“Where’s here?” I whispered back, running towards the car we’d arrived in, although unsure why I was matching pitch.
“In my car and you won’t believe what I’m seeing.”
“What?” I asked, already feeling stressed.
“I’m parked across from sexy Fight Club and Grant is literally unloading five fucking barrels of whiskey from a truck.”
“What?” I hissed before giving the driver the address for The Cellar.
“Literally. There are two other guys helping him unload them while he speaks to someone I can’t see.”
“Xav, you need to be careful,” I warned, “I’m on the way though.” The Cellar wasn’t far from here, although I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do when I did arrive.
“Ummm, Evs, with all due respect, how do you think you’re going to help?” He asked, reading my mind.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “But I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Babes, I am practically a shadow with cheek bones, but I’m not moving. One of them looks like someone cloned a pit bull and gave it a lifetime membership to the gym and the other has a neck like a tree trunk. I am not going anywhere near them. But I would like to see your lethal woodsman have a go.”
“Wait until I tell you everything that happened tonight-”
“Oh my God,” he interrupted. “The walking protein shake literally just picked up a barrel and put it on his shoulder,” he hissed, sounding entirely impressed.
“Do not move.” I warned, knowing he was a sucker for an athlete. “How many barrels do they have?” I couldn’t believe Grant had taken more. Even after I’d made subtle comments about discrepancies and miscalculations, he was still involved in stealing from Cooper.
“I think six. Oh, they’re closing the side door, but Grant is still outside on the phone.”
“I’m almost there.” I said, as I spotted Grant standing alone, pacing the darkened sidewalk and Xavi’s silver hatchback a little further down the street. “Xavier, your interior light is on!” I scolded, just as the driver pulled up outside.
“Relax. I put a piece of paper in the back window sayingUber. I’m good.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed at his absurdity before hanging upand quickly forwarding both Coop and Seb a message. While I didn’t necessarily want saving, I also wasn’t an idiot.
Coming here alone, aside.
Thanking the driver, I stepped out of the car and headed for the lone man who was still talking into his phone, unaware I was approaching.
My heels on the concrete gave me away at the same time as I heard a car door close and saw Xavier walking over.
“Evangeline?” Grant asked shocked, ending his call. And in that split second, I saw it. The guilt that crossed his face before it vanished behind a furrowed brow. His gaze swept behind me, as though he expected someone to be with me.
No prizes for who he was looking for although when Xavier came and stood next to me, his confusion deepened.
“Are you working tonight?” I asked, looking at the truck parked at the kerb, the Golden Spades logo broadcasting his employer for anyone who walked by.
“Oh,” he said, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just needed the truck for a bit. Had some personal stuff to move, but Coop is always fine if we ever need to borrow things.”
“What personal things?” I asked, feeling slightly emboldened with Xavi by my side, arms crossed as if he was a local detective who’d uncovered a serial killer.
“Ummmm,” he scratched his head, looking unnerved, before the panic showed itself. “You might be engaged to the boss, but I don’t answer to you. So, I think I’ll get back to mypersonalbusiness.” He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing sharply and I instinctively took a step back. How was this the same man I’d been working with for the past four months, now trying to intimidate me.
“You better back the fuck up!” Xavier said, putting his body in front of me in a protective way I’d never seen. He appeared five inches taller and slightly crazed and even Grant looked uncertain as he shifted unsteadily. “You know damn well that what she isasking is entirely valid so it’s time you remember that’s your boss’ future wife you’re speaking to and start showing some fucking respect.”
CHAPTER 37
Cooper
Iknew she was coming. Seb mentioned bringing her with him casually, as if it meant nothing, but I knew the second she walked through the door, especially if in swimwear, I’d notice.
