While Antonio went over other more specific details with his new team, Vince tossed me the keys and I stepped into the shipping container for a closer look. It was a second-hand Mercedes Sprinter with a diesel engine type, a wobbly gear stick, missing headrests, and needed a wheel alignment. It was the perfect van to complete the job and burn later. And it was armed to the teeth with boxes of Winchester rifles, automatics, and handguns.
I raised my brow at the large, metal boxes all jammed into the back of the van but knew better than to ask what exactly they were for. I was only the driver in all of this. It was better to remain a little ignorant of some of Antonio’s plans. Especially the ones that looked like he was preparing for a military operation.
After familiarizing myself with the cabin area, I climbed back out and joined Vince outside. Pocketing the keys with a subtle sigh, I crossed my arms tightly over my chest while waiting for the meeting to finish.
I couldn’t help it when my mind drifted and I looked down, toeing the gravel with my black boot before Vince nudged my arm, pulling me from my thoughts.
“You’ve done how many jobs for Antonio, and you’re stressing now?” He was smiling but also looked a little concerned.
“It’s not the job I’m worried about.”
Chapter 30
Lily
This is a very bad idea.
Like a déjà vu of yesterday’s date with Oliver, I was standing outside my apartment again. This time dressed in a yellow sundress with T-shirt sleeves and a zip-up back. Instead of looking out for a silver Audi, I was waiting for Dean’s Cadillac to cruise up the road.
I was nervous. More than nervous. My stomach was a mess of knots and butterflies and I felt like I could pass out from anxiety at any second.
My parents, the extended family on Dad’s side, and his colleagues were about to meet someone who could rub their conservative thoughts the wrong way. Dean’s tattoos alone would trigger every assumption and accusation under the sun they had. Body art wasn’t favored in our family, hence the reason my little bundle of wildflowers, between my shoulder blades, was tucked out of sight beneath the back of my dress.
“What am I doing,” I muttered, wrapping my arms tightly around my middle. I rose to my toes to see further down the street, chewing my bottom lip anxiously.
Dean was far outside my family’s preference of who they chose to mingle with. If they knew what he did they would bring all their collective knowledge of law enforcement down on him. He was about to walk unawares into a metaphorical lion’s den, and I couldn’t have felt more guilty. Stupidly, I hadn’t said anything last night. I was stunned that Dean even agreed to go to this barbecue to begin with.
The familiar rumble of an engine sent my heart racing as the emerald-green Cadillac pulled up to the curb. Before I even made the slightly hesitant walk toward it, Dean stepped out wearing dark gray jeans and a white button-up shirt and walked around to the sidewalk to open the passenger door. His sleeves were rolled up and the buttons beneath his collar were left undone. I was so used to seeing him in mostly black that the white had rendered me a little speechless.
And apparently able to walk.
“You good to go?” He asked, sliding his sunglasses up to sit on his head, one arm resting on the top of the open passenger door, waiting for me to move.
“Right— Yes, of course.” I hastily made my way over to the car and was instantly hit with the rich but subtle smell of his cologne as I passed him.
“You look nice,” he said genuinely, lowering his sunglasses back to his nose while I got into the front seat, trying not to flash him as I stiffly swung my legs into the car.
“Thank you.” I knew his compliment was only in passing, but it didn't stop the heat from rising to my face.
We drove in comfortable silence once I gave him my parent’s address. Well, he seemed comfortable, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on his thigh while the breeze coming through the window tousled his hair and open collar. He made it look like going to meet my family was a completely normal occurrence. Meanwhile, I was fidgeting with the hem of my dress and kept my face to the window, so he didn’t see how anxious I was.
What we were about to do wasn’t right. And soon we pulled up outside my old home.
“Alright,” Dean breathed as he turned off the engine. He dragged a hand through his hair and made to leave.
“My dad’s a detective.” The words left my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying. “Actually, he was recently promoted to detective sergeant, which is what this whole family barbecue is celebrating. Most of my family on his side has something to do with law enforcement and I should’ve mentioned this to you earlier considering your line of work with Antonio. I don’t know why I didn’t. I guess I panicked? But I figured I should let you know what you’re about to walk into—” I dared to look his way to find he had paused mid-reach for his door, watching me with his brows raised slightly from behind his sunglasses. “Oh god, Antonio is going to have to kill me, isn’t he? Because he’d think I’m tipping them off, which I’m not. I swear I’m not— Now I’m getting hot. Are you hot? My hands are sweaty—”
“Lily.”
My attention snapped to him. “Yes?”
Dean shifted in his seat, resting his wrist casually on top of the steering wheel as he turned in his seat to face me. “He doesn’t need to know about this.”
“Wait, really?”
“Your secret is safe with me.” He ducked his head to look out the passenger window, his eyes taking in the home and the perfectly clipped front lawn as a smile played on his lips. “So, are we doing this or what?”
I hesitated, taking a second to also look at the house. Another issue was beginning to raise its ugly head; My overbearing parents with their questions, and Oliver. The latter caused my stomach to knot.
