in the car with hits me. I often forget that Aiden and Tyler are actually a part of my father’s club. I mean, of course, I know they are, but I don’t think of them as being the same as my father. They just aren’t what I imagine ruthless gang members to be like. Not that, you know, I have any experience or idea of what actual real life, ‘Ten Most Wanted’ type criminals are like.
Aiden and Tyler continue to sit in silence, neither confirming nor denying my statements, not that I need them to.
“Why are you guys covering for me with my father?” I blurt out without thinking. What the hell? Out of all the questions I could have asked, I go with that? True, the question has been bothering me since this whole thing started, but I’m not so sure it was wise to draw attention to what they have done for me. What if I make them overthink their reasons and cause them to change their minds?
Aiden and Tyler share yet another sideways glance, this one longer, as though they are communicating something with their eyes, before Aiden turns around to look at me.
He studies me for a long minute, taking in my outfit with a heated gaze. The shorts of my playsuit are high up my thigh and my breasts are pushed together with the way I am sitting. His eyes slowly burn a path up my body before landing on my face, slowly roaming over every inch, pausing briefly on my lips before moving up to look me in the eyes. I wish I knew what he was thinking right now.
“How about you answer some questions for us?”
Scowling at him, I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my seat, feeling like I need some distance from his intense gaze. It wasn’t the question I intended to ask, but now that it’s out there, in the atmosphere, looming between the three of us, I desperately need to know the answer.
“Not until you answer mine.”
Narrowing his gaze at me, he doesn’t say anything for another minute. Just when I think he isn’t going to answer my question, he finally responds.
Shaking his head, he reluctantly admits, “We don’t know.” Taking in his facial features, his lips are pressed into a tight line and his eyebrows are furrowed in frustration, but I don’t think his vexing is aimed at me specifically. More like he’s annoyed at the situation, at the fact he doesn’t know why he’s protecting me; the not knowing is pissing him off.
“Now your turn.” Aiden pushes, clearly wanting to change the subject and preventing me from mulling over his non-answer any further. “Where were you before you showed up here? Your accent isn’t American so you obviously didn’t grow up here.”