“I fucking hate you guys, you know that,” Noah grumbles, spinning his bottle on the table, a look of boredom on his face.
I don’t remember Noah always being this grumpy, but I guess we all change as we get older. God help the woman he ends up with. She’s gonna have to be full of sunshine to put up with his ass.
“And on that note, I’m out,” I chuckle. “I’ll catch up with you guys soon.”
Theo goes into lawyer mode, the switch slightly unsettling. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’ve set up a meeting with Drew, so he’ll be driving down.”
I nod my head and head home, wondering if Raven’s back yet.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
RAVEN
Spending the day reading was good for my soul. Forgetting about the attempt on my life and what last night meant for me and James was a welcome reprieve. We still haven’t had the ‘talk,’ but I’m hopeful after this morning in his office.
Getting ready to meet Mia, I dress in a black roll-neck jumper and jeans. It hugs my curves just right, and with the weather cooling down more to near Baltic temperatures, I add a leather jacket, hat, and scarf. I applied a small amount of makeup to accentuate my cheekbones and eyelashes, but that’s it.
Leo meets me out front and settles me into the car. The drive’s quick with me passing the time by talking his ear off about the current book I’m reading, and what I think he should read next.
“I’m not into dark romance, Raven,” Leo says, shuddering. “I’ve seen enough in my life. I like sweet romances.”
“What about Mafia? You could try that,” I suggest as I glance over at him. “Mafia issogood.”
“I’ll think about it.” He smirks, and I know I’ve got him.
I should have been a librarian in a past life. The urge to talk about books is never far away. It’s too late to change my major now, but maybe that’s why I’ve been struggling with school? It’s not what I’m really passionate about?
“How did you end up in security, Leo?” I ask curiously. “You could have done anything after leaving the Navy. Why that?”
“I didn’t know anything else. Plus, it works around family life. Especially when I get easy jobs looking after spoiled princesses.” He winks at me, and I shove his shoulder.
“Just drive,” I laugh.
We arrive at Nova’s, and I head inside to find Mia. Leo takes a table close by, always watching.
“There you are, I’d started thinking something had happened to you,” Mia says as she stands up to hug me.
She’s dressed beautifully as always. Her black jeans hug her curvy figure, and her white crop top molds to her breasts.
I hug her back and plant a kiss on her cheek. “Never. Who would keep you in line, hmm?”
“True. I would be a complete mess without you,” she teases.
She wouldn’t. If anything, I would be lost without her. This girl has had my back more times than I can count over the years. Always coming to my defense whenever I was picked on. Mia’s the dark to my light, and I love that about her.
Pulling out a chair, I sit down, scanning the menu when I feel eyes on me. Glancing up, I notice Mia staring at me, head in hands.
“What?” I ask.
“You gonna tell me why you’re living with James?” The twinkle in her eyes tells me she’s on to me. “You’ve purposely been avoiding my messages when I ask, so spill it, lady.”
Closing the menu, I sigh. “Promise you won’t freak out?” She nods her head, but I add, “We’re in a crowded restaurant and I know you, Mia. I need younotto freak out.”
Mia sits up. “Okay, now you’re really freaking me out.”
“Someone tried to… I don’t know, kidnap me? Kill me? It all happened so fast that I’m not sure what their endgame was.”
A waitress interrupts us, asking to take our order. I can see Mia bouncing in her chair, desperate to get whatever it is off her chest, but she’s holding back.
