“I am off the grid, dipshit. That doesn’t mean people didn’t see the ad before it was taken down.”
My steering wheel is catching a different kind of frustration now. “I could have paid you more if it wasn’t enough, Sev.”
“It’s not about the money. Repeat client that I’m in good standing with. And don’t call me that. It’s too personal.”
I huffed through my nose, sounding very much like my sister. “Am I in good enough standing to tell you I need you?” She got quiet on the other end of the phone. “Viper?”
“Are you in trouble, Malek?”
“Maybe just a little. Is it okay to take Bridget to your place?”
“Wow. We’ve barely known each other a week and we’re already here? Sure this isn’t just another ploy to come break into my house and wear out your welcome?”
“In the short time you’ve known me, have I needed to come up with a ploy?”
“You make a valid point. You obviously know how to get in. Go. I should finish up in about two hours or so.”
“Do we have any chicken salad left?”
“Jesus…”
She hung up on me. Maybe that was a little too far.
Mischievous face.
I dropped the phone into the cup holder and sped up, heading to her apartment.
“I’m proud of my patience, waiting on this explanation.” Damn, for a second, I forgot Bridget was even in the car. “You have a fuckinggirlfriend?”
The thought of that only made me smile harder. “For the love of God, Bridget…don’t say that around her. She already wants to chop my nuts off and keep them in a jar.”
“Can’t imagine why. And whadd’ya meanplay date? You planned all this?”
“Can we save the twenty questions for later, please?” I reached back, grabbing her bag and shoved it into her lap. “Slide back there and change. We’ll be there in about half an hour.”
Bridget decided to stay in the back seat, stretching out across it, mind you it was probably very uncomfortable. I looked in the mirror and her eyes were open, staring aimlessly at the back of my seat.
“Were you really gonna pick one of those bastards tonight, Bridge?” Her mouth tightened, then relaxed and she sighed hard.
“I wasn’t given much of a choice. I’d decided on Jonas, though…in case that was your next question.”
Fucking Jonas? God, she wouldn’t have lasted two seconds before getting bored.
“Dare I ask why? I kinda figured picking one was a harsh enough sentence to serve.”
She smiled then. Subtle…but there. “Honestly? I thought he’d be the most fun to watch while he’s bleeding out. He’s too fuckingclean.” We both chuckled, but it died out quickly. When I glanced back at her, she was smiling softly.
“It gives me the ick when you look at me like that. What is it?”
“I haven’t seen you smile like you just did on the phone in years, Mal. This must be big. Whatever it is…orisn’t, haha.”
“You’ll see when you meet her. And don’t—don’t um…point out the obvious when she walks through the door. I need you to keep your thoughts to yourself.” Bridget sat up, intrigued.
“Are you really not gonna give me any more than that? You suck.”
“Just trust me. You’ll understand.”
CHAPTER 11
